AMATEUR PEDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 75, 24 November 1906, Page 2

AMATEUR PEDS.

(By Centre.)

At last week's meeting of the Wellington Centre, the sub-committee sot up for that purpose presented the draft programme m connection with the provincial sports meeting to be held on the Basin Reserve on New Year's Day. The committee had gone thoroughly into the matter and the result of its labors was the production of a programme which should find ready endorsement from lovers of the sport. All classes of competitora have -been well catered for, and given fine weather the public should witness a tip-top afternoon's sport. It is also proposed to sandwich the running and field events with Scotch dance " competitions, physical culture exeircises, etc. ,

A significant feature m connection with the evening sports meetings of some local amateur clubs is the number of officials actively taking part therein, who are, or were, prominent lights m the professional world. The assistance of one or two experienced professional men is sometimes(desirable but when it comes to a small army of the professional kidney going into action at tlie same time at amateur 'gatherings, there is a, suspicion that things are not what they should be, ,

There is also too much proneness nowadays to whi tewash professi onals whose day of glory on the running track .has passed, never to return. In some cases the plea of reinstatement is absolutely genuine ; and the circumstances are such as to justify the Council m giving heed to the request on the recommendation of the local Centre. In numerous instances, howeyer, the professional runner or walker, having raked m what he can at the game, and seeing no prospect of winning fresh laurels owing to diminished leg power,, wants to associate with more genteel company, as it were, thouoh God knows there are just as good and respectable men connected with the sport m a professional sense, as is :tn be found m the amateur division— "Do*y"' Leslie, Jimmy Doyle, land Dan McPhee being shining examples.

The Wellington Ceiitre made a wise choide when it .appoints Mr James Doyle as its'." local officer at the several amateur sports meetings m the district. .James was not anxious to tackle the job; on the score of alleged inexperience, but his colleagues did not see it m this light,' and as the re§uit of their pressure the weightlifter, wrestler and runner of past day fame consented to carry out the duties. Jim should turn out trumps when once he gets settled down to business. . . \

There is plenty of graft to execute when ,i sports meeting is about to eventuate and for that reason the Wellington Centre decided to., give its secretary the benefit of clerical assistance. A volunteer obligingly stepped into the breach m the person of J. Heenan, who has- youth, energy, and ability on his side~-qualificatians which are indispensable when an important movement has been engineered. Young Heenan promises to maks an excellent fist of the assistant secretaryship. : •