PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 63

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS.

By Spobt.

The conference between delegates from the New Zealand Atihletio Union, and the League of New .Wheelmen, which was to have been held in Christchurch during last .week, fell through for some reason or ofcbei that I caruncfc ascertain", although I made inquiry locally. The union officials are very reticent in the matter, and will not divulge wihat is likely to happen. Time akoe will tell. There can be no doubt whatever as to the almost gieaierol feelang- existing that all branches of sport giving 1 cash prizes should be controlled by the one body. At present we in New Zealand (have three of these governing bodies. There is the League of Wheelmen, controlling cycling; the New Zealand Axemen's Association, controlling ohoppinig ' and sawing, mainly I in the North Island; and the New Zealand Athletic Union, controlling all other brcunob.es of cash sport. Now the cost of contributing to these t'hre^ bodks is very great ? especially to the larger bodies. Take, for instance, the Wairairapa Caledonian Society, which caters for all iihese branches of sport. There is £2 2s to be paid to the Athletic Unioin, £1 11s 6d to tb© League of Wheahnenj and at least £1 la (1 do not know the exact amount) to the Axemen's Association, or a- total of £4 14s 6d before' the sports are held. On top of this some societies will also require to pay a further 10s 6d to the Amateur Association, bringing the total amount paid to governing bodies oveir £5. This, it cannot be denied, is fax too much even to a wealthy society when the whole three (I exclude the amateur sport) t could be easily and, in my opinion,, far' more effectively controlled by one governing body. ~Y,et on the top of all this control we in/ Otago have tftie pipers amid dancers — at least a section of them — clamourinjj fox the control of then own. particular events, which will mean a *a«r£bjßr tax on the society or club .providing thr sport. I have made inquiries from the secretary of the Athletic. Union re the position,, and I have been iaiiformed that tlhe time is not very far distant when all classes of cash sport will have the on© controlling oody — which one he cannot aay, but more likely a com;, bin-afcioa of the three. All tihe union ©entires, with two exceptions, have expressed themselves in, favour of one controlling' body, and when one considers the fact tihat the centres are composed of representatives from bodier providing the money directly for the sport, the wonder is why delay is carrying into effect this general desire. The two exceptions mentioned are in. Canterbury, and although they have not stated directly their opposition to a combination of forces, as it were, they are not so keen on the proposal as the other* centres are. This, I am further informed, is because of the Baot that in Ganfterbuiry cycling is not at so low an ebb as it is elsewhere. Be Jbei as it may, there a«re other places on* the map of the Dominion besides Canterbury, and when •tihe sport of cycling is likely to receive 6ome material benefit by an amalgamation why do those in the control of cycling Btand in the way of bringing about this desirable end? The meeting of the Otago Centre, New Zealand Athletic* Union, this week is likely to bring matters to a head, and if it be so, the bodies giving prizes, at least in Otago, will not have to pay co dearly for that privilege, and the control will be' more effective than formerly, at least so far as cycling is concerned. The sixbb annual report of the New South Wales Attblet.ic Leae^ie that 126 olubs 'ami 122 A pedestrians were registered during ihe year, being a slight decrease during the previous year. Altogether 321 clubs and 5150 pedestrian* (exclusive of yearly renewals) have been registered. The leagues of the other States and New Zealand afe thanked for- the assistance rendered in establishing the - identity of a minrber of "crooks." The balance sheet shows that the year w*s started with a credit balance of £63 14«, and ended with a credit of £88 13s 2d. The receipts included registration fees, £186 10s 6d. Of that amount clubs brought in £95 lls and pedestrians £90 19s 6d. The calendar brought in £15 9s- 6d. The chief items of exDemditure are: Secretary, £104;

postages, £20 9s ; printing. £13 13s 7d ;" calendar, £27 0s Bd. It will be seen, therefore, that the calendar actually cost £11 11s 2d, which might be information to those endeavouring to bring out -o, similar .paper in tho Dominion. The balance of assets over liabilities is £104 18s 2d. Since tihe inception of the New South Walae Athletic League ir 1904- the follow- : ng are the numbers of clubs and pedestrians registered, respectively, each year:. 1904, 14 and 359; 1905. 82 and 1391; 1906, 119 and 1666; 1907. 123 and 1273; 1906, 127 and 1276; 1909, 126 amid 1224. The< falling off in the niumber of registered competitors sinoa 1906 is attributed to the wiping out of existence by the Betting and Gaming Acts of several proprietary olubs. The Otepopo Athletic Club and the Enfield Athletic dub hove already made application for registration with the Ota^o Oemfcre, New Zealand Athletic Union, the dates applied for being Labour Day (Ooto•ber 13) and Boxing Day (December 26), respectively.