PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS. By Sport.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 63

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS. By Sport.

The amnual meeting- of the' Otag- Centre, If.Z.A. Union, held'tasir week,- prov«»d to be the most enthusiastic and representative ret held. It was repVpsetotitive to the extent that only some six' afßliate"d' bodies of the 30L.in th« centre refrained' Tl'om apjKiinting some enthusTaet to "look after their interests. In previous years tSexe was more direct representation " owing to the fact that, the, meeting ' was' usually held during Country- Football Week, and when all things are considered this form, of represemta'tion is unquestionably the . more desirable For the ©even seats on tho executive there were. 12 nominations, and unusual keenness aeemetf to prevail for supremacy in the ultimate, voting. This is as it should be,, and if the monthly meetings of the executive are as enthusiastic the year's working should be even more successful than that of past seasons. The question of control in rega,rd to cycling amd piping and dancing created _an animated discussion, although the meeting was practically unanimous in the two decisions arrived a*. Cycling control is completely dead in Otago, and the many bodies in the centre consider it a waste- of money in paying fees to 1 practically d«funct bod^. Ihe piping and damcLng question received little or no support from those present. Many considered there were too many governing bodies in existence at th© present time, .necessitating the payment of too many fees. The deputation from the Pipers and Danoers' Association did not help much to bring about the desired end, their spokesman being very bnet indeed.

Quite the most, sensible argunvait, and 1 one that undoubtedly would get over tho pipers and dancers' trouble, was advanced by Mr.J. Taylor, president of the Oaxnaru Caledonian Society. He argued, in effect, that 'there were too many governing bodied already. The Athletic XJaion should suit the purposes of ail. There was no reason why the pipers and danoers, the pedes4vri»ns, the wrestlers, and all the other forms of sport controlled by the union should not each send a representative to the ooatre's meetings. Through this representative any aims or desires for the improvement of the control of the different epoTts could be put forward. If the union gave over the control of oc*e form of sport to ome particular association it -would leave i&elf open for all the others to ask for a similar concession, and could only end in continual chaos.

The annual mesting of the Ormondville Athletic Club was held on Saturday evening, 14th ir-st. Mr J. B. Benbow preeided, a»nd there was a fair attendance. The balance sheet, showing a oredit of £26, ■was adopted. The election of officers reeuliod as follows:— Patron, Mr H. M. Samders ; president, Mr G. Hunter ; a m umber of vice-preaide<nits ; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. G-. Cadlender. Strong sub-committees were formed. The annual sports will be held on Decerob&r 28.

At a meeting of the South Canterbury Centre, N.Z.A. Union, heki last week, the secretary reported a balance of £11 in hand, with a further £4 10s to come in. In .regard fco the question" of cycling control, the following decision was- arrived ait : " That this centre favour tlie amalgamation of the League of New Zealand Wheelmen and th© N.Z.A, Uaiion, but, failing: *ha*, -an .jreameut suitable to booh be «ntered-into; failing a suitable, agreement that the New Zealand A.U. assume controL of cycling." The South Canterbury Caledonian Society, Geraldir.e St. Patrick's Society, Pleasant Point CalerTX?^ and the Mount Somers lAthtefcic Club favoured the union retainWg control of piping and dancing, while the Temnka. Bieyele Club and the Waimatft Caledonian, Society favoured it being handed over to the Pipers' Associatio^ The GMejiavjr Sports Chib was affiliate

and November 3 granted. The secretary reported the formation of a -Caledonian Society ait Fairlie.

Mr R. L. Rule, secretary and handi-oa-pper to the Oamaru Caledonian Society, has jresign«.d the dual position after completing his twenty-fifth "year in the positions. This is a distinct loss to tho society, for Mi Rule has always been untiring in his efforts to further the w-i-f*re of the society, which is now one of the most prosperous in th« Dominion.

Mr A. J. is again secretary of the Palmersion Caledonian Society, which had a successful year. The credit balance is £26 14s, or an increas© of £4, while the takings at the last sports were £46 8s 6d, being- £7 mare than in 1907. Messrs G. W. Collie (Dunedin) and J Dalgleish (Oanmru) are the handicappers. From the decision arrived at last week at the meeting of delegates from athletic amd Caledonian societies there can be no doubt that the existence of rh« Pipers and Dancers- Association is not desired When representatives from the bodies giving the prized say so it should be convincing enough for the most enthusiatie mper and dancer advocating the N.Z.A. Union handing over the control- to them. It is nhnost safe, to soy> with one possible exception, there is not a society in Otago in favour of handing- over the control. The exception is the Otago Caledonian Society, which- eocdety, so far as • I am • aware, has never „ expressed .an opinion on the subject. Oainaru aaid Tini<*ru Caledonian Societies, the next two stem crest in this island, favour leaving things as they are". So those advocating the Pipers and Dancers' Association would be wise to leave well alone-.