OTAGO CENTRE N.Z.A.U.

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

OTAGO CENTRE N.Z.A.U.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Otago Centre ?iJ • **' v Zealand Athletic Union was held in the offices of Mr E. S Wilson Empire Buildings, on Tu^day evening. Mr D. J. Corcoran, president, was in ths chair and welcomed the delegates. Delegates were present from Otago, Oamaru, Waikouaiti, Alexandra. P-aimerston, Clinton Arrow, Tuapeka, Kniield, Blueskin, Port Molyneux, Cromwell, Strath-Taieri, Mount i Ida, Duntroon; Dunback. and Berwick. Caleaoruan Societies, and Otepopo, Waipiate, Bsaumont, Matakanui, Arthur's Point Clyde, Owaka, Kaitangata, Miller's Flat, St Bathacs, and' Roxburgh Clubs The Chairman moved the adoption of the annual report (already published) and balance sheet. The uaion liad been in existence for three year*, and had gone back slightiy in registered competitors and in the number cf affiliated soe.oties. In ISO 7 there were 540 registered competitors and 43 societies, m 1908 481 registered competitors and 40 societies, and last year there were 430 registered competitors and 35 societies. The result showed a falling off of 110 competitors and seven societies. The falling off was not caused by iwcessions froih the union, but by the decline of some societies. Only one society had seceded, and it held sports outside the union. It would be to the advantase of competitors to i*aj a general registration fee of 2s 6d instead of Is to compete at any single meeting. The centre was in a satisfactory financial position with a credit of £31 13s 9d over liabilities. Queetons of the control of cycling, dancing, and piping by rhe unioD would come bsfcrc the m-3eting that evening. Mr C. E. Keast seconded the motion, which was carried without discussion. ELECTION OP OPFICEBS. T!he election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr C. E. Kcast; -wcepresidents, M^-ssrs A. G.. Fenwick and R. Mackenzie; auditor, Mr A. J. Sullivan; secretary and treasurer Mr D. F. M"K<iy ; committee— Messrs P Brady. J. L.3<.!g_-i-woo-cl, D. J. Corcoran, R. liobbs, J. Taylor, D. M'Phersoa, and R. G. Yaicce. The secretary and treasurer's salary was fi\cd at £10 1G.5 per annum and £2 2s office allowance, on tho motion of Mr Corcoran C3cend<.'d by Mr Ledg-erwocd. Th? newly-electetl chairman took tho chair immediately after the enaction, ar:d t'lank-sd tha delegates for the honour conferred upon him. A heartj' vote of thanks was passed to the retiring officers, special reference being made to the valuable services rerxLered by tho retiring president and secretary and treasurer.

CONTP.OL OF CYCLING. Mr D. J. Corcoran, in accordance with notice, brought up the quewtioncf the advisability or otherwise of tho N.Z.A.U. assuming control of cyciing in tba Dominion or amalgamating- with th-e League of Whccljv.pn to control all ela.-.-~es of ca^h &;jcit. West CGast ar.d Taranaki had ta.!cea over control of cycling, ar.d th-e object the cxecuti\c had in brin«inc; the matter up v, 'is to benefit the eport, which urx'rr iJieserit arrangements was deteriorating. The movement was not matle in antagonism to the Now Zealand Lsague of Wheelmen. He moved — '" That the meeting i-> of opinion that the N.Z.A.F. -houkl c«umo control of cycling, and that the executhe of ih<> un.on b. 1 asked to taks the mutter into eon-_ic!oi\.-tion.'' He mov-d thw motion to get an expression ol opinion. Mr Grave seconded th-? n:ot.&n. Mr S. D. Minn sal-J tha d.e!-eg-a!<?s from the League of Who; Imp n \\}>o w^re lecently in town had inforrr.pd him that the league would not consent to tho union taking over control, and that being so, if the Dunedin Centre took ovor control competitors hpre would bo Ljrrtc! oi cewhere. He thought some airan.arsment should be come to between the union aud the league. Mr Harris raised tt'e point wliother cycling oajne within tha •Josigr.atlon of athletics. ilr Walker (Middlemarch) favoured the union having control, on tho ground that it was not to the benefit of sport genera! lv to have too many contro'lin^ bodies. The Chairman stated that a deputation from this Leag-ue of Wheelmen ha<i \\»tite<l on the union, but rvo decision was come to. At the conference he had unsuocessrully n>o'. cd that the time had aii.i\<;d when Ui\j two

y bodies should amalgamate. The union wai n to have sent three delegates to the league at Christchurch last week, but did no i- do so as it was learned that the wheelmei ', intended to remain firm. If the union ha< - control it would conduce to important roa< - races being held, a llar^e- Sheffield might b< 0 instituted, and oom.pe.ti tors from Australi: - might be attracted. As an illustration o: - tha necessity for more satisfactory con'tro f he mentioned feat a cycling competitor hac carried off a first or second prize in South f land, and then came to Dunedin undei 1 another name, and secured a first or geconc 9 prize here. f Mr Minn: Our league had an affidavil 3 fro"m him, signed before a J.P., that h« 3 was not the person who won the prize a1 1 Southland. The motion, after further diseusson, wa* 1 carried. j CONTBOL OF PIPING AND DAKCIXG. j Mr Corcoran, in accordance witih notice t broug&t up the question of tihe advisa'bilitj r or otherwise of tlie N.Z.A.U. handing ovei the control of piping and dancing to the j Pipers and Dancers' Association. The Chairman, explained that/ two deie [- gates from the association were desirous t of waiting upon the -meeting to^place th< t views of that body befora fccan.* Pipe-major M'Qallum, one of fche. delet gates, said he came there to answer anj 5 questions on bshaM of the association, society thought ths N.Z.A.U. should "rej Hnquish control of dancing and pipinar. > Under no «fcr«teh of imagination could , these be called athletics Their society had > been -formed by pip&rs and dancers and I by friends who favoured^ pining and dancing. His association maintained that tihal body could do more for these matters than the N.Z.A..U. could do. He thoiaghi when the Athletic tJnion got the entrance j fees that was all that was wanted. Thej t did not wish to fight the Athletic Union. It was not true that hi? society intended i to make it hot for the Caledonian societies j that had these events oh their programmes ■when it got control. Mr Henderson, another delegate, conl ourred with what Pipe-major M'Callum had said, and Mr E. M'Kenzie also epokc strongly against the union conti oiling pining and dancing. Mr Corcoran moved— " That the meeting, having heard the deputation from the Pipers and Dancers' Association, cannot see s its way to recommend the N.Z.A. L T to hand J over control of pas>hxg and dancing to the association, and tibafc a copy of the resolution be forwanded to the union." Mr Fenwick seconded the motion. v The motion was carried on the voices, and it w«s resolved*— " That the so2iety be informed that it could have a voice in the [ management of the union through dele- ' gates" ' HEPBESENTATION OF ATHLETES IKf THE TJXIOX. Mr Harris moved — "That it be a recommendation to the union that athletes registered under the rules be given direct representation, on the o&Eitre, and that a meeting of registered athletes be called for the purpose of appointing such representatives, the representation to he at the rate of one delegate for every 100 registered atheletes." A large numler of professional athletes, who were registered competitors, had no voice in the ma %gemenifc of the union, and there was considerable dissatisfaction in consequence. E,T.oh v«ar the number of registered competitors was falling off, and thaifc would co on unless representation -was given. If the competitors had representation they would be able to assist the union materially in many ways in controlling c a«h sport. Mr J. M'Kay seconded the motion. Mt Grave, without desiring to block the proposal, dad not see how it was practicable for competitors to select representatives, as they were not organised. Mr Harris : They intend to form an association. They provide more than half the money with which the union is run. Mr Grave ; Then they can ha\ c representation through their association, when formed. He moved — " That the matter be left to &he executive to consider and report to the next meeting." The axnorulmeint was carried. OTHEK MOTIONS. It was resolved, on tho motion of the chairman : — " That all societies and athlet'c clubs wishing To hold a gathering under the centre's jurisdiction must give 14- days' notice of game, prioi to proposed date of sports.'' '"That tih is mpetin.sr affirm the principle 1 of drawing- up a set of rules to govern Sheffield handicaos: and that, it b*> a suggestion from fchr* centre that all clubs affiliated to the N.Z.A.U. instruct their starters to et«rt all events from behind the scratch man." '• That the matfe»- of certain competitors eempetiner at the Opliir ffatherlns, not knowing fiat it was not affiliated with the union, be left with the executive to report and recommend in regard to removal of 1 disqualifications. ' '

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