PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS. By Sport.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 58

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETICS. By Sport.

FIXTURES. October 13. — Labour Day Sports, Outram. October 13.— Athletic Sports, Herbert. November 9.— Caledonian Sports, Palmerslori. ' The Pipers amd Dancers' Association is apparently not satisfied with the decision arrived at at the recent Jneeting of the Otago Centre, N.Z. A. Union, and with their dealings with the N.Z.A.U. generally, as the following 1 strongly-worded letter to tho (secretary of the union shows: — "Your letter, statinjt that this matter was being

treated as urgent by your union, has been placed before the members of my association, and contents of jour communication . ha*re been duly considered. What seems, to us at any rate, to be a more than sufficient time for an. urgent matter to be dealt with has since elapsed, and the question is still, to all appearances, where it was. I am now directed to inform you t-hab unless a definite favourable reply comes to hand from your umoi by not later than the 31st met. we shall be lorced to the conclusion that the attitude of evident friendliness adopted at the outeet by your union towards this association waa merely a subtle .device to gain time for the purpose of defeating, if at il) possible, thv> wishes of fchs pipers and dancers of this country. We regret that we have been treated in such a manner by an. institution piofessing concern for the welfare of Caledoniaiusm in New Zealand. Oui request to your union was an act of courtesy You had assumed control of the national customs, which we consider belong to ourselves, without the authority of those who have been responsible for the perpetuation of their best traditions. You had no right to do so. We have wished to be fair and act amicably towards youreelves as the controlling influence in athletics, but as your evident wisJi is to retain the power which you have so grossly abused, we shall bs under the painful necessity of taking- such action as will at once put a stop to any further interference I with the rights of pipe music and dancing 1 in New Zealand. STou will please under- ■ stand that this is t-he last occasion on j which we shall defer to your union' in I any way, unless you can show, by treating our friendly request Ln a proper manner, that the hope jou expressed that our institutions would work harmoniously was I what we hoped it was — i.e., the truth. — I ; am, yours faithfully, Donald Henderson, [ secretary Pipers and Dancers' Association I o. c New Zealand." Whj those at the head of the association should persevere in their endeavour to assume control of their particular events | in the face of the almost unanimous opposition shown to «uch an action is extremely hard to understand. I can only see one resuli, and that is that piping and dancing events will be cut out ot sports pix>grammes altogether. Do the pipers and dancers wieh this to happen? 'Ihe news that Champion A. B. Postlo contemplates a visit to the Dominion le verj welcome indeed. Such a vis-it by a worH-renowned sprinter of Postle's cahbrs js sure to s lve the sport in this country a much -needed impetus. The champion's letter to Mr G. W. Woods, president of the N.Z. Athletic Union, was written frolr Manchester (Kng.), and stated, inter alia, that he would airive in the Dominion either at the end of November or the beginning of December, and would remain till the enc" of April following, competing at all the principal gatherings under the control of the N.Z. A. Union. He particularly stated that he would compete 'at the Invercargill Irish Athletic Society's Sheffield next March. A few of Postle'e best records are : — 50 yards, 5 l-ssec ; 75 yards, 7 l-ssec; 100 yards (grass), lOsec ; 126 yards, 12sec ; 200 jards, 19 4-ssec; 300 yards, 30 4-sec. Con'iderable activity is now being displayed on the Caledonian Grounds by a large band of peds., g'etbing through their preliminaries prior to tho advent of the coming season. Amongst those I have noticed are Chalmera, Lewis, ilajc<, White, Pucidy, and a few others of lesser note. Bj the way, what has happened Io Duff, usually the earliest on the track for seasons past? The annual meeting of the Duntroon, Caledonian Society was held on the 21st ult., and was larg€'ly attended. The receipts amounted to £164 10s 2d, and ihe expenditure £155 18s sd, or a credit of £8 11s 9d. Most of the money expended! went in improving the gi'ouinde, and would not be of a recurring nature. The election of officers resulted: — President, Mr H. Davey ; vice-presidents, Messrs A. Smith and W. Grant; secretary. Mr M. Francis; antl a committ-pe of 26 member-. It was <lecidied to again affiliate with the X.Z.A U. (Otago Centre), and to apply for a permit. ! for Boxing Day. | When definite word comes of Postlc's visit steps will doubtless be taken to give the renowned runner a good circuit of meetings, so as, n> a small way at least, to recoup him for the expense incurred in making the viMt. There is not a runner in tho Dominion who stands within yards of A- 8., so the- only thing that can be done for him will be to provide good handicap sprints, with a few matohes against time. The N.Z. Union championships, to be decided et Greymouth, would be a v>ry attractive meeting for the champion, but I fear there will be a clashing of dates with the Invercargill Sheffield, at which Poatle intends competing. No doubt when the Australian ha? made definite arrangements for his visit efforts will be made in the two cases mentioned to ensure the champior's presence at both meetings. The programme for the Otepopo Athletic Society's sports, to be held at Herbert on Labour Day, October 13, is to hand. The , chief pedestrian events are: — 100 Yards Handicap. 40a, 20s, 10s; Half-mile Handi- : cap, 60s, 30s, 15s; 220 Yards Handicap, • 60s, 35«, -15s ; 440 Yards Handicap, 60a, 30s, ; 15s; Mile Handicap, 60s, 355, 15s. The other events include piping, dancing, wrest- | ling, cycling, jumping, hammer, and ball — | all under the rules of the N.Z. Athletic Union. Entries £or runniing events close on, Friday, October 1.