Cash Athletics.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 244, 3 November 1914, Page 4

Cash Athletics.

A COLUMN FOR THE PEOPLE ] | This column is " The People's Column." We invite them to express their views on all public questions and matters affecting the district. We do not identify ourselves with the opinions expressed by our correspondent?.

.TO THE EDITOR, j Sir,—" A half truth is a dirty lio," said the Et. Hon. Mr Massey, speaking at a meeting in your district three years ago. I must apologise to the Rt. Honourablo gentleman for quoting him in this instance, but your correspondent of October 27th, Mr Kallaugher, put me in mind of the man who drew that retort from the Premier. The Tiniaru Athletic Union does not control the whole of the cash running and cycling in New Zealand; it only wants to, hence the half truth. The Northern Athletic Union is not trying to get clubs to break away from the Timaru Union. On the contrary, the clubs of Auckland by au almost unanimous vote decided to break away from that useless organisation, and formed the " Northern Athletic Union," to control sport in Auckland in a thorough and up-to-date manner without paying a tax of nearly £(3O per year to Timaru. And in their action tliey were quite justified, for that money will be much better spent here than in the South Island. Mr Kallaugher advises clubs to have nothing to do with the Northern body who have no advantages to oiler. Anyone who has seen the two issues of the Northern Athletic Union's gazette already published will know better than to believe such a ridiculous statement, and most of the runners as well as all the cyclists have already given their allegiance to the N.A.U., and about 100 of the clubs have already sent in for dates. Mr Kallaugher's campaign has been carried out on the same lines everywhere, i and I challenge him now as I have/lone previously to prove any of his accusations against the Northern Athletic Union, or any of the groundless assertions that he has made. His executive colleagues are all malcontent athletes, and it will be (to use a slang expression) " a pity what will happen" to any clubs or competitors coming under their control. At Morrinsville on Labour Day they swept the programme, running first, second and third in almost every race. In fact there was only one winner and a second and a couple of third men who were not members of their executive. No wonder they are anxious to get clubs uuder their power !—I am, etc., J. M. O'CONNELL. Otahuhu, October 31st, 1914. [ We have deloted from this letter some comments which appear personal.—Ed.].