The Daily News FRIDAY, JANUARY 12. AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8026, 12 January 1906, Page 2

The Daily News FRIDAY, JANUARY 12. AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Ax endeavour is to be made shortly to awaken interest in amateur athletics in Taranaki, anil with that object in view a meeting is to be convened in New Plymouth nt an early date, As the athletic events of the next two months eventuate, the necessity for sneh action will be more than justified, if past experience of the " crookedness " of the conduct of competitors at the numerous societies that cater for professional runners is to be repeated. The public, and many of the competitors also, are heartily sick of the present condition of athletic sport throughout the province, and it is believed a live Amateur Association would not only provide good, clean sport for the public, and induce many promising athletes, who under present conditions refrain from competing, to exhibit their prowess in the athletic arena, but also would be the indirect means of giving professional sports bodies such a shaking up by diversion of public patronage as would compel them to exercise a more rigid control. If the establishment of an Amateur Association achieved no greater success than the purging of professional sport in Taranaki of its disgusting nauseousness, its formation would be

justified. : * # # o | At. the annual meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association at Cbrisfcchurch in November, it was decided to make an efi'ort to re-organise amateur athletics in the North Island, arid with 1 that object a strong committee was formed in Ohristchurch to work in co-operation with the Wellington centre. In pursuance of that deci- . sion, steps are now being taken to start clubs in the leading towns bc- - tween Wellington, New Plymouth ' and Napier, and already success has attended the movement at Masterfcon and elsewhere. This class of sport received a great impetus last year through the visit to the colony of • the renowned International athletes, Messrs Alfred Shrub and A. H. Duffey, and also prominent amateur champions from the Commonwealth. f Tlmt the public appreciated the sport provided by the competitions between these great athlete-! and our representatives was amply proved by the unprecedented patronage accorded the various gatherings at frhich

they competed. 4 * * 4! Akother incentive that should not be overlooked in urging the formation of amateur clubs at the present time is that a team will lie required to uphold the honour of New Zealand at the Australasian championships in 1907, and later at the greatest athletic gathering of modern times—the Olympian Games at Rome in 1908—in which all the best athletes of the world will participate. Meantime, further information is being awaited from the Council prior to convening a meeting in New Plymouth, but we hope that when the time comes to act there will be such a response from the " bone and muscle "of this town and Taranaki generally as will assure from the outset the success of the undertaking, which has our most lively support.