N.Z. ATHLETIC UNION.
'ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The annual conference of the New Zealand Athletic Union opened in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening. The following delegates were in attendance: —Messrs G. W. Woods, president (Invercargill), C. E. (Otago) F. Musaen (Southland), .1. Kennedy (South Canterbury), G. E. Good (North Canterbury), G. E. Perkins (Westland), D. J, Corcoran, secretary (representing Marlborough), It Smith (Masterton). F. E. Hardy and W. R. Walker (Feilding and Main Trunk district), A. Hansen, ■). Thomson, and J Clarke (Taranaki). The president welcomed the delegates, and trusted their deliberations would tend further toward the good government of athletics in the Dominion. REPORT AND BALANCE SHEET.
The annual report, as follows, was presented:—Since the formation of the New Zealand Athletic Union, in 1905, professional—or more correctly "cash" —sport has made great advancement, especially in its being now almost free from "suspicious" or "crooked" running, and from "ringing in" the principal reasons which urged the formation of the Union. Societies affiliated to some Union centre have now no trouble in collecting entry fee*, only oue centre in the Dominion having a defaulters' list, and the amount at stake lieing under CI. The N.Z.A.U. has now ten centres under its direct control, four—Taranaki, Feilding, Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay—being in the North Island, aud six—Marlborough, West Coast. North Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland —in the South Island. It is hoped that before next season endeavors will be made to form centres in Nelson aud Auckland provinces, so that the whole colony will be embraced by the N.Z.A.U. During the 1905-6 sea-on 174 sports bodies held sports under Union rules, while 1738 competitors were registered. The following gives the number of bodies and competitors registered by the different centres:—Southland, 22* and 226; Otago, 43 and 540; South Canterbury, 12 and 11'7; North Canterbury, 10 and 132; West Coast, 13 and 122; Marlborough, 6 and 84; Feilding, 21 and 181; Wairarapa, 15 and 134; Hawke's Bay, 12 and 120; Taranaki, 20 and 122. As will be seen by the balance-sheet, the finances of the Union are on a solid footting, ■otwithstanding very heavy organ-" ising expenses. Now that the Union is on a solid footing it is proposed by your executive to give centres Is 6d of the 2s Ad competitors' registration fee, which would enable them to better control their local affairs; and the healthier the centre the less work falls to the lot of your executive. During the year a very importait step in the government of athletic sport was made by the formation of the New Zealand Sports' Federation, which embraces the governing bodies of Rugby football, amateur athletics, cycliHg, hockey, Association football, cash athletes, cricket, boxing, rowing, swimming, and lawn tennis. Your executive took an active part in the formation of this organisation, and were represented at the two meetings held by Messrs G. W. Woods (president) and Thos. Duncan (vice-president). The powers of the N.Z.A.U. are now greatly strengthened by thi- federation, as is shown in the objects (clause- b) which reads: "The mutual recognition by each body's suspensions, disqualifications, registrations, and such other matters of mutual interest as may be decided upon at any general meeting of the federation." Another very important happening in the athletic world was the prohibition of betting on sports' grounds by the pa.-sing of an Act of Parliament. This will, in the opinion of your executive, help to lessen, if not totally eradicate, -crooked" running, and the legislators are to be complimented in [using si) important a measure. It might be noted that your executive have'all along urged the passing of the Act. in so far as the betting on sports ground* is concerned. At present there are a large number of disqualifications „„ the books of the Union, chiefly incurred by unregistered gatherings held in Christchurch. Wellington, and Auckland during the past season. One effect of the Betting Rill recently enacted, and referred to above, the total abolition
of the proprietary gaslbrht sports held in Auckland, which existed chiefly hv means of very extensive l.otfinrj carried on thereat. Applications are, coming in daily for the removal of ili-.iiutlti.MiTon-but your executive do,- not desire anv responsibility, pendng the opinio,, ,',; this conference of delegates from oenlivs. In conclusion, yam l-iiriuy ~,„.„,;,-,. council de-ire to th.ink the .lillereiit centres and their -ecrel.iries f,„- t |„, ;1 .. sUtanee -o readily given them in i-arrv-in<r oiit the object- of the I'nion: (~ Ihe press of the Dominion for th,. sl —.;-=?- ance given in the -ame direction: and to the general public for attending in such larpe nuniliers the difi'oron! registered gathering throughout the Dominion as an appreciation of tin- eonihlenc-e
now repo-ed in the control of ~!-h spnrl, of which the delegates here a-Scmhlod have played suei, an important put in attaining that desirable end. The 1m lii nee sheet showed a cre.lit lialance of £fiS Ifo 3d.
The rcjKirt- were a.10p1,. ( |. Mr. Toni Duncan (Wellington) apo logised for hi- unavoidable ab-enco.
Mr. F. F.. Hardy brought up the .pi,tion of the Axemen's Association. Ho traced tli,. correspondence between the two l.odic= retarding the proposed reciprocal agreement and moved that -ueh an agreement be entered into between the AS-ociation and the T'niou.
'The motion wa= ruled out of order b\ tlic president. -Mr. Hanly moved, and .Mr. Walkc seconded, that a recommendation lie made ley tlie Union to the New Zealand Sports Federation that the Axenicn% Association be admitted to the Federation.
An amendment was moved bv Mr. Barrie and seconded by Mr. Perkins, that it lie a recommendation to the New Zealand Sport- Federation that the New Zealand Axemen's Association be admitted if that Iwdy alter its constitution to a My representalhe of all the societies conducting meetings under its rules.
The ainendnient was carried by 7 to
The Ilawkcg Bay centre moved that of the 2s (id competitors' registration fee. ijs go to the Imon, aud Is tid to the centre under which it is issued, the centre to use its own discretion in alloting the distribution of the Is lid. this to be in operation for registrations during the present season. <>n the motion of the TaranaUi delegate it ««s decided that all disqualified competitors 1* ab«olutelv prohibited ironi taking any part whatever iu the control of alliliated -|>ort.s ineetin.., The motion „i Nonli ranierburv that the Council be situated in the on',- convenient centre ua- lost.
On the motion „f t|„. ,)ta..o dclcr,,(Mr. Kcisti it «.,. decided i,, adopt the rule, of the Winton Quoitiug dub. which are similar to Iho-e <,f the s,-,,t----ti-h Quoting A-ociation. Remits from the Southland Caledonian Society, through the s»uthl nel centre, to delete piping and dancln" from the jurisdiction of the 1 ni„n. and al=o to exempt in\--nilt-.s from tin- rtileof tie' t'ninn were h,,i, A in.,toe, iron, i„- .-,.,iihl.iii.l ,-cnlic that- three ~f tl„. excciiliie iv-idc in one e.-niie wa- 1,.. i. and a motion that tie- .\.-,-aii,.- 1„- ~„-,,.,.,.,| ~- ~.,,.„ t" nine wa- ,-arrie,!.
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