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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 197, 24 September 1909, Page 2

AMATEUR ATIILKTICS. We are heartily ill accord with the proposal to furni a branch of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association in ■New Plymouth, with the object of encouraging and catering for aihlcli. SpOll lil lift pilllSt lUlIll"lllllipcLlllOllS devoid ol wc.uiicu limes dcu.isiiig influences ol uu.ncy. in denning ami icuis Willi me iioiicMi :-[>.». un ri ....-,,.1.,,, lei 11 1101 De kIIUVWI as llll' ca-.11 .. .1..C1C I-. COIIS.UeIVu c.uinuL ue itcaica ui.u u.ju ul ~ iMiicii is sii.uly 111 ullncucs Lau uc ui,™ 10 111 c pernicious lulliieiice „. mo.k:,. . file true amateur is coiu.iu lo ,u.., f1 „ iuoic lor iioiior inan lor iiiuiK-uiit n-

.oiiiprii.-c, and Ulullgh ..* .'Hilau.uisiii mn,\ nut be ou unsuilicd as Uuu ui uie uiccian uiiilclc 01 uni, sull junior 15 euiel amongst Uu: priz.-a olleivd 11.111. Jll mis district we possess some 01 uu: lincsi exponents ot trade athletics in Hie douiiiiion, but owi;ig t 0 me nun existence of ally amateur body 111 the province, Uicy have Ji.td pcriorcc lo conipeie in the scini-prolcssiunai ranks or neglect altogether indulging in am-j letic competitions. Sonic lew, nowevcr,' keen on testing their prowess with the foremost athletes in other pans 01 the dominion have attached tiieinsclvc.-. to the Wellington Association, and lor some years have done yeoman service lor Unit province. The lime uas uoiv' arrived wlien the athletes of the province should combine with the object of forming an association in Taranaki, and thus secure for the province the athletic reputation that could easily belong to it, talent thai ..1 i,,e pasi" lias been largely utilised 10 screngiaen the athletic teams of adjacent associations. It is understood that local runners who have competed in the cash ranks hitherto will not have any difficulty in being reinstated as amateurs, and several of the most prominent provincial pedestrians have already notified their intentions to throw in their lot with the new body. Additional interest is lent i to the:movement owing to the fact that the annual New Zealand amateur championship meeting takes place at Auckland during November, and it is Hoped that for the first time on record Taranaki will be represented by a team of local athletes'. 'There is no reason why I the province should not be able to put an athletic combination in the field competent to hold its own, if not excel, the elect of the other provincial organisations, -and we are certain the success of our representatives would be heartily acclaimed, not only throughout the province, but wider afield. The movement is not in any to- antagonistic to the sporting bodies giving allegiance to the Athletic Union, which controls cash athletics, and we are convinced there is ample scope for t'.ie two organisations to exist la the district. We hope, therefore, that to-night's meet ing will be hugely attended, and thai it will result in the formation of a provincial association lo encourage athletics for the love 1,1 the sport and healthy athletic rivalry. I