AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 199, 27 September 1909, Page 4

AMATEUR ATHLETICS.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB FORMED. There was a good attendance on Friday night at the meeting called to consider the formation of an amateur ach-; Ictic club in New Plymouth. .Mr. A. 1! i Johnstone presided. Apologies were received from Dr. Fookvs and Mr. James McLeod. The chairman called upon the convener of the meeting, Mr. L. B. 1 Webster, to explain the object of the meeting. Mr. Webster said that the matter of forming an amateur club had been mooted liens for some time. He 'ad frequently been urged by the Wellington centre to form a branch of the sport here, and when the Xew Zealand te.ini did so well the other day in Australia | he got another "rub" from headquarters. He was sure that it wae possible now to run an amateur .sports gathering here, for there was a good ground, perhaps one of the finest in the colonies, the lack of which had been a handicap in the past. It was an unfortunate thing that as yet the people here had hardly had an opportunity of judging between amateur and professional sports. Tie was sure that the establishment of this amateur club, and the holding o f amateur sports, would do a great deal to stamp out the feeling of professionalism that was unfortunately gaining ground in one faction of athletic pastimes. He felt that the public would warmly support pure amateurism in sport, a? against the mercenary element. and that amateurism would prevail. He referred to the fight that had taken place between the League of Wheelmen (professional) and the Cycling I'nion (amateur) in Australia, the amateurs eventually gaining the day ani rising in the public estimation.

The chairman said that if the attendance that evening was a fair indication of the interest taken in amateur athletics, it was quite clear that Mr. Webster was" fully justified in calling the meeting. He was not going to make any sweeping denunciation of profes- , sionalism, for there were good sports amongst the" cash performers, many if them being professional only because there was no local amateur centre. Tile main feature of amateur sports was the elimination of cash prizes, and he was sure that there were many men here prepared to run for the honor of victory as their reward of merit. He was likewise confident that every rigitthinking member of the community would be behind the club in a movement that would do so much to improve the status of its young men. He hid been informed by Mr. Webster that there had been an amateur club he r e years ago, but it had died. It was H peculiar thing that in a province Taranaki, where on the football field and in other branches of sport as amateurs. immediately they entered the arena of sports they had to become professionals. It was not fair to the athletes. Rut what could they do? A lad leaving school had either to forsake athletics, join the ranks of the professionals. or throw in his lot with the nearest amateur centre. A few Taunaki men had joined the Wellington centre, and by reason of that Tarainid had lost the honor of their prowess in the field. The time was opportune for this movement, for the season was juat opening. A small meeting might be arranged for November, and, later on. a team could be sent to the New Zealand championships at Auckland, with, he thought, reasonable chances of acquitting themselves well. Mr. Johnstone explained, further, that the rules provided for the reinstatement of athletes who were not "confirmed professionals;' provided that they had not resided within fifty miles of an affiliated amateur centre.

Mr. Webster moved, .''That a club be formed iu New Plymouth, to be called the Taranaki Amateur Athletic Club." Mr. Tf. J. Hobhs seconded. He asked to be informed why amateurism in athletics had been unsuccessful here in the past. Mr. Webster said that firsi and foremost there was no decent ground. Then the initial sports meeting held in 1808 had been run by people quite new to the con'luet of such gatherings, and t>. public did not "catch on." Tn an«wer to further que<tin>is Mv. Webster said that the club would need to be affiliated with nn existing centre. Application could be made, of course, to form a centre, and then ihe centre would be able to send forward its own team to the championships. He was assured that there would be strong support from Stratford.

The motion was carried, the name being amended to the New Plymouth Amateii]- Athletic Club.

A committee of six was set up to frame rules and report to a further general meeting—Messrs A. H. Johnston. L. B. Webster. R. L. Mclsaac, J. McLeod. J. Elliot, and L. Hill.

ft was decided to recommend to the committee to fix the annual subscription at five shillings. The meeting discussed a recommendation hv Mr. McLeod that the club might furnish part of the programme Tor a meeting to be held on IKb November, and it was decided that iu the event ol the Recreation Sports Ground Commlf.r tee holding sports on that day. this club endeavor to have amateur ' event • placed upon the programme. Messrs. Webster Bros, donated a handsome cup to be competed for by the club members.

The meeting adjourned for a fortnight. after the customary vote of thanks to the chair.