ATHLETIC SPORTS SOCIETIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8139, 14 May 1906, Page 5

ATHLETIC SPORTS SOCIETIES.

THE QUESTION OP * GOVERN--ING BODY. A WAIRARAPA ASSOCIATION FORMED.

A meeting of delegates from the various athletic oluba in the Wairarapa district was held in the Club Hotel, Masterton, on (Saturday, to consider the proposal of forming a Wairarapa atbletio Association, The delegates present were Messrs J. B. McKenzie and Thos. Duncan (Wairarapa Caledonian Sooiety), J. 0. McKillop and A. Haughey (St. Patrick's Day Sports Association), J. B. Eaton (Forty-Mile Bnsh Athletic Association), J. H. James (Maugatainoka Athletic .Society), G. A. Donovan (Dreyerton Sports Club), 0. Hoffeina (Mauriceville Athletic Society), J. Phillips (Whakataki Sports Club), V. Wiggins (Alfredton Athletic Club), and J. Strang, (Gladstone Sports Club). Mr McKenzie was voted to the chair, and he asked Mr Duncan, one of the Vice-Presidents of the New Zealand Athletic Union, to explain the objects of an Athletic Association.

Mr Dunoan, during the course of bis remarks, stated thai at a meeting held in Wellington some time ago, a body under the name of the New Zealand Athletio Union was formed for the purpose of governing all oash athletio sports in the colony. It was now intended to form a Wairarapa Athletio Assooiation, to embrace all oash athletic clubs between Wellington and Woodville. It was also intended to affiliate euah en association with the New Zealand Union. Ho pointed out the advantages of suoh an Assooiation.

Mr Eaton said b« admitted the necessity for suoh a Union but unless all the athletic bodies in the North Island at least affiliated with the Union, the objeot of the Union would be lost, Mr MoKillop said that there was no doubt that an Association was necessary and should have been formed a long time ago. It was no use Masterton waiting for other bodies to act; they should lead the way.

The Chairman moved that a Wairarapa Athletio Association re formed, to embraoe all athletio bodies between Wellington and Woodville, with headquarters at Masterton.

Mr Haughey seconded the motion, and in doing so thought that the headquarters of the Union should be in the North Island. The motion was carried unanimously. It was then decided to affiliate the Association with the New Zealand Atbletio Union. Officers of the Association were elected as follow:—President, Mr J. B. MoKenzie; Vice-Presidents, Messrs J. H. James and J. 0. McKillop; Executive Committee, Messrs A. Baugbey, 0. Hoffeins, G. A. Donovan, J. B. Eaton, J. (Strang*, P. Hill, W. Harvey, H. Morrison; Seoretary and Treasurer, Mr Thos. Duncan; Auditor, Mr B. J. Dolan.

Messrs J. 0. McKillop, J. B. MoKenize and Tbos, Duncan were appointed a committee to'draft a set of rules for tbe Association. The rules will be submitted to a meeting of the Executive Committee and then circulated among tbe various sooieties in tbe district. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Dunoan for the interest be had taken in oonneotion with the formation of the AsßOolaton.