N.Z.A.A.A.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8144, 19 May 1906, Page 5

N.Z.A.A.A.

MEETING OF THE WAIRARAPA CLUB. A speoial meeting of the Committee of the 'Wairarapa Amateur Athletio Association was held last evening to meet Mr A. Davies, Hon. Secretary of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, for the purpose of oonsidvring what attitude the Wairarapa Association would take up with regard to reciprocity between the New Zealand Athletic Association and the newly-formed New Zealand Athetio Union. There were present: —Messrs S. Noble-Campbell (in the chair), W. W. Chambers, J. Bradbury, A. E. Wilton, G. W Sellar and \. K. Johnston. Mr Davies, who was introduced by the chairman stated that the professional athletic societies—or rather the cssb athletic societies, as they preferred to call themselves—had recently formed a Union, with the object of fostering cash athletics and expelling any abuses which had crept into cash athletics, in the past. The Union, also, desired the Amateur Association to reciprocate by plaoing cash events on the amateur programmes. Tn the event of the amateur body declining to entertain this proposal the professional organisation have practically decfded to eliminate all amateur events at their future meetings. For the amateurs to do this Mr Davies stated it would mean the altering of the whole constitutions no s ; only of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, but also of the Australasian and English Amateur Associations, to which the New Zealand body is affiliated. In other words reciprocity in that form would simply be impossible. Mr Davies then read a motion that had recently been passed by the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A. A., as follows:—"That this Centre! is not prepared to entertain any proppsal that would lead to the association of amateur athletics with professional sports." It Had been further decided to recommend to the New Zealand Counoil that the services of a representative well versed in amateur sport should be obtained to travel the oolouy in the interest of amateur athletics, and that the various Centres be asked to contribute to same. It bad also been resolved to secure the Basin Reserve, if possible, for January Ist, 1907,f0r the purpose of holding a Wellington Provincial championship meeting. A general discussion then took plaoe on the matter. Members generally were of opinion that any form of reciprocity with the New Zealand Athletic Union was out of the question. After it had been admitted that the Club had previously sought to have aaiateur events placed on the cash club's programmes, Mr Wiltoa moved: "That this Club takes no further action in regard to the plaoing of amateur events on the programmes of professional athletic bodies." Mr Chambers seoonded. and the motion was carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Sellar, seconded by Mr Bradbury, it was deoidedv "That the Wairarapa Amateur Athletic Club is heartily in accord with the Wellington Centre's proposal to send a representative to tour the colony in the interests of amateur snort." It was further deoided, on the motion of Mr Bradbury, that the Club should take action to be fully represented at the Provincial championship meeting to be held in Wellington, on .lanuary Ist, ,1907. S.The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Mr Davies carried by acclamation.