Athletics

MANAGEMENT OF MEETINGS. 35 may be got from local tradesmen and well-known advertisers. These ought to greatly lessen the cost of production, and enable theprogrammes tobe sold at a cheaperate. Three­ pence isquite enoughto charge—too much wherethere isa sixpenny gate. Prizes. —If in a country town,the majority of the prizes ought tobe presented by influential patrons, vice-presidents, etc., orrather subscriptions to purchase them. As a rule, presented prizes are not desirable, particularly from trades­ men, who often offermost unsuitable or" unlawful" articles. For instance, at some sports held in the London district, so late as Aug., 1890, one of the prizes was "a pair of trousers tomeasure" ; another, "a pair of knickers "; a third, "a pair of shoes." Prizes of this kind are not allowed by the A.A.A., and attempts to offer them ought at once to be reported to that body. And for the same reason it is seldom good policy to buy the prizes locally, unless it be a large centre of commerce, as selections are so limited, articles inferior, andprices high; even if the local jeweller gets a "selection from Sheffield," the result is not satis­ factory. It is much wiser, therefore, to purchase "in town," and from a firm in the habit of supplying prizes. If anywhere near the Metropolis, it is better for two or three members of the committee to come up to London, first having agreed on the amount to be devoted to each race. For instance,the first for an important race may cost ^5 to ^10 IOJ -.; the second, ^2 5s. to £2 IOJ . ; third, ;£i 5^.; fourth, 15^.—moreor less according tofunds. In London, Messrs.Fairbairns and Sons, St. Mary Axe, E.G., near Bishopsgate, have always a splendid collection of suit­ able articles, and are patronized by most of the leading clubs, andthe writercan personally testify to their courtesy during the trying ordeal of prize selecting, and their fair