Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS The Minute Book commenced with a report of the conference held in Oxford" by invitation of O.U.A.C. and C.U.A.C., on April 24th, 1880," printed by the Oxford Chronicle Company. This report is summarised in another place, and every one should read it. It is interesting to glance at the report of the first meeting of the General Committee, held at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street, London, on May I 5th, 1880. Mr. B. R. Wise was elected Chairman for the day. The Earl of Jersey was elected President, and Mr. B. R. Wise Vice-President. Mr. M. Shearman was proposed as Hon. Secretary by Mr W. Waddell, seconded by Mr. T. Shore, and it is not surprising to read he was elected without opposition. There was no great desire to act as Hon. Treasurer. Four people declined, and finally Mr. C. N. Jackson consented to under– take the duties. The Hon. Secretary was authorised to spend a sum not exceeding £30 on clerical assistance for the year. Mr. James Waddell stated, on behalf of the Committee of the L.A.C., that they considered that there was nothing in the Rules to prevent any particular Club reserving to itself the right to refuse any entry to its own Sports. This was agreed. The Committee then drew up a code of rules for the management of Championships and other athletic meetings. A copy of the rules, as passed, is not without interest at the present day, when we review the immense number of rules and regulations for competitions, and for this reason we give in another place a copy of the first Rules for Competitions. It is interesting also to glance at the report of the first Annual General Meeting, at the Midland Hotel, Birmingham, on August 7th, 1880. Mr. B. R. Wise (Vice-President) was in the Chair. The Hon. Secretary presented the report relating to the Championships at Lillie Bridge, London, on July 3rd and 7th. The Committee congratulated the Asso– ciation on the fact that 80 entries were received for the meeting, a far larger number than had ever been received before. Not only were all the entries those of high-class athletes, but they represented Clubs in every part of the United Kingdom: 40 entries were received from London Clubs, 8 from the Universities, 24 from other parts of England, 6 from Scotland, I from Ireland and I from Wales. Ofthe 14competitors who won Championships, 6 were from London, 4 from the Provinces, 3 from Oxford and 1 from Scotland. The Committee expressed the opinion that the efforts made by the Association to secure a real Champion– ship meeting had met with complete success. They regretted that there was a loss of £31 zs. 2d. on the meeting. The accounts of the first Cham– pionship meeting will be found in the interesting article by Mr. W. M. Barnard. Later in the year there was an important discussion at a meeting of the General Committee on the subject of the system at Cambridge of giving vouchers to successful competitors, which were subsequently presented to tradesmen, in order that prizes might be selected. The representative of the C.U.A.C. stated that they were willing to abandon the practice, as it appeared advisable that it should be discontinued. 37