Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR stating in public that" he was strongly in favour of discarding the tall hat and frock coat for flannels or more suitable clothes, especially in hot weather." This sartorial " straw " indicated that other changes were imminent. In January, r906, owing to the accident to the Hon. Secretary, referred to in an earlier paragraph, Mr. P. L. Fisher was unanimously elected Hon. Secretary "pro tem. until Mr. Herbert's return," though, as a matter of fact, Mr. Herbert was never able to resume his duties. In this year it was decided that in the event of legislation relating to betting, the promoters of any Bill should be approached by the A.A.A. with the object of inserting a clause giving definite powers to sports pro– moters to control the matter of betting at amateur athletic meetings, and that the progress of any Bill of this nature should be carefully watched by the Association. This was in anticipation of the Street Betting Act of r906, and the proposal came from the Midland Counties A.A.A. The General Committee ruled that the Laws of the Association did not permit of Clubs paying the expenses of individual athletes when training for cross-country or other Championships. It was also decided that an amateur athletic meeting could not be held in conjunction with a pro– fessional football match. In view of the popularity of bowls to-day, it is interesting to notice the decision that an amateur athlete does not lose his amateur status under A.A.A. Laws by taking part in a bowling competition for money prizes. At the Annual Meeting, at which Lord Alverstone (the Lord Chief Justice) occupied the Chair, an objection was lodged by Mr. H. W. G. Haslegrave, of the Blackheath Harriers, to the effect that the voting power of the Association did not properly represent the athletic strength of the country, and he advocated that every Club belonging to the Association should have a voice in its affairs. In the South seventy-six Clubs, who were without a vote, could under the Rules call a special General Meeting, but they could not vote at that meeting! The Chairman, whose opinion naturally carried very great weight, expressed the view that any Com– mittee appointed to consider the matter would find sufficient reasons for altering the present state of things. Mr. Haslegrave's proposal to refer the matter to a special Committee was unanimoµsly adopted, and this marked a great advance in the progress of the Association. In I 907, after the passing of the Street Betting Act, it was agreed that the Association should request the Committee of every athletic meeting to carry out the regulations and to obtain the services of sufficient police to enforce the penalties under the Act. Trustees were appointed and a Trust Deed drawn up, vesting the Championship Cups and other property of the Association in the President and two Vice-Presidents. At the Annual Meeting in r907, Mr. Clay Thomas (S.L.H.) proposed that in relay races only first-claim members should be allowed to represent their Club. If second-claim members were included in teams, they were countenancing a state of affairs that the Cross-Country Associations were 46