Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR of each event shall be posted to every entrant, to the address given in his entry form, not later than the day before the meeting or competition," was carried, and recommended to the Annual General Meeting for adoption, an amendment to delete the important words," stating the time fixed for the decision of each event," having been lost. At the same meeting it was reported that a meeting of Southem Clubs had been held to consider the constitution of the Southern Committee and to revise the voting powers of the Clubs, and a scheme prepared by the Southem Committee had been unanimously approved. An important Sub-Committee (now known as the Athletes to and from Abroad Committee) was appointed to frame regulations for the control of athletes visiting the Continent and other countries and athletes from the Continent and other countries visiting England for the purpose of competing. Early in 1 912 efforts were made to bring the dispute with the ational Cyclists' Union to an end, and those who were present will not forget the special meeting of the General Committee at the Association's offices, at which the late Sir Montague Shearman presided. His opening remarks as to the futility of disputes of this character might well have enjoyed a wide publicity, though the meeting was, of course, a private one, and at the Annual Meeting the Committee stated that" friendly relations have been renewed with the ational Cyclists' Union, and hearty thanks are due to Mr. Montague Shearman, K.C., for his efforts, with Messrs. F. P. Low and T. H. Woollen, of the .C.U., in bringing about a reconciliation." It was agreed to confirm the new agreement with the .C.U., which had been signed by the Hon. Secretary on behalf of the General Committee. For the first time in the history of the Association, the number of elected members of the Southern Committee was increased to twenty, with the result that many men who are taking an active part in the manage– ment of the sport to-day became members of the new Committee. The new rule passed by the General Committee on the ·subject of sending programmes in advance to competitors was submitted for con– firmation at the Annual Meeting in 1912, by the writer, seconded by Mr. A. S. Turk, but it was opposed by a large number of secretaries of athletic meetings in the South. The orthern and Midland delegates, though in favour of the proposal, stated that they had decided to abstain from voting, as they already carried out the idea in their own districts, and did not wish to compel the South to follow their example. On their withdrawal, the proposition was defeated by a large majority, and the dis– cussion closed by Mr. H. A. Butler, of Birmingham, exclaiming," Wake up, London ! " much to the amusement of the meeting. Reformers often have to pay the penalty, and it might be mentioned that the proposer, who in the previous year had headed the poll at the election of the Southem Committee, narrowly escaped the termination of his connection with the governing body by dropping to the seventeenth position. It should be mentioned, however, that the sporting Press, without exception, advocated that the practice of posting programmes should be adopted in the South. 50