Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS The Annual Meeting in 1922 was held for the first time at the Royal Society ofArts. The number of Vice-Presidents was increased to twelve, and after Mr. W. Mabbett had withdrawn, Messrs. H. ewbould and J. E. Fowler-Dixon were elected to the two remaining places. The question of the Annual Championships of the Association being limited to athletes who were subjects of the British Empire was discussed, but no formal proposal was made. In 1923 the first Southern Championships were held at Aldershot, and the first English Championships, decided at Northampton, resulted in a small profit. At the Annual Meeting in 1924 reference was made to the death of Mr. Charles Herbert, and as an innovation in the case of a meeting of the General Committee, it was decided to admit the Press to the meeting. The Rules Revision Committee recommended some important changes in Rules. It was decided that athletic competitions or exhibitions by professional athletes of any kind were prohibited at meetings under A.A.A. Laws, and that a suspended amateur cannot take part in the management of an affiliated Club, hold the office of President or Vice– President, officiate at any Club meeting or take part in Club runs or races. This was very drastic, but it was designed to meet the case of any man who might be suspended from competing and still attempt to take part in the sport in another capacity. The ruling of the Southern Committee that whippet racing is not permitted at meetings under A.A.A. Laws was confirmed, and incorporated in the competition rules. Two useful matters were settled in the same year. It was reported that the Southern Committee proposed to issue a handbook on "The Organisation and Management of Athletic Meetings," and a proposal by the Southern Committee relating to the provision of a suitable enclosure inside the track, adjoining the winning-post, for the exclusive use of the Referee, acting Judges and Timekeepers was approved. A series of instructional lectures was instituted, under the management of Mr. T. S. Grant and a special Committee, at the end of 1924. These were a great success, and there was an attendance of about 400 at many of the lectures, the large hall of the Stadium Club being filled. At the Annual Meeting in 1925 the death of Mr. C. N. Jackson, the Hon. Treasurer in the first thirty years of the Association's existence, was reported. For the first time, the Vice-Presidents were divided into two classes, viz., eight Life Vice-Presidents and eight Vice-Presidents to be elected annually, viz. :-Life: Messrs. T. M. Abraham, W. M. Bar– nard, H. A. Butler, A. Fattorini, P. L. Fisher, W. Mabbett, H. ewbould, and G. V. A. Schofield. Elected: Lord Desborough, Messrs. W. W. Alexander, H. J. Barclay, J. E. Fowler-Dixon, G. C. Innes, C. E. Lyall, A. E. Machin, C. J. Pratt. Provision was made in the Laws for the election of individual members, at a sub– scription of 10s. per annum. The expenditure of the money arising from 53