Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR the affiliation, registration and permit fees received from Associations and Clubs in the South was vested in the Southern Committee, the proposal being carried by a large majority, after a very lengthy discussion. The duties and powers of County Associations were also defined and approved. The agreement with the A.A.U. of America was produced and approved, and at the same meeting it was decided to recognise the suspensions, etc., of the following governing bodies : A.A.U. of America, A.A.U. of Australia and New Zealand, A.A.U. of Canada, South African Amateur Athletic and Cycling Association, and Amateur Swimming Association. The Association already recognised the suspensions of the following governing bodies: Scottish A.A.A., National A. & C.A. (successors to Irish A.A.A.), ational Cyclists' Union, Amateur Boxing Association, Amateur Gymnastic Association, ational Amateur Wrestling Association. The General Committee approved the contents of the handbook on " The Organisation and Management of Athletic Meetings," and it was decided to issue 5,000 copies. At the end of 192 5 it was decided to dis– continue the English Championships, which had been carried out for three years and were no longer considered necessary. Athletes had the opportunity of competing in the three district Championships ( orthern, Midland and Southern) and the Championships of the Association, open to all comers, in addition to International events. At the meeting of the General Committee early in 1926 the death in the previous December of Mr. Gordon C. Innes was reported. He had been a great supporter of the Association and athletics for nearly forty years, and his knowledge of the sport, enthusiasm and directness of purpose, had been greatly appreciated by all his friends in the Association. It was resolved at the same meeting that the representatives of the County Associations should be responsible for the management of the Inter– County Relay and Team Championships, which had recently been instituted, and should take all the financial responsibilities in connection with these events. At the Annual Meeting in 1926 it was agreed to add to the amateur definition a paragraph to the effect that anyone becoming a professional in cricket, football, or any other " athletic game," should forfeit his amateur status, but it was ruled that an athlete does not lose his amateur status by receiving fees or expenses for acting as a referee or linesman at football, or an umpire at cricket. Later in the year, the control ofwomen's athletics was left to the Women's A.A.A. A donation of twenty-five guineas was voted to the Polytechnic, in connection with the extension of their work, as it was felt that they had taken a great part in the develop– ment of athletics. It might be mentioned that four remarkable records were made during the year 1926, viz.: 300 yards, G. M. Butler, 30¾ sec.; 600 yards, D. G . A. Lowe, r min. 10} sec.; ½ mile, Dr. Otto Peltzer, r min. S rf sec.; ¼ mile hurdles, Lord Burghley, 5 S sec. German athletes competed again in the Championships for the first time since the War, and British athletes were allowed to compete again in Germany. 54