Fifty years of athletics

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FIFTY YEARS OF ATHLETICS
representatives from every branch of sport. The inter-
vening years had been full of achievement, missionary
work on behalf of amateur athletics had been undertaken
throughout the country, and the fruit of these labours had
been the founding of subsidiary bodies in the South (the
Scottish Border A.A.A.), and also in the North (the North
of Scotland A.A.A.) . During this time three ex-Presidents
had passed over in the persons of. Messrs. J. Brewis (Royal
High School), its first President, described as the founder of
the Association, T. Lawrie (Queen's Park F.C.), and
E. J. Comrie Thomson (Edinburgh Academicals) .
There was still, however, a certain unhealthiness
prevailing in the areas where sports promotions were
conducted on the larger scale. Relief from the betting
evil was not yet available, and gross cases of personation
were proved to have taken place throughout the United
Kingdom. These abuses were dealt with in a salutary
fashion by the Association, and the offenders summarily
treated. At last in Igo6 the passing of the Streets Betting
Bill gave that remedy which had been for so many years
sought by sports-promoting clubs. It contained a clause
which gave powers to such bodies to suppress all betting
at their sports and eject from the grounds all such offenders.
The effect of this Act was immediate. There was a
considerable diminution in attendances at sports meetings,
but on the other hand there was a more wholesome atmo-
sphere in the proceedings. With the removal of the book-
maker and his assistants from sports enclosures, amateur
athletics began a return journey to the ideals which had
imbued its disciples nearly a quarter of a century earlier.
In this connection it is remarkable to note that for three
successive years there was not a single case of roping dealt
with in Committees. Reference is made with great
satisfaction in the Association's Report for the year Igo6 as
being one of great moment. It witnessed Scotland's first.
athletic success in Ireland ; the winning of four flat
Championships in one afternoon by Lieut. W. Halswell, and
the passing into law of the Streets Betting Bill. Full acknow-
ledgement is also made to " the services of H. A. Watt,
M.P., a hurdles titleholder of the S.A.A.A.," on behalf of
amateur athletics in the House of Commons.
The closing years of the third decade of the Associa-
tion were characterised by a steady improvement in the
tone of the sport.. Many matters
of
minor importance