MILITARY SPORTS YEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 174, 25 July 1928, Page 8

MILITARY SPORTS YEAR.

LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST. A FILLIP REQUIRED. In presenting a verbal report to the annual meeting of the Auckland Military Sports Association last night, Mr. Jas. Carlaw, who presided in the absence of Colonel Potter, stated that the association had done excellent work throughoat the year in promoting physical fitness and culture among the youth of Auckland by means of the gymnasium, boxing, swimming and field athletics. Although excellent work had been done and sports gatherings of a character unexcelled in the Dominion had been held, they had failed to enlist the public interest. Only the boxing tourney had shown a profit, and that merely of 14/11 after prizes of the value of £50 had been donated by business folk. The association had started the year with a credit balance of £868, most of which had come from the military pageant fund, and ended with a credit balance of £855. Clearly the association would have to find coma means of enlisting public interest or would have to endeavour to get a Government subsidy in recognition of its excellent service to the young manhood of the district. Otherwise it would be unable to carry on. Mr. H. Frost appealed to the boys themselves to interest parents and friends, and Mr. A. Bayliss reminded the lads who received the benefits of the association of several instances of apathy on their own part, which would naturally bo reflected in lack of outside interest. Lieut.-Colonel Duigan said he had been requested by Colonel Pother to express the admiration both the Colonel Commandant and Major-General Young felt for the work of the association. No doubt funds would be available again from the next pageant, and he felt that through these pageants every third year the sympathy of the civilian population would be enlisted eventually. Tributes were paid to the work of Lieut. T. P. Laffey (who wa3 absent on account of illness) and the members of the permanent staff, and motions of thanks were passed to the Interhouse Ladies' Association and to the donors of prizes. The election of officers resulted:— Patron, the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon; president, Colonel H. R. Potter; director of sports. Major W. C. Finnis; hon. secretary, Lieutenant T. P. Laffey; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. Bayliss; committee, Messrs. J. Carlaw, J. Arneil, H. Frost, S. Gyllies, T. Sampson, J. P. Kalaugher, L'. Patrick, Captain G. Clifton, Captain C. P. Worlcv, Captain R. B. Hardy, Lieut. R. S. Judson, V.C., Staff-Ser-geant W. H. Alexander.