N.Z. GUN CLUB.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18147, 9 August 1924, Page 16

N.Z. GUN CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tho Aonua] meeting of ihs >l;sty Gun Clubs' Association wus held a', Uanir;ora la3t night. Tho president, ilr T. Parker, was in tho ch-.ir, ile& , dcic;rate.j wera present from 23 o£ iho seventy-t'.ro clubs affiliated-with the Association. Report and Balance-sheet. The council' 3 annual report was *.a follows:—The statement of receipts and expenditure submitted herewith snows a, mure gratifying result than v:e have cspericncfcl for several yearn, and vre Lave teen ai,-'c to transfer a, balance c£ £57 0s 5d to tho accumulated iundo account. A clcsa isixnation, however, will snow that a-niojii tiio wnoia of this surplus is tocountKi tor uy previous years' suusenptions, and by levn-s. Xhe normal income, even at the late, oi subecnfr&ioss now luted, viz., 2s pzr member, wi!l bo jvsi about euiScient to nuct cxpenditore. We trust, however, that we abui) Lav.-; a period °£ freedom from harasses l«rs'-*ia-tion, which, has, during the vuat few years', been tho main cause o! the ucpictjon >»i our funds. Tt;e championahipa ior l'J'33 resulted a3 follows; Pigeons: At Auckland, on June sth, won by JU. P. Hughes, v.-jth J ; Williamson as. runner-up. Sparrows : At Wanganui, on Juno 11th, won by t.. McKclvie, with G. G. Potta-na runner-up. Clf.y: 'At Hamilton, on June Bth, won by It. Clinch, with B. Hughes aa runner-up. In order to assist eocrotarios in preparing programmes, specimen copies havo been drawn up, and are in the book of rules. To lighten the' w«rk of tho secretary, clubs are roquested to forward lists of their members promptly in each year, and to pay their subscriptions without waiting to be naked. Several clubs do this, and it all" would follow this good osamplo, it would bo much appreciated. Tho balance-sheet showed receipts £175, including subscriptions £ll3 3s, levic3 £45 Is 6d, and rulo books sold £ls 6s 6d. The expenditure was £ll6 lfl 7d, leaving a credit balance of £57 3s sd. The accumulated funds account shows a cash credit balanco of £BO 10s Id.

Tho president, in moving the adoption ot tho balance-sheet, congratulated members on the happy etate of the finances, and said they would all a.greo that the council had done tho right ining last year in recommending the incroaao of the affiliation feo to 23 per member. Tho several attempt a to introduce legiala-tion for tho suppression of the eport had involve*d the Association in heavy expenditure, and proved a scrioua drain on its resources. It waa unfirtanate that they must always bo on ciwd against hostile legislation, and as they never knew at what moment the Association ni'.ght bo called upon to face a strenuous political campaign, they ohould seo to it tc.it -.7hi19 they had peace they should establish a sufficient reserve fund to enable tri'iui _to meet any extraordinary call that might arise. In conclusion, Mr Parker 'congratulated the winners of this year's charnpionshipa, Messrs R. M. Gray, J. Gorton, and W. A. Parsons, on their (success. Tho motion was seconded by Mr A I>. Falls and carried.

An interim balance-sheet since July 31st was submitted, showing a balanco in hand of £167 Is Id, with several subscriptions to corno in, and tho only liability tho secretary's honorarium. Election of Officers.

OfScerE for the ensuing year wcro elected as follows:—President, Mr E. F. Stead; vice-presidents, Mr A. Roh.e"itson (North Island), Dr. W. H. Simpson (South Island); executive, Jforth Island, Messrs A. Dobson, J. Williamson, G. Peach, H.,J. Nita, and T. J. Watts'; South Island, Messrs D. F. Dennehy, F. G. Framptou, L. A. Shand, J. SkiUing, A N, Turner; referee, Mr A. L. Falls;' auditor, Mr W. R. Heney. Mr Parker, who had held the office Of president for four years, was re-nominated, but asked to be relieved of office, mainly on account of his intention to visit England this year. ; . Mr Parier w*a elected a life member of the Association in recognition of bis services. It was resolved to forward a, letter of thanks to Mr J. E. Glcadow, Napier, for his services as auditor '

The championships for 1336 were allotted as follows:—Pigeons and sparrows, Masterton Club; clays, Marton Chib. The chairman reminded the meeting that the sparrow championship in 1913 was shot off by Mr Stead and tho late Mr W. W. Meagher, but the medal was not awarded, owing to the contest having been undcided. It had now beep agreed, with Mr Stead's approval, to award the win to the late Mr Meagher, who in 1918, after, three years' military Bervice, was killed in Franco.

The members «tcod in silence for a few momenta in memory of Mr Meagher. Mr A. Dobson, haying written to the British -Trap Shooting Association, wishing l it 3 team success in the Olympic contest, and extending an invitation for a, team, to visit Kew Zealand, a reply was read expressing the thanks of the British Association for iho good wishes, and stating that while appreciating the invitation the. committee was unable to accept it, as most of the shooters were in business and could not afford the time.

Remits Considered. TJio following remit was submitted by the Christchurch Club: "That to bring our clay bird shooting in line with American oondi-, tions, by-law No 69 should bo altered to read 83 follows: 'The traps must throw a distance of not less than 45 yards or mora than 55 yards, and the height of the birds shall not Tjo less than six feet or moro than 12 feet, and 10 yards from the trap.'" After a ahort discussion the. remit was withdrawn. The Auckland Gun Club submitted th« following remit: —"That the half-eirclo, G yard« from the traps, bo mods of thin po6ls 6 feet *bovt ground, with a ropo painted white fastened on top of the posts, sa as the shooter would notioe whether the clav bird was properly thrown, to bo used at all New Zealand clay bird championships." Mr A. Dobson moved th© adoption of the remit, with the substitution of "6 fest •wire netting Tound a half-circle," in place of "the roof." Mr H. J. Nils seconded the motion, but an amendment by 'Mr A. L. Falls, that the remit be ield over Until the nest annual meeting, t"ha clubs in tbo meantime to give the proposal a trial, was carried; Another remit from the Auckland Club was as follows:—"That if the entrios in the New Zealand livo pigeon championship oxoeed tho number that can be disposed of in ono day, power be given to the Council to decide regarding l commencing tbo championship'! the previous day, immediately after the handicap match, and shoot a number of rounds according to the entries. Knowingthat there 13 an aggregate for the championships, it was only fair to alt shooters who may have a chance of winning the aggregate, although not winning a championship, to ehoot undci equal weather and Uijht conditions. The adoption of the remit was ruovetl by 2tlr Ttebaon, bat after a short discussion was rejected. Beforo tho meeting closed. Mr J. Shilling, president c? tho North, Canterbury Gun Club, thanked tho visitin? gunmen for their support, and espreSEed a hope that they had enjoyed their -visit, i£r Do'b&on said it ha<i been thought that the Springston Club could not run a. championship successfully, but this had baen proved otherwise. The sparrow chaiapionshin carried out by tho Christcluireh Club, »nd the live pigeon ohanipionshin by tho North Canterbury Club, had als> been hie-hly successful, in spite of tho unfavourable weather. He called for cheers for the throe clubs, which were heartily given.