Surf Life Saving Finances Of Greymouth Trip Discussed

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 16

Surf Life Saving Finances Of Greymouth Trip Discussed

Criticism of the New Zealand Surf Life-saving Council’s action in deferring the question of financial assistance for the educational trip by Canterbury surfers to Greymouth last Sunday, put before members of the Canterbury Association last evening by Mr C. O’Neill, the province’s chief examiner, was supported. Members objected to the fact, recently reported by their resident delegate in Wellington, that the council had regarded the trip, which had been made purely to help the newly formed Kotuku club at Greymouth, as “a boose up.” It was finally agreed to write a third letter to the council, pointing out the success of the trip educationally and asking it to give financial assistance. More than 3000 persons had been present at the carnival, held in conjunction with the Kotuku club, said the president (Mr S. D. Tarrant). The visit would give the club quite a boost and it would undoubtedly get quite a few new members out of it. As an education trip it left nothing to be desired. However, financially, the visit had been chaos, Mr Tarrant continued. An 88-seater rail-car had been chartered for £lB5, but on the day only 51 seats had been filled. As a result, the association owed the New Zealand Railways Department £B3, he said. “This is one time we must put our foot down. We don’t

want any more of this nonsense coming down from Wellington that ‘we have had in the past,” said Mr O’Neill, commenting on the New Zealand Council's attitude. The council should definitely do something about paying for the trip, he said. Ross Barnes, who was behind the formation of the Kotuku club, had probably done more for surfing than anyone else. The residents at Greymouth were trying to help him, and the Canterbury association was doing all it could. “We went over to the Coast purely to help these blokes.” The National Council's attitude was not a credit to them, Mr O’Neill said. Although the matter had been deferred. It had not been completely turned down, said Mr S. B. Mason, president of the New Zealand Association. “I feel that we should back up the original application. There is no doubt in my mind that they (members of the Kotuku club) are doing a lot of good,'* Mr Mason said. Application may be made to the Water Safety Committee if the application to the New Zealand surf body is not successful. Na Incentive Concern at the .fact that only two juniors were included in the teams to compete before the Royal couple for the Griffiths trophy was expressed in a letter from the secretary of the Waimairi club (Mr B. McGrath). He said that his club felt that this gave no incentive to juniors. The arrangements for the Royal carnival were for this year only, said Mr F. Mitchell The teams had been limited by the New Zealand Association because of financial problems. “I agree with Waimairi. I would like to see more juniors in the teams,” said Mr P. T. Goosey (North Beach). Mr Tarrant was appointed manager of the Canterbury team to compete at the Royal carnival. The third championship carnival, which was to be held at Sumner on February 17, was transferred to South Brighton beach. It was agreed that with the long wade nd administrative difficulties at Sumner, it would be far better to hold the carnival elsewhere.