Swimming Lacking Administrators

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 18

Swimming Lacking Administrators

The lethargic attitude towards nominations for administrative positions in the Canterbury Swimming Centre was attacked bitterly by the retiring president (Mr M. R. Duckmanton) and his successor (Mr S. Williams) at the annual meeting of the centre last night.

Mr Duckmanton recalled years in which the election of the management committee attracted as many as 20 nominations: in the past year it had been a struggle to maintain a full complement. Swimmers were exhorted to be dedicated but there was also a need for dedication tn the field of administration, he said. Mr Williams said the posts of president, vice-president and secretary had each drawn only one nomination. He was perturbed that the three senior executive positions in the centre were going to men who had remarkably short histories in Canterbury swimming.

He had had five years on the centre and the incoming vice-president (Mr J. H. Drummond) and the secretary (Mr E. D. Kwok) had each had two years. “Shocking Commentary”

“This is a shocking commentary on the interest that Canterbury* people take in affairs at centre level,” he said. ! If affairs followed their i natural course, people would merit election to office by | long and diligent service to i the centre, he added. Mr Williams urged club delegates to give sober consideration to the matter, as the centre could be heading for trouble. There was no immediate response to the remarks of Messrs Williams and Duckmanton. No ballots were necessary’ and the position of handicapper was held over for want of a nomination. “This lack of nominations appears to be taking a dangerous turn,” said Mr Williams. Maintaining Interest

During the discussion of remits, Mr B. E. Mackenzie (Elmwood) said it was essential to bridge the gap between swimmers and administrators. A strenuous effort had to be made to maintain the interest of senior competitors in the

sport to form a pool of potential administrators. One way of maintaining the interest of seniors was to retain the H.M.S.N.Z. Shie'd contest —an open water teams’ event —as a separate competition, he said. Messrs N. F. Robertson and P. Jones both Spoke in favour of the shield contest being preserved solely for seniors Subsequently a motion to have the shield event held in conjunction with the long dis tance championships was de feated. The new management com raittee will consist of Mes dames C. Yorston (St. Albansi and B Jones (Linwood). Messrs R. W. H. Luscomhe (Riccarton), D. Johnson (Wharenui), P. Jones, who will be the centre’s represen tatives on the Water Polo Board of Control, and .1. West, the registrar. Mr B. E. Mackenzie was reappointed Canterbury dele gate to the council of the Nov Zealand Amateur Swimming Association.