Caledonian President Retires After 50 Years

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31343, 13 April 1967, Page 14

Caledonian President Retires After 50 Years

Mr C. S. Thomas, the man who has guided Canterbury Caledonian Society from humble beginnings to the biggest national society in New Zealand, relinquished the office of president at the annual meeting last evening after holding it 50 years. Mr Thomas said that when he was first elected president, in February 1915, the excess of income over expenditure was lOd. Now, the society’s assets were worth more than £60,000. “With these tremendous assets, I have nevertheless been very worried about the future of the society for some years,” he said. “As the years go by, the average age of our members increases and

there is no substantial influx of young members as once was the case.” This state of affairs, if allowed to continue, could only mean that the society would gradually die. The board of management had given much thought to solving the problem and the first step to be taken was a reorganisation of the soicety’s affairs, Mr Thomas said. Mr Thomas said that as part of the reorganisation, he would step down as president and make way for a younger man. He was no longer as energetic as he once was. He could not understand modern youth and doubted if they would understand him. As part of the reorganisation, a new rule that the affairs of the society should be managed by a board of management consisting of a president, four vice-presi-dents, a secretary-treasurer and 23 directors, was adopted. Mr Thomas said that the time was opportune for wider and more appealing activities. These included the formation of a drama circle and possibly an orchestra. In his inaugural address, the newly-elected president (Mr G. A. Scrimshaw) said that young persons in New Zealand were looking for something more rewarding than television.

He said that he had plans for putting on a highland ball this year and encouraging a programme of public speaking and debating. The possibility of having regular luncheons, which would be addressed by guests speakers and visiting persons, would be explored. A motion of tribute to Mr Thomas was passed by the meeting and several of those present spoke of the excellent work he had done for the society during his terms of office. Officers elected were:— Patron, the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson); president, Mr G. A. Scrimshaw; vice-presidents, Messrs G. T. Henderson, R. W. Milne, T. D. Gordon, W. W. Drummond; directors, Messrs M. E. Armstrong, D. M. Macfarlane, F. S. Melhuish, F. A. Bull, W. A Goss, J. G. Gunn, J. A. M. Hilson, A. W. Mann, Mesdames E. R. Mars and B. S. Gallaway; secretary-treasurer, Miss C. Wood; auditor, Stewart Beckett and Company, Ltd.