Associate move fails

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 32

Associate move fails

A move to introduce the new category of associate membership to the New Zealand Ski Association failed for the second successive year at the annual meeting in Christchurch yesterday. Mention had been made of the increasing numbers of skiers who did not belong to clubs, and it was argued that the N.Z.S.A. could hardly go to the Government and truly say it represented “skiers.” If the amendment to the constitution had been passed, skiers wishing to race would not have to join a club — some of whom have full membership —- first.

Some club delegates were unhappy about the proposed move, and the representative of the Hutt Valley Tramping Club said that her club would withdraw from the N.Z.S.A. if it went through. Nevertheless, after a long discussion the constitutional change was approved by the necessary two-thirds majority (16-7), but unfortunately some delegates were unable to attend the post-lunch session of the debate and the meeting was four short of a quorum.

The levy, for ’‘associate”

members would have been $5. The other proposed change of rules, increasing the number of councillors from six to eight, was put through without any difficulties before lunch. Once again the distribution is evenly divided among the two islands (four and four), with the proviso that at least one member be elected from each of four designated areas — Taranaki, the North Island other than Taranaki, Canterbury, and Otago-Southland. Part of the reason for “bumping up the numbers,” as Mr I. Borrin, the president, put it. was to get enough persons to do the jobs required. There is also the assurance that the Southern Districts Ski Association will be represented in the next council ■— all three present South Island councillors come from Canterbury. After staying at $1 for three years the levies for affiliation to the N.Z.S.A, were increased to $1.25. The alternative was a reduction of activities, the meeting was told.

The money will be spent in the same way as before, with 56c going to racing and

69c to general administration. Mr A. Graham, the association’s secretary, said that the money spent on New Zealand’s top ski racers was largely self-funding and ali those lots of 56c would “go into our widespread racing programme” which heavily. involved juniors. Doubts were expressed about the future of the “Ski Year Book,” which has been taken over by Mr Graham after the death of the longterm editor, Mr D, E. G. Naish. Advertising was harder to get, club contributions were dwindling, and although skiers’ numbers had dramatically increased no more were buying it than 20 years before. It was decided that the annual had to be continued if possible because it was the only “journal of record” available. Suggestions that it be “livened up and given a modern presentation” — one delegate referred to Capping Mag — lost some impact when the cost factor was mentioned in reply. Concern was also expressed about the low number of ski test passes, particularly in the North Island, even though they were no longer restricted to club members.