CLUB-ROOM WANTED

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 293, 6 September 1932, Page 6

CLUB-ROOM WANTED

Mornington Golf Club LITTLE HOPE OFFERED “This is the training ground for fill young golfers in Wellington,” said Mr. D. Stratton, president of the Mornington Golf Club, speaking on behalf of a deputation to the reserves committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon. The deputation was requesting better golf-house accommodation. In introducing the deputation from the Mornington club, Mr. It. McKeen, M.P.. said that the club bad a membership of 100, and was affiliated to the New Zealand Golf Council. The club is labouring under a disability in the matter of accommodation. It can get no other club to pay a visit as there is no place to entertain visitors, yet if such club visits were encouraged it would pay the council. The rooms as they are now are far too congested to dream of entertaining visitors, so the club cannot arrange inter-club matches. Between the rafters and the root of the new club-house is space enough to provide ample accommodation for a club-room, for which the club is prepared to pay a rental in advance. Mr. D. Stratton, the president, pointed out that if the request were granted it would mean a large increase

in membership, and therefore more fees , for the council; whereas if the club was taken away from the links the council would lose. Mr. H. J. Shanks, club secretary, stressed the value of an increasing club membership to the council. “What fee do you charge?” asked Councillor W. Duncan. Mr. Shanks: Fifteen shillings a year. Councillor Duncan: How many members? Mr. Shanks: One hundred. Councillor DunCau: Where does the money go to? Mr. Shanks: Our expenses eat it all up. Councillor Duncan: What are they? “We don’t set out to accumulate money,” said Mr. Stratton, “but we do provide competitions and prizes. We could easily increase the subscription if we had a room.” “T can’t hold out any hope that yon will get what you want this year,” said the chairman of the committee, Councillor F. Meadowcroft. “We have not got the money for any capital expenditure whatsoever. We have only sufficient for our maintenance work. You only offer £25, but the work is going to cost £250.” “It does not sound very hopeful,” said Mr. Stratton. “Is it not a case of being penny wise and pound foolish? If we take the club away it will affect the revenue of the links, and after ail it is the club which fosters the competitive spirit at Berhampore.” “If all the members of the committee are of the same opinion as the chairman.” said Mr. McKean, “they don’t realise the position. Do you know that 1000 people visit these links each weekend?”