AUTOMOBILE CLUB

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 17, 14 October 1933, Page 21

AUTOMOBILE CLUB

Membership ‘ and Revenue

Decline

ACTIVITIES MAINTAINED

A reflection of the times through which the country has been passing is shown in a decrease both in membership and in the amount collected from subscriptions, which the Wellington Automobile Club has suffered during the past year. Nevertheless, the posi tion is still regarded as satisfactory. “The membership of the club,” states the twenty-eighth annual report, “at August 31, 1933, was 4590, against 5088 at the end of the last financial year “In a comparison of membership in relation to ears registered, the Wellington club stands in a favourable position, being well above the North Island aver age of 43 per cent. Unfortunately, the number of unfinancial members has increased during the year, but this was only to be expected. There are among the unfinancial members a number who consider that by reason of non-payment of subscription their names are automatically removed from the register. This erroneous impression is hard to understand, because so long as they remain on the register they receive all club circulars, etc. However, the executive feels that a large number of unfinancial members definitely desire to retain membership with the club, but stress of times makes it difficult for them to meet their subscriptions The executive has had numerous requests from unfinancial members to be retained on the register until improvement in prevailing conditions. The amount of arrears collected during the year was £9O, against £5O in the preceding year. The year which we have just entered, from this point of view, promises to show a still further improvement.

“The gross revenue from subscriptions was £4092, as against £4431 in the previous year, representing a reduction of £339. This amount must be regarded as very satisfactory, and the executive is in a position to say that, in relation to similar Institutions, the revenue has been substantially maintained. The year’s operations have resulted in the addition of an amount of £159 to the

accumulated fund, which now stands at £2588. It may be considered by some that the margin of income over expenditure is narrow, but the executive has, despite the reduced income, maintained all club activities, and so long as this can be done without disturbing the accumulated fund the position must be regarded with satisfaction.”