CLYDE CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3516, 6 April 1931, Page 5

CLYDE CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the ClydcEarnseleugh Football Club was held at Clyde on Thursday, 2nd April, when much enthusiasm was shown by an attendance of 28.

lie I'orc opening the meeting Mr Wing made reference to the sad demise ot Mr Archie Hawley, who was for some years an enthusiastic member of the old Earnscleugh Club. A motion of sympathy was observed by members standing in silence. The minutes of the past years annual meeting were read and continued. The balance-sheet was read and adopted showing a credit balance of £2O 2 4d. Mr Wing commented on the previous season and said he felt very optimistic in regard to the coming season. The election of office-bearers resulted as under:— President, Mr J. Wing (re-elected). Vice-presidents, MessrsE. J, Ivcrsen, .1. O'Connell. W. Wheatland, W. K. George, H. E. Stevens, P. Tonic and C. J. iSpaiu. Secretary and Treasuser, C. J. Hanning jnr., (re-elected). Management Committee, Messrs C. McGinnis, A. Annan, W. Gye, J. O'Connell, W. Keddell, J. McArthur, E. J. Ivcrsen, G. Taylor anil W, Wheal land* Selectors, Messrs J. Wing, 11. K. I’aulin and Captain. Delegates to the Sub Union, Messrs J. Wing and E. J. Ivcrsen. Club Captain, Mr P. Tonic, The matter of a J* grade team was left in the hands of .Mr (J. L. Stevens to investigate possibilities. Ladies Social Committee, Mesdames E. -1. Ivcrsen, McGinnis, Kiimaird, Hanning, Wilson and H. E. Stevens, with [lower to add. Membership lees were lived at: lion members ss, Playing members As (id.

Alter a good deal of discussion it was decided to vote £\ 2 ID, towards travelling expenses. Allocation ol allowance was Jett in the hands of the (leneral Committee.

It was cl< ■(• it 1 1 •< I to approach the Alexandra ('lull with a view lo arranging a friendly game on Kastci Saturday.

The date for the first practice wa fixed lor Saturday, 1 ill) April.

'\ he matter ol holding a Tournament ul Malakaimi this year was brought up. Alter a lengthy discussion the Club was iu favour of Matakaimi having a turn, but as it is Alexandra’s turn this year the delegates were instructed to support. Alexandra s claim for lids year provided that, the clubs claim was proved bona-fide

lu connection with translers trom i.ue club to another it was decided to favour the present Sub Cnion rules except in extenuating circumstances.

Ihe [iurciia.se of .Members Ticket was left in the hands of the secretary.

|i was decided that the past services nt Mr.tack McArthur be honoured in .-me tangible way and il was decided dial a. Wedding Present be arranged for his approaching marriage, A vote of thanks to the chair closed

To the Editor, Sir, With reference to tlie Motor Union’s official statement on the subject of de-rating farm lands, will you kindly allow me to reply as follows? No scheme of improving main highways by taxation of all motorists can lie fair, because the rural motorist who makes less use or such roads pays without receiving proportional benefit. Concrete and bitumenous roads give motorists a profit on taxation, poor roads are much more expensive to motorists in benzine, tyres and maintenance, so that the users of such roads not only pay more taxation, but would even receive less in return were the proceeds of taxation spread over all roads in ratio of traffic. As the main benefit is confined to roads between centres, and funds are principally spent near main centres, the motorists in those centres receive excessive advantages. Moreover the county ratepayers contribute through rates as well as benzine taxation to the Main Highways, which arc not one((Uarter of the formed roads in mileage, besides entirely supporting the remaining three quarters of roads. The Motor Unions object to Government taxation of motor vehicles etc . except for road improvement purposes. Would it not be as reasonable to object (o taxation of dairying and agricultural machinery, or even of beer, unless the proceeds were specifically devoted to benefit of the taxed? Also, the new trallic has received a free gift of past expenditure of TlOd,ui)y,ooo which the Transport Department states to have be'nt invested in roads.

The Motor Unions may have voluntarily oll'ered to pay motor taxation lor certain purposes, as they state, but that is hardly to the point. They had no right to do so. This taxation has involved many who are suffering unduly through it. Good roads lead to ordinary County roads and pour outside traffic upon them which they are not conditioned to withstand, destroying them rapidly, whilst the drain on county funds for Main Highways purposes leaves nothing available in some ridings for ordinary riding roads. In mentioning the amount diverted from Main Highways last year by Government it should be clearly understood that the money in question consisted of Government grants to the road users ss compared with users of the railways.

It should also be borne in mind that benzine taxation is not all passed on to the motorists.—twopence and the nine-fortieths super tax being carried by the oil companies, that borough road rates have not increased since the Main Highways Act was passed, though county road rates have increased HO per cent, (a queer commentary on the claim that‘‘motor taxation is *de rating”), that the towns would receive about double as much money under the automatic allocation of the benzine tax, and, as they arc not suffering any hardship at present, borough and city ratepayers would benefit greatly. Why the cities should obtain a “much larger proportion” of the tax is -a conundrum.

The Motor Union’s suggestion that the county ratepayer motorist would pay more under an increased benzine tax than lie does at present in benzine and motor taxation combined is quite untenable, because the amount he already pays in rates would be wiped out and the corresponding tax which de-rates those lands would be distributed over 220,000 persons using motor vehicles, where there are only about one-quarter as many farmers, not all of whom use motor vehicles,

Had the £040,000 usually paid by Government to the Main Highways ete., not been diverted to the Consolidated Fund, it would nut necessarily have helped farmers, as stated by the Motor Union. A great deal of expenditure on main highways is actually detrimental to farmers, leading more outside trail'ic to county roads. The ‘'killing the golden goose’’ argument has nothing in it since if benzine consumption is reduced so will be the wear and tear on roads. Yours etc., A. E. Kubin.ion, Provincial Secretary N. Z. Farmers’ I 'nion Aueklahd Province.