WORKING MEN'S CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 116, 20 May 1925, Page 15

WORKING MEN'S CLUB

The- members of the Wellington Working Men's Club and Literary Institute held their thirty-sixth annual chess and draughts meeting on Saturday evening, when Mr. A. 11. Craig occupied the chair. There was a large attendance, which included Mr. A. K. Ballard (president) and several members of the club's General Committee. The chief points in the annual report are as follow:—The four prizes in the handicap chess tourney were won in the following order: J. Burgess 1, S. Faulknor 2. H. M. Rosenberg 3. p.nd R. Williams 4. The five prizes in the scaled handicap draughts tourney were won as follow:— T. Costello (handicap 5.09) 1, J. Burgess (handicap 4.45) 2. J. Leggatt (scratch) 3, L. Clure (handicap 4.45) 4. E. B.X'orbott (handicap 21.63) and J. Coulter (handicap 28.63) tie 5. By his success Mr. Costello also wins tlie handsome gold medal presented by Mr. H. Anderson. Owing to indifferent health, Mr. E. J. Barnes, the club's veteran chess champion, retired from the former tourney after winning his first four games. Mr. Barnes, who won the Wellington Chess League's belated "champion of champions" contest for 1923-24. has also withdrawn from the club's chess ladder, and Hie .top rung on the same is now held by Mr. S. Faulknor, he having challenged and defeated Mr F X Kelling (3-1). The club won its annual fixture with the Ngaio Chess Club by one game (7£ to 6i), but was not able to arrange for the annual match against the Wellington South Chess Club. The senior teams' tourney of. the Wellington Chess League was won by the club^s representatives, but they would probably only have taken second placo if ilic Wellington Club's undefeated "A" team had played all its matches. Suitable reference,is made to the good effects of Wellington's "Kostich week," -which was held in the club's social hall in Julylast. The thirty-fourth tourney to decide the chess championship of the Dominion was held in Nelson during the Christmas holidays, when the dubis representative. F. K. Kelling. qualified for the finals, and won the Brilliancy Prize lt ilhiri time in his congress career 1905 1915, and 1925). The annual combined championship and sealed handicap tourney of tho New Zealand Draughts Association was held in New Plymouth during'the Easier holidays, when Mr. L. Clure, the club's representative, showed fine form, and tied for second place m (he handicap event, his prize amounting to £8 10s. The deaths of two members are recorded with regret, viz., Mr. Thomas Johnstone—a. former'president of the Otago Chess Club—and Mr. B. Nelson, a very enthusiastic draughts player, who perished on 7th August iast when the s.s..Ripp! fi went down with all hands shortly after leaving Wellington harbour.

The report, which concludes with thanks to- the General Committcn for continued support, to Mr. H. Anderson for donating tho trophy referred to above, and to the local Press for val-' ucd reports, was adopted unanimously Mr.. A. E. Ballard (president) made eulogistic reference to the good work dono in Urn past, and expresso.l Ihc hope that the- chess and draughts- section would maintain its high standard and generally kcop its end up in the coming year (Applause.) . ; :

Tli6 election of officers resulted as follows :—President, A. E. Uallard: vicepresident, V. Curtice; lion, secretary. W. Wring; hon. treasurer, T. Costello : hon' reporter and recorder, 1\ K. Kelling; match committee, for chess. Mess?" Rosenberg, Bosher. and R.Williams for draughts, Messrs. Clure, Manson and Costello; referee for chess, W. Mackay (president Wellington C.C.); for draughts, E. Butler (Wa'tersiders' D.C.); delegates to N.Z. Chess Association, W Wring and W, Bosher; delegates to Wellington Chess League, S. Faulknor and R. Williams. It was decided to close entries on 30th instant for annual handicap tourneys on the usual lines,and also to open the chess season with the customary sides match, "Captain v. Vice-Captain.". Best wishes for an early recovery arc to bo conveyed to Mr. H. E. Long, the ex-secretary, who is laid aside with a severe illness. The present system of proportionately reducing the sealed handicap' hi draughts fcour° ueys when players fail to qrjrjify !m d drop out of tho contest, was criticised by Mr. J. Wright. A lengthy discussion ensued, in which two alternative methods of overcoming tho difficulty were suggested. It is "hoped •to reconcile conflicting views on this difficult problem at a meeting to be held shortly. An interesting meeting closed with a vote of thanks to last years' officers and a similar tribute to the chair.