SPORTSMAN PASSES

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 138, 8 December 1931, Page 9

SPORTSMAN PASSES

MR. ROBERT W. SHALL-

CRASS

Deep regret will be felt..."it .the death" of Mr. Kob.eff.Winra_m.Siiai]crass, which occurred -suddenly ■ -in- Wellington -last evening. For.. same, jtime Mr. Shallcrass had not enjoyed tho best of health,- and-it-was 'just .'after,-"a. visit to the General Post Office that he suffered a heart attack from which he did not- recover, death' .•occurring while he was resting in. a'nearby shop; ■ .

A prominent: £gure in :gport, ho-was

w.idely known for his active work in furthering the cause.of loutdoor recreation, and he performed.valuable service in the interests of tho daylight saving niovement, 'of Which lie was an active and enttiusiastiu propagandist. Keenly interested in bowling, he was a member of the Thorndoa Bowling Club and held' the important office of. secretary of the Wellington Bowling Centre, the duties in connection with which he fulfilled ,in. ; 'a thoroughly efficient aud capable manner. His statistical records wero always kept perfectly, and his conduct of the bowling tournaments was noted for- the smoothness, .with which, all details were carried- out. With, the Thofndon Bowling' Club he was at one time a prominent skip. Wrestling, also occupied his. keen -attention. .Another important post occupied by the late Mr.. Shallcrass fbr' maiiy years was that of secretary of tlio New' Zealand Sports Protection League, and: this brought him into close touch wit'l sport in its many, branches. . He took a very active interest in the promotion and development of. all kinds of outdoor sport and recreation, being a staunch; advocate of more playing grourids and open-air spaces for young and old, Among: other organisations.with, which he had been connected was the Olympic Games Association, and he. was", secretary of the Grand Naval and Military Tournament and' Searchlight Tattoo, held at Newtown Park in: 1924 and. in 1927.- Prior to corning to Wellington, he was in business in Nolson," and at one time was manager of the Alpine Extended Gold Mining Company. Before- devoting his time to sport, he carried on business as as auctioneer in Welllington. . ■"■.;■ By; the death of Mr. Shallerass. .the daylight saving movement has lost a keen supporter and active worker.. It was due in no small way to his energetic seconding of Sir Thomas Sidey's efforts that the introduction _of daylight saving was made possible. As, secretary of a small and enthusiastic committee, formed in .Wellington some four or five years ago, he was largely responsible for the action which aroused public interest and support in the movement. The circularising of all districts to influence people at election time, mainly to test, the feeling of candidates on the question of daylight saving, was but part of his work, as was the sending of organisers to dis: tricts where definite opposition to the movement -was shown. Ho was also prominently connected with the '' shilling fund," the result of which is to be the awarding of the "T.K. Sidey" medal to students whose work merits an award, the first of which is to be made next year. , .:

During, the ,war period the late Mr. Shallcrass was a ready and willing ■worker in various directions. He was connected with the Belgian Belief Fund, and has always taken a keen interest in the Navy League. In "recent years, apart from the activities already mentioned, he has been closely associated.with the Parents' Association of the Girls' College. ' He was born in Nelson in 1870, and was educated at Nelson College.- His widow and four daughters are left to mourn their loss.