RUGBY FOOTBALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ATHLETIC CLUB

SIXTIETH ANNUAL MEETING

An enthusiastic meeting of the Athletic Football Club was held last night, when there was a large attendance of members to receive the report of the club's sixtieth year of activity, to elect officers for the ensuing year and, among others matters of importance, to hear of the plans made for the diamond jubilee celebrations, which take place at Easter. Mr. W. S. Ridler was in the chair.

■ A feature of the jubilee year performances was the success of the club's first and second teams in winning the senior championship honours (two divisions), and to this the chairman hiade special reference. He also referred to the good work accomplished generally, and to the club's progress to the point at which it was celebrating its diamond jubilee. In paying tribute to the coaches, Mr. Ridler made an appeal for further assistance from old players in coaching the younger members. He congratulated J. Wells on his selection as a member-of last year's New Zealand team and E. W. Tindill on his selection in the New Zealand cricket team, giving him the double honour of representing New Zealand in Great Britain as a footballer and a cricketer.

In connection with the outstanding performance of the club's senior teams, Mr. J. W. Heenan said that it caused attention- to be drawn to: the doings of the other teams. The .club had always endeavoured to maintain the. strength of the. lower grade fifteens. He hoped, therefore, that the coming season would see better fortunes in those grades, for the club: realised that its true strength depended on the juniors in the long run. The frture of the club should be looked to, and it should, not live in its splendid past, so that the honour of its last 60 years would be upheld. • ■

The great service given, to the club by Mr. Ridler, who for long had been an outstanding figure in Rugby Union affairs, was referred to by Mr. Heenan in' nominating the chairman' as . the club's president in- succession to the late Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, C.M.G. In sixty years the club- had had only two presidents. The nomination was seconded by Mr. M. Hyland, another, old member of the club, and, there being no other nominations,, the election of Mr. Ridler was received' with much enthusiasm. ' ' . ! :

Twenty-five new members were elected.' ,■■■■■ ■■■■-.■■

The election of officers resulted— President, Mr. W. S. Ridler; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. A. Adams, F, C. Atkinson, F. Bezzant, E. P. Carman, C. A. Clarke, A. B. Charters;' S. Cockroft, J. Duncan, I. Duncan, A. E. Evenson," W. Elliott, F; Glasgow, E. -Harriett, W. H. Hales, E. O. Hales, J. W. Heenan, A. H. Hollis, W. Irvine, I. H. Jolly,' M. Hyland, A. E. Hugh, J. Lundori, C Luoni, H. Murphy, J.-• W. Murphy, R. J. Murphy, L. Roberts, C. G. Porter, R. Paton, A. Prichard, T. Rapson', E. Roberts, G. Robertson, C. Stone, K. S. Svensori, W. A. Thompson, H. Thomson, J. S. Wilson, A. Wilson; club captain, Mr. A. Wilson; ,hon. secretary,' Mr. F. J. S. .Adam; hon. treasurer, Mr. B. Warwick; assistant. Iron; secretary and'-treasurer, Mr. T. McCauley; management committee, Messrs. J-.-Wells, R. -Watson, M. Richard-son, H.-.L Austad, G.-Walden, K. Kearney, R. Mollier;. Hon. ..: auditors, Messrs. D. W. Madden and W. H. Hales; delegates to W.R.U., Messrs. H. I. Austad, H. Murphy, A. Wilson.

Mr.'H. I. Austad detailed the arrangements for the jubilee celebrations to take place at Easter. The -programme is as follows —March 26, 7.30 p.m., assemble at gymnasium, Arlington Street; March 27, 10.30 a.m., official opening new gymnasium; 3 p.m., annual match. Athletic Park,. Athletic v. Hui Mai; 6.30 p.m., jubilee dinner, Empire Hotel; March 28, 1.30 p.m., motor drive and picnic,- Hutt Park; March 29,. 2 p.m.,- parade of past and present "members, Athletic Park; 2.10 p.m., addresses; 2.20 p.m.,. short sports programme at Athletic Park;-3 p.m., Jubilee match; Athletic v. Wellington; -jubilee dance, Mayfair Cabaret.