CLUB TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 137, 7 December 1944, Page 8

CLUB TRAINING

YACHTSMEN WITH THE FORCES

Including about 170 men who are serving with the Forces, notably in the Navy and the Mercantile Marine, the membership of the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor-boat Club is now close to 500, said the Commodore (Mr. A. W. Johnson) at the vice-presidents' night recently, when members of the War Amuputees' Association were also guests of the club. Out of all who had enlisted, only one club member had been turned down as unfit for service, said Mr. Johnson. That spoke volumes for the virility and physical fitness of those who devoted their leisure hours to yachting.

The Mayor (Mr. Appleton), one of the vice-presidents, complimented the club on the emphasis placed on the training of youngsters. The club would never lack support if that progressive and unselfish policy was pursued. Yachting and motor boating had a special application in defence, The number of New Zealanders in the Navy was very high, said Mr. Appleton, and most people would be surprised when, at the close of the war, a full account could be given of their achievements. Not all, of course, came from yachting and motor-boating clubs, but the numbers were proof that love of the sea was inherent in thousands of young New Zealanders. He hoped it would continue to find expression and outlet in post-war years in the Evans Bay and other clubs, upon which the City Council looked with a friendly eye.

Mr. A. F. Mumford, proposing the toast of "The Navy," said that the club was proud of the fact that practically all the members who had joined up had been promoted to commissioned rank. In reply, Lieutenant-Commander Bothamley stated that 83 per cent, of the reservists in the R.N.V.R. had graduated from such clubs. In truth it could be claimed that these organisations were "the cradle of the Navy." From New Zealand alone over 30,000 men had enlisted in the Navy and Mercantile Marine from the various clubs. The Dominion could 'well be proud of the exploits of her sons on the sea, as well as on the land and in the air.

Mr. W. H. Price congratulated the club on the manner in which it had surmounted war difficulties and intimated that the Harbour Board was fully alive to the claims of yachtsmen in any planning of Evans Bay development. He hoped to see greatly-im-proved conditions for safeguarding the craft owned by club members; better boat sheds and facilities were long overdue.