ST. CLAIR SURF CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 17469, 28 September 1920, Page 10

ST. CLAIR SURF CLUB

The ninth annual meeting of the St. { Clair Life-saving and Surf-bathing Club, held in Mr F. Gordon's tea lounge last night, was attended by 20 members. Mri H. H. Henderson (president) occupied the, chair. j On the motion of the president the club recorded their sorrow at the death of Mrs P. J. Leadbetter and the condolence with the members of her family, Mr Henderson remarking that this lady was conspicuously and consistently active in working for the good of the club and the community generally. j Referring to the recommendation of the last annual meeting, that the, committee ask for the appointment of a person to control the beach, the president said that this matter had been discussed at committee meetings, but, as the weather was bad, and also the beach, they could not very well prefer the request. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the President said that for the last three years the Fates had not favored the club. Nevertheless they still had faith, and looked forward to a good season. He had no doubt that the groynes would help to build up the beach. Whether it would be made more suitable for surfing was another question. The beach was one of the City's important assets, and it was worth spending money on. The engineers all agreed that the groynes scheme \va3 the right one. The swimming championships were to be held in Dunedin next February. This meeting would be a great thing. Many competitors would be coming from the north, and really good sport was looked for. The Nelson Shield would be competed for on the beach, and St. Clair should be able to put in a strong team. He would like to see our young swimmers train hard for this competition, as they did in the north. It was a pity that more of our young fellows did not take an active interest in life-eaving practice, for it was really worth while. Though the past year had been a poor one. there was a surplus of £l7. The subscriptions totalled H57. and tha expenditure. had been kept down to £4l odd. A lot of work now required to be done, and more members were needed so as to keep the club strong financially and otherwise. The assets stood at £7£T4, and with a larger membership it should be easy to ieduce the bank overdraft of £234. Mr P. Rundlo seconded the motion. The club, he said, ought to thank the committee for the way they had carried on. The Nelson Shield competition was a most interesting affair, and probably wouid be a revelation to local surfers. i Surfing had come to stay. It was not only congenial and healthy, but it hroughs into line men who had been active when young and had since lost their speed. The motion was carried.

The elections resulted thu=: —Patron. Mr T. K. Sidey, M.P.; president, Mr H. H. Henderson : vice-presidents—Messrs E. L. Macassev, P. Rundle. J. R. Rodgerson, P. C. Triggs, J. M'Grath, W. J. Williams. and H. Pascoe; club captain, Mr T. Burns; vice-captains, Messrs V. Murray and W. Murray; committee—Messrs P. J. Priest. J. M'ilburn, J. Bond. M. Kill, f4. Turner, and one to be appointed by the committee : hon. medical olficor=—Drs T. Harrison, Williams, and Stuart Moore ; hon. solicitor. Mr K. Aslin; hon. instructor. Mr A. Find Jay; delegates to Swimming Association—Messrs H'. H. Henderson, T. Burns, and W. Murray; hon.. treasurer, Mr H. H. Henderson"; secretary, Mr I'. C. Triggs ; auditors. Messrs J. R~ Rodgerson and"P. J. Priest; Ladies' Committee—Mesdames Rundle and Ashton, Misses Ryan, Patterson, and Brooks. The President moved that the annual subscription for male adult members be 10s instead of 12s 6d. He said that he did not press this a year ago, when it was pointed out that "it might look as though they were competing with the owner of the private boxes. That consideration did not apply now. The reduction wouid probably help to increase the membership.—Mr P. Bundle seconded the motion, remarking that they wanted men more than money.—Mr J. "R, Rodgerson said he was prepared to go further and make a substantial reduction to those who qualified for life-saving work.—The president agreed with the suggestion, and added that he would be willing to grant free life membership to their team if they won the Nelson Shield.—The motion was adopted as proposed. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Henderson for his services.

After the business the meeting took the form of a social.