SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 20320, 31 October 1929, Page 6

SWIMMING

YEAR’S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED OTAGO'CENTRE’S ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Otago Swimming Centro at the Y.M.C.A. last night was attended by Messrs J. L. M'lndoe (in the chair), A. Harrod. H. 11. Henderson, ,D. Thomson. P. J. Priest, W. Jenkins, E. 11. Kerr, E. C. Isaacs, A. Greig, and D. Bannatyne. The adoption of the report and bal-ance-sheet was moved by tho Chairman. who said the centre could congratulate itself on the success of the past season. He was looking forward with enthusiasm to the coining season, for the sport was on the up grade, and ho thought interest in swimming would definitely improve during the season. For a number of years past the Otago championships had proved a financial loss to the centre, and a recommendation had been carried by the centre that a sub-committee should be appointed to draw up a more attractive programme, and get the meeting off m one night. He suggested that the Batt Cup date should be fixed fairly early in the season, so that swimmers could train according to a definite programme. He paid tribute to the former secretary (Mr C. B. Lewis), who had occupied tho position for some_ years and was one of the best secretaries the centre had ever had. The centre began the season with a credit of £SB 3s 9d, and finished with a balance of £27 IBs lOd. The chief cause for concern this year would be the financing of the Otago team to Greymouth. The executive would have to take up the problem of raising the necessary money other than from the ordinary revenue of the centre. As the result of a suggestion by Mr P. S. Mathieson, Mr P. N. Rundlo had donated a trophy for a family race, each team to comprise three members of the same family. The race might be staged at one of the carnivals, preferably the centre carnival. Air Isaacs seconded the motion, and made eulogistic reference to the enthusiasm and service to the centre of its president (Mr M‘lndoe), to whoso efforts the increased interest in swimming was largely due. Air Hende’son congratulated the centre on As year's operations, the only weakness being in regard to finance. The sport had been good, and the Otago swimmers had done well at the New Zealand championships. The club fixtures and Otago championships had provided good sport, but they did not seem to be attractive enough to the public, a loss of £7 resulting on the championships. ‘ Omitting the expense of despatching a team to the Now Zealand championships, the centre had come out on the credit side notwithstanding the loss on the championships. It was obvious that money would have to be raised by some other means than from the ordinary revenue of the centre, or it would have to be left to the swimmers to pay a greater proportion of their own expenses. He endorsed the remarks regarding the great keenness shown by the chairman. Air Priest congratulated the Otago swimmers who had done so well at the New Zealand championships. Air Thomson said that lie thought the clubs would not oppose the imposition of a small levy on senior members, which would perhaps produce several pounds towards the expenses of the championship team. The motion was carried. EDUCATIONAL WORK.

The educational officer (Mr .N. M Sutherland) reported that excellent re -mlts had attended the year’s ednen ional work, credit for which must be ,:iven to Mr Knights, ns it was by Ins ’fl’orts that such a great interest had ■pen taken in school swimming by the various teachers and sports masters, the figures, compared with those of. last rear, were as follow, last year’s figures being given in parentheses:—Merit, 490 (383); proficiency, 463 (421) ; learners. 741 (604); total, 1,694 (1,408), _ 01 the total certificates issued 967_ (57.0 S per cent.) were for boys and 727 (42.92 per cent.) for girls. The percentage of merit certificates to the. total number was 28.92 per cent., as against 28.14 per cent, last year, showing a small improvement. Waitaki Boys’ High School shared top place with .the Otago Boys’ High School with a total of 152 certificates. Otago Girls’ High School and Dunedin Technical High School came next with a total oi 111 each. The following schools had applied for the council’s special certificate; —Waitaki Boys’ High School ; 152 certificates, 256 pupils, 59.37 per cent. John M'Glashan College: 45 certificates, 72 pupils, 62.5 per cent. Columba Cob lege 78 certificates, IIS pupils. 66.07 per cent. A pleasing feature of the .eport was that ol tne certificates is sued this year 363, or over 21 per coat of the total, were gained by the pupils of the State primary schools in Dunedin, as compared with 112 (less than 10 per cent.) last year. This showed renewed activity on the part of the teachers and sports masters of the various schools, as it was by thoir efforts that the figures showed such a largo increase. The results from the country and private schools were still satisfactory considering that the country schools especially had such poor facilities for carrying out their swnnming trials. This year the Southland district was administered separately as regards th j educational work, and his thanks were tendered to Mr A. R. Dunlop, ol lha Southland Boys’ High School, for tlio excellent returns sent in from his district, his total being 171 certificates, made up as follows: —41 merit, proficiency and learners 74. It was decided to place on record appreciation of the services of Messrs Knights and Sutherland in connection with the educational work of the centre. OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted:—President, Mr J. L. M‘lndoe; vice-presidents—Messrs A. Greig, E. H. James, W. Jenkins, P. J. Priest, E G. James, H. H. Henderson, P. M. Rundle, W. IT. Buckland, U. Bamiatyne, W. H. Matthews; hon. secretary, Mr E. C. Isaacs: treasurer, Mr E. H. Janies; hon. auditor. Mr N. M. Sutherland; handicapper, Mr J. L. MTndoe; educational officer, Mr A. R. Knights; assistant educational officer, Mr E. G. James; delegate to New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, Mr W. H. Benson; I property steward, Mr A. Haired; polo referee and coach, Mr H. V. Jcrred. It was decided that the drawing up of the Otago championship programme, the fixing of the date, and the date for the Batt Cup race be left to the executive.