Sports Area Scheme Favoured By Council Of Sport

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1947, Page 8

Sports Area Scheme Favoured By Council Of Sport

Referring to the general shortage of sports grounds in Greymouth at last evening’s -annual meeting of the West Coast Council of Sport, the-pre-•sidenf (Mr .F. Williams) said it' was -proposed to concentrate in the meantime on the development of the Cowper street reserves under the war memorial scheme and this area alone should relieve all immediate shortage of playing grounds. The president, in his address, summarised the work of the council during the year, stating that one of its’ main functions was to extend help ip any way possible to its affiliated organisations, when called upon. Jle said that the deputation which had waited upon the reserves committee of the Greymouth Borough Council with proposals for the ..extension of grounds available for the various sports bodies had been reasonably successful. As a result, the Borough Council had agreed to negotiate with the Harbour Board for the use of a site in Blaketown for the laying down of basketball courts and’ with 'the trustees of the Perotti estate for the purchase of an area of approximately 15 acres, with the idea of reserving the land for recreational purposes in the future. If ■this area was acquired, he felt sure that the needs of all sporting bodies could be catered for, for all time. It was proposed, in trie meantime, to concentrate on the Cowper street area.

Excellent Support Mr Williams also f referred io the excellent support being given by the ■public to all forms of sport and to -The big expansion in the active membership of the various sporting or.ganisatiQDs. Outstanding among the successes achieved by local sports bod/es .was that of the Greymouth Athletic Club, which .-won the Mahar Cup competition and the V. P. 'Boot Memorial Shield. He extended the council’s congratulations to the club. Several clubs had received grants under' the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act .and .they had doubtless been of .great benefit.' Some of these were members of associations which, he was sorry to say, were not affiliated to the council. Nevertheless, trie council had given them every assistance.

The Women’s Marching Association, which had been formed since the last meeting of the council had made wonderful progress and the displays had created a fine impression. Its members were to be highly commended for the splendid enthusiasm they had shown and for the splendid progress they had made. In conclusion, 'Mr Williams extended thanks to the area recreation officer (Mr A. D. Spencer), the secretary (Mi M. R. Bunt), the executive and .delegates, '"’j/i’ie report and statement of accounts were adopted. Officers Elected The following officers were elected:—President, Mr F. Williams; vicepresident, Mr F. Costello; treasurer, Mr W. S. McClymont; secretary, Mr M. R. Bunt; auditor, Mr 11. J. Wicks; hon. solicitor, Mr W. D. Taylor; executive, Mesdames A. Rogers and N. Newton, Messrs T. O'Callaghan, J. Oakley. W. Newton, P. Sweelman and P. AfTleck. Mr F. Foehan, on behalf of the Marist Sports Organisation, congratulated the executive on the work it had accomplished during the year and referred to the assistance which had been given to the various bodies, Mr Costello, who was the delegate to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Council of Sport, gave an interesting resume of the proceedings, and ' was accorded a vote of thanks. Surf Club Membership Mr P. AfTleck said that the Greymouth Surf Club last year had found itself in an unfortunate and rather peculiar position, in that it was financially sound and possessed ample equipment, but was lacking in active members. lie appealed to the delegates from the various sporting bodies to draw the attention of their ■members to the _ excellent recreation and other opportunities offered by the ,club.

Several delegates paid tributes io the service rendered the community by the Surf Club, and the president said that the council would support any drive for membership which the club might undertake. The secretary drew attention to the necessity for him to be supplied with uprto-da.te information regarding officers and important fixtures, so •that the register of sport for the district could 100 kept up-to-date. What he termed as two notable achievements in West Coast sport were referred to by the president—the West Coast Rugby League’s representation in the New Zealand touring team and the West Coast Rugby Unioh’s successful challenge for the Seddon Shield. He extended congratulations to the players in both teams and to the league and the union.

Present at the meeting were

Messrs Williams (chairman), F. Costello, W. S. McClympnt, M. R. Bunt (secretary), and the following delegates:—Messrs P. Sw.eetman (Boxing Association), J. Oakley (Rugby League), T. .O’Callaghan and. F. Feehan (Marist Sports Organisation), W. Newton (Hockey Association), G. Fiveash (Cycling and Athletic Union), P. Affleck and j. Cain. (Surf Life-saving Club), and Mesdames A. Rogers and N. Newton .Basketball Association).