KEEN CRITICISM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20066, 12 October 1939, Page 8

KEEN CRITICISM

AMATEUR ATHLETES CLUB NOT SUPPORTED CONTINUANCE JUSTIFIED? SUBSCRIPTIONS UNPAID "Your committee cannot express its usual pleasure and offer the usual congratulations in submitting this annual report and balance sheet. A study of the finances of your club, particularly in relation to unpaid subscriptions and entry fees, is most alarming, and the very small revenue produced by social functions has been very discouraging to your committee," states the opening paragraph of the annual report of the Gisborne Amateur Athletic and Harrier Club.

The report is to be presented to the annual meeting next Thursday, and the sentiments of the committee are sufficiently indicated by the following further extract:

“It is apparent that the time has come to consider whether or not the club should continue to function. Your attention is drawn to the fact that no club has a right to continued existence unless all its members are prepared to give their fullest co-opera-tion. and your committee would not be doing justice to its position if it continued to contract liabilities among the business people of the district without some very concrete evidence of renewed and sustained support from members of the club. Useful aiul Desirable Amenity “On the other hand, if the required co-operation is forthcoming and is maintained at a satisfactory level, the club can continue to function as a useful and desirable public amenity.” It is recorded that the additions made to the flood-lighting system at the Childers Road Reserve had proved successful, though they occasioned a considerable outlay which had hardly been justified by the results. The club was ably represented at the national amateur athletic championships by L. Grey and C. Parkinson, the former gaining second places in the high jump and in the pole vault. At the junior national championships, S. Gribben also represented the club. Members who took part in the centre championships in Dannevirke during the season were Misses L, Scott. T. Lloyd, E. Stokes and Mrs. Nicol, and Messrs. C. Parkinson, L. Grey, S. Parker, W. Wallace and G. Sutton.

The club entertained visitors from the Wairoa and Opotiki clubs, and also returned those visits.

Energetic Younger Members

On the subject of social activities, the report states that this branch lias been administered by a section of the younger members.-to whom congratulations are extended on the excellent club spirit they displayed. The most pleasing feature of track athletics during the season was the great interest manifested by school children in the juvenile events, though the task of interesting the secondary pupils in larger numbers has not yet been solved.

An appeal for financial assistance to keep the club going was made during the year, but with modest results, 29 out of 14G0 recipients acknowledging the let'ers sent out. Thanks are addressed to those who responded to the appeal, and also to many other residents who in various ways helped the cluli.