ATHLETICS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 276, 4 November 1933, Page 5

ATHLETICS

LACK OF GENERAL SUPPORT CLUB TO FUNCTION THIS SEASON (Special Reporter.) A meeting of the committee and porters of the Waipukurau Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club was held last evening to decide whether, in view of the lack of support, both from club members and the public, the club .should continue to function this season. It was finally decided that the club should be kept in existence. Mr B. L. Wallis was elected to the chair. The chairman outlined the purpose of the meeting and in so doing made reference to the support which had been received from the Hastings and Napier clubs in the past, particularly Hastings, and also other outside clubs. This year a number of Dannevirke athletes had signified their intention of competing at Waipukurau if night meetings were held. However, in his opinion, it was hardly worth while going to the trouble of keeping the grounds in brder and arranging meetings, in view of the lack of support offered from local athletes.

The secretary (Mr D. P. Dinnan) said he had circularised athletes in Waipukurau, as the result of which he stated that only five out of eleven ladv members signified their intention of competing this season, and out of 19 malo members, some 12 were willing to compete. Mr W. Phillips moved that the club abandon the idea of holding any evening or half-day meetings this season but if the offer of the Waipukurau Fire Brigade still obtained, the club should hold a combined meeting with the brigade. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Piki. Tho chairman said he was loth to see the club go out of existence altogether, and suggested that a local competition for a points prize be inaugurated, so as bo keep the club alive and tho athletes in training for outside meetings Tho secretary suggested that the club pay its affiliation fees and concentrate on the combined meeting with the lire brigade in January next. The brigade had signified its willingness to hold a combined meeting and had generously offered to share the profits on a 50-50 basis. The views of Mr Wallis were endorsed by Mussrs S. Stowe and J. Jonston, who were also of the opinion that every endeavour should be made to keep the club alive. A suggestion was made by the secretary that the club make application for the holding of an art union for tho purpose of installing flood lights on Russell Park, so as to facilitate night meetings. Mr Stowe moved as an amendment to Mr Phillips’ motion that the club carry on in the meantime with a local competition for a points prize and concentrate on tho combined meeting with the fire brigade. The motion was carried. Mr J. O. Jonston was re-elected club handicapper, members paying a tribute to his services in this connection. The first club night was set down for Friday, November li.