MEMBERS HONOURED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 22 March 1939, Page 8

MEMBERS HONOURED.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP. MANAWATU GOLF CLUB. Upon the recommendation of the committee, said Air B. E. Keiller (president) at- last night’s meeting of the Manawatu Golf Club, it was proposed, that Messrs H. R. Cooper and W. L. Fitzherbert, two very old and respected members, should be elected life members. He apologised for the absence of the former gentleman, who was unable to be present. Mr Keiller added that the committee felt they would like to honour these two men while they were able to take advantage of it. Mr Cooper had become a member in 1902, had been elected to the committee in 1905, had been president seven times —of two years’ duration twice —had been vice-presi-dent about 14 times., and had retired from the committee in 1933. Although Mr Fitzherbert had not joined quite so early he had been on the committee for a long period also. He had become a member in 1907, a committee member in 1909. was president four times, a vice-president on 10 occasions, and captain seven times. The first office he had held had been that of treasurer. He had only retired from the committee recently. In seconding the motion, Mr J. Graham (Feilding) endorsed Mr Keiller’s remarks. He knew the great work which these men had done for t-he club. Their records defied emulation. The club members were now reaping the benefit of the work of Messrs Cooper and Fitzherbert, but there was a tendency to forget things that had passed. He looked on lifemembership as a roll of honour. Both these gentlemen were deservedly receiving that honour. Mr H. L. Young said that when he entered the club both Messrs Cooper and Fitzherbert were indefatigable workers. He had travelled a good deal in New Zealand and he knew that people from many parts looked forward to playing on the Manawatu course. Tt was' a privilege to see two of his old friends elected life members to a club into which they had put their hen.rt and soul. Mr C. G. Moore also endorsed the remarks of other speakers. He could definitely say that much of the success of the club was due to the work of the two gentlemen they were honouring. The president put the motion that Messrs Coper and Fitzherbert be elected life members, it being carried by acclamation. Upon rising to reply, Mr Fitzher--I>ert acknowledged the honour which had been done to Mr Cooper and. himself. Of all the men. there was none that he would rather lie bracketed with than Mr Cooper, who had been associated with him in private and public life since ..they had cone to Wanganui College together. He thought that Mr Cooper had done more work for the club than be bad. Mr Fitzherbert said that when he bad joined the club 32 vears ago they had not taken their golf very seriously. He told some amusing anecdotes of plav in the earlier davs. HONOUR APPRECIATED. Mr Fitzherbert said he appreciated this honour more than any he had had before. There was nothing a man appreciated more than the goodwill of those .around him. The secretary read a letter from Mr Cooper, in which- the writer regretted that he would not be able to l>e present but, at the same time, expressed liis sincere appreciation of tho honour accorded him.