Mangatainoka Athletic Society

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 258, 31 October 1940, Page 2

Mangatainoka Athletic Society

ANNUAL MEETING HELD SPOETS ON BOXING DAY AT DOMAIN There was a good attendance at tho Mangatainoka Athletic Society’s annual meeting held on Tuesday evening. Apologies were received from Messrs. T. W. Watts and W. J. Holtham. The meeting stood in silence as a mark of respect to the late Mrs. W. J. Ski 1 ton, Messrs. F. J. Staples and W. Brown, past members of the society. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Mr. R. A. Williams; president, Mr. Erol Lett, who then assumed the chair; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. Fulton, E. L. Harvey, H. Cotter, W. Adams, A. E. Olliver and J. T. Boss; secretary, Mr. L. W. Kitchen; handicappers, Messrs. A. J. Morgan and W. Grantham; starter, Mr. S. Olliver; delegate to Wellington Centre, to be appointed; auditor, Mr. J. D. Thomson; general committee, all present, with power to add.

A letter of thanks for his past services as auditor is to be sent to Mr. E. C. Austin, who is unable to continue in office on account of ill-health. The Report.

Tho annual report read as follows:—- * 1 This society had another of its usual successful gatherings last Boxing Day in excellent weather. There was a record attendance of the public. Good entries were responsible for giving patrons exciting and interesting events. An outstanding performance was that of S. Beales, who won the points prize for field events. In the cycle events, an accident in the five-mile race resulted in several competitors being injured but not seriously. The prevailing line weather tended to make the track hard and fast. Several patches in the straight were devoid or grass and, being bumpy, inclined to be dangerous to riders. An endeavour should be made to avoid this trouble. Otherwise, a successful meeting was held under the watchful eye of the president (Mr. W. Fulton). "The balance-aheet discloses a slight decrease on the year’s working, but tho funds are still in u very healthy condition. A donation of £2O to the Bed Cross Society is recorded. '"lt is with regret that we record the, passing of Mr. F. J. Staples, for many years a strong supporter and able helper at the sports gathering, also Mr. W. Brown, one-time president of the society. We also regret the death of Mrs. W. J. Skilton, wife and mother of an esteemed member and helper respectively. Our sincere sympathy is extended to the relatives of the above-mentioned.

“With the war clouds looming thick abaci, no doubt many of our usual competitors will be missing from this and future meetings. This factor should make us all the more determined to carry on and do our bit.

" Finally, thanks are due to all members who so generously and ably gave their services at the meeting and best iahes are extended for the same assistance in the future.*’

Speaking to the chairman’s motion for the adoption of the report ami balance-sheet, Mr. W. Adams said tho

society had had a successful season and they had been able to afford the donation of £2O to the Red Cross Society, even though it meant a loss on the meeting. They did not, he thought, want to mako money while the war was on but ho thought the meetings should still bo held and any profits given to a suitablo object. The public, which looked forward to the sports, should not bo disappointed.

Messrs. R. A. Williams and E. L. Harvey agreed that the sports should be held to keep Boxing Day, which was a date keenly sought by other club 3 and that all profits of the meeting bo donated for patriotic purposes, this being unanimously agreed to. A sports programme was adopted as for last year with the omission of the women’s sprint and the addition of an under 10 class for the dancing. Mr. W. Adams moved that the prize money should be reduced by about 20 per cent. Mr. A. J. Morgan seconded the motion, pointing out that many young men were going from the district and so entries would not be as numerous as formerly. Several speakers disagreed and tho motion was lost on a show of hands by 10 votes to four. The annual dance is to be hold at Mangatainoka as usual.