FORM NORTHLAND MARCHING CENTRE

Northern Advocate, 16 July 1948, Page 2

FORM NORTHLAND MARCHING CENTRE

AFTER discussions between delegates from the Whangarei and Kaitaia associations at Whangarei last night a Northland Marching and Recreation Centre was formed. Marching was becoming most popular, and had progressed considerably since its inception three years ago; with a strong central organisation and the businessmen behind it, the centre should achieve much, said the president of the Whangarei association (Mr Mack Finlayson) opening the meeting.

Seconding Mr R. Hill's motion that the centre should be formed Mr Howard Ross said it would be a great asset to the North.

vilie in the near future, we should have no difficulty in holding ihe championships.”

UNREASONABLE

“Dominion headquarters have offered Whangarei the North Island championships for next year. Before we accept this offer, we should wait a year until we are firmly established,” he said. The motion was carried. NO “NORTH AUCKLAND” On the selection of a name for the centre, Mr H. P. Conyers-Brown moved that the name Northland Marching and Recreation Centre be adopted. “Northland, not North Auckland, as there is no such place as North Auckland,” he 'said. , Mr J. F. Johnson asked what the term “recreation” would embrace.

Mr K. Haslett: We are a newlyformed body, and have not yet aroused the interest necessary.

The new public welfare officer for Northland (Mr N. Helleur) said that, considering the size of the town, Whangarci had done well in raising 10 teams.

“The Hutt Valley, with a population of over 50.000. has only a dozen marching teams,” he said.

“If you want a candid opinion,” said the Mayor (Mr W. Jones). "I think that it is unreasonable of the parent body to expect a centre just established to take on the responsibility of running the North Island championships. If you do take them you might find that they will clash with the Royal visit (if we get it). s “Another deciding factor is the ac; commodation situation, and, in Whangarei. it. is a difficult one.” • Mr Ross: But the situation will be the same next year and probably for several years to come. If we had the championships here it would give marching in Whangarei a great boost. The decision was left for the committee to make at its first meeting. THE FIRST OFFICERS Officers elected were: Patron and patroness, Mr and Mi's W. Jones; president. Mr 11. P.. Convers-Brown; vicepresident. Mr K. Haslett; secretarytreasurer, Miss M. Timbers: committee, Mesdames J. A. .Inkster and N. Ross. Miss H. Monaghan. Captain H. Ingles, Messrs D. Hart (Kaitaia). J. McLeish. R. Sissons. Howard Ross, N. Hellauv <ex officio). Mr S. Higgins was elected resident delegate in Wellington. An executive committee will be elected,at the first committee meeting.

“Recreation,” said Mr Hill, “would apply to all sports. In Wellington the business houses enter teams of various sports in the competition; marching is only one of them.”

Mr Johnson: It will be necessary to choose a name that will not infringe on any other sporting body, such as the Amateur Athletic Association.

Mr Finlayson: If we differ from the parent body it will put us in bad. Mr Conyers-Brown’s motion was carried. Constitution and rules will be compiled by the committee and presented to a general meeting.

COMMITTEE OF NINE On being elected the first president of the centre, Mr Conyers-Brown said that he had always being interested and keen on marching. He thought that girls marching in the Army had started club marching. Girls outside had seen them and reckoned they could do better. “The centre should have a large committee, with power to add,” s&id Mr Conyers-Brown,.“so that in time the smaller towns in Northland may have representation on it.” Mr Hill moved that seven be elected. An amendment by Mr Johnson that the number be nine was carried. N.I. CHAMPIONSHIPS If the opportunity of staging the North Island championships in Whangarei next year was refused it might not recur, Mr Hill said.

The first snag was the finding of accommodation for 500 girls, and the second was that the spirit of marching in Whangarei was not strong enough. The town could have 20 or 30 teams instead of 10.

“If we accepted the offer, could we be sure the public would provide billets or even turn out on the day of the marching?” he asked. Mr Howard Ross said the president of the New Zealand Association had promised to come to Whangarei to help in the organisation. I “He made the offer of the championships at Rotorua last year and I feel that if we do not accept they will be given to Wanganui, who already have asked for them. “With the keenness shown for marching in Kaitaia. and the hope that it will be firmly established in Darga-