BOWLING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 3 July 1943, Page 3

BOWLING

THE NELSON CLUB 55th ANNUAL MEETING There was an attendance of over 30 members at the 55th annual general meeting o£ the Nelson Bowling Club. In the unavoidable absence from Nelson of the president (Mr H. E. Stephens), the vice-president (Mr Frank Mitchell) presided and presented the annual report and statement of accounts, which, after discussion, were adopted. THE REPORT The report stated (inter alia) : Despite the tragic fact that the war .still rages and is nearing the close of its fourth year, it can be stated that our club has experienced a very successful season; that the greens are in good condition; that the finances are sound, and that the membership roll lias been more than maintained. In common with others in our community, many of our members are carrying heavy burdens, and we believe that some of their stress and strain is eased, and that morale and spirit are maintained, by the interests and fellowship which our club’s activities afford.

Petrol restrictions, with consequent transport difficulties, still hamper and

handicap district match play, but these disabilities have been partly met by arranging for an increased number of matches as between Nelson, Maitai and Tahunanui clubs. In this connection our thanks have been conveyed to Mr H. G. Kingsland for his presentation of a cup, to be known as the Kingsland Cup, for competition between Nelson and Maitai juniors. The Leaper Shield and the Vitetta Cup competitive games have also been continued. We are greatly indebted to Mr Carl Larsen, of Carterton, tor his donation of five guineas for the purchase of a cup for club competition. In connection with week-day play, several visiting players from all parts of the Dominion expressed their appreciation of treatment received from the afternoon committee and. in many cases, made donations to our club funds. Membership.—The position during the past four years is as follows:

It will be seen from the foregoing that, compared with the total membership figures of the previous year, we have gained a net total of 25 members, made up from 1 active, 9 associate, and 15 honorary members. The stability of the club and of its finances call for the strongest membership compatible with the green accommodation available, and an appeal is made to members, not only to retain their own membership, but to influence others to join our club

Financial.—Early in the past season your general committee was much concerned over the unsatisfactory financial position of the club. Their finance committee, having brought in a recommendation proposing consideration of the disposal by sale of the club's pavilion, a special general meeting of members was held. That meeting, declaring itself with unanimity against the finance committee’s recommendation, finally passed a resolution in the following terms: “That each member be asked to subscribe to the funds of the club, and that the proposed subscription list be open to members of the public. Messrs Russell, McArthur and ShandSmith being a committee to implement the resolution.”

That the efforts of these gentlemen proved highly successful will be seen by the item, “donations, £252 12s 6d,“ appearing in the balance-sheet, this very generous response to our appeal clearly evincing the fact that there are many citizens, outside our membership who have a full realisation of the value of our club’s delightful grounds, and desire their being retained intact as one of our city’s amenities. We are sincerely grateful to our canvassing committee and to our numerous wellwishing donors who, by their generous response, have relieved our immediate financial anxieties. Thus, your committee has pleasure in presenting the statement of accounts and balancesheet for the ten months ended 31st May, 1943. For the first time for some years the accounts show an excess of income over expenditure. Even if allowance is made for the special donations received and for the additional expenditure which would have been incurred- had the period been for a full twelve months, the year’s operations would still show a small credit balance. Pleasing features in the accounts are the increase in the receipts from subscriptions, tournaments and teas, and the substantial amounts received from the social committee’s efforts, while on the expenditure side the several items indicate that the affairs of the club have been conducted with due regard to economy. Your committee is of opinion that the time is opportune for the establishment of a Mortgage Redemption Fund, and recommend that the sum of £2OO be invested in a National Savings Account, such investment serving the additional purpose of assisting the Third Liberty Loan. Obituary: We regret having to record the loss through death of two honorary members of the olub, viz., Messrs W. B. Condell and Arthur W. Stallard. We offer our sincere sympathy {o their relatives. We also wish to extend our sympathy to those members who have lost sons on active service; and to those other members who are bravely carrying a load of anxiety because of the war, we entertain kind thoughts and express the wish that their anxieties may soon be allayed. Teas: Thanks are due to members of the Social Committee who, assisted by a band of willing ladies, so ably and graciously dispensed afternoon teas catered so successfully during the Easter tournament season.

Comprehensive Thanks: Praise and thanks are accorded to one and all who rendered willing service in various ways and, in so doing, contributed to bring success to our club during the past season.

Club competitions during the past season resulted as under:—Senior champion singles: V. Vitetta; runner-up, T. Hunter. Champion pairs, L. J. Grimsy and A. C. Rout is); runners-up, H. E. Stephens and H. S. Claughton (s). Champion rinks, N. Rout, L. J. Grimsy, A. C. Rout, and A. W. St. John (s); runners-up. S. McArthur, Joe Vitetta, Jno. Vitetta, and V. Vitetta (s). Junior handicap pairs, A. D. McGregor and J. E. Higgs (s); runners-up, R. Smith and B. Holbrook (s). Lyell Cup, H. G. Kingsland; runner-up, A. C. Rout. Jacka pairs, J. Wyllie and Joe Vitetta (s); runners-up, A. D. McGregor and H. E. Stephens (s). Junior champion singles, R. Ryder; runner-up, N. S. Tankersley. Strachan Cup, J. A. Miller; run-ner-up, N. S. Tankersley. Vitetta Cup, won by Nelson juniors, the scores being Nelson 396, and Tahunanui 310 points. Kingsland Cup, won by Maitai juniors, the scores being Maitai 304, and Nelson 250 points. Leaper Shield, won by Maitai, the scores being Maitai 977, and Nelson 889 points; four matches were played. Senior rinks between Nelson and Maitai on alternative Saturdays to Leaper Shield, won by Maitai, the scores being Maitai 327, Nelson 271 points. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Both the president, Mr H. E. Stephens, and the vice-president, Mr F. Mitchell, were re-elected, Mr Mitchell also being re-elected treasurer. Mr Geo. Munro elected as secretary, and a general committee was appointed consisting of Messrs A. C. Rout, S. McAr-

tur, L. L. Macey, B. Holbrook, K. Inwood, N. S. Tankersley and W. H Barton.

The following committees were also appointed: Green committee, Messrs A G. Stewart, A. C. Rout and S. McArthur. Match committee, Messrs J. P O’Gorman, A. C. Rout, and C. H. Kettle' Sole selector, Mr J, Masefield. Social’ committee, Messrs S. McArthur, A L Bridgman, E. G. Wood, A. W. St. John’, W. Mayston, and Jno. Vitetta. Match recorder, Mr A. C. Rout. Delegates to centre, President, Selector, and Chairman of Match Committee. Auditors: Messrs B. C. Neale and W. H. Parr. Holiday Committee, the Match Committee with power to add. Week-day Committee, Incoming Committee to arrange.

1939-40. 1940-41.1941-42, 1942-43 Active .. .... 88 91 83 Life 4 Associate ... 6 4 Honorary ... 22 20 23 38 121 119 117 142