YACHT SQUADRON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23773, 28 September 1940, Page 7

YACHT SQUADRON

COMPETITIVE RACING DECISION TO CARRY ON A decision to carry on with competitive racing was- reached at the annual meeting of the Royal Xew Zealand Yacht Squadron last evening. The method of racing during the season, said the commodore, Mr. M. K. Draffin, would again be governed by the port regulations, as they were in force from week to week. It was left to the committee to arrange the programme for the coming season. Facilities at the new Okahu boat harbour were mentioned by the commodore, who said that owing to various difficulties no use conld be made of this fine area during the coming season. He said that the pile wind-break would be in readiness by Christmas, but that until dredging had been completed the mooring of boats wonld not be possible. It was ngreed that arrangements for the provision of a clubhouse should therefore be left until a later date. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted without comment. In spite of a depletion of boats through members being on active service and the boisterous weather, the report stated that the racing last sensan had been keen, and the trophies had been well divided throughout the fleet. The action of the naval authorities in waiving the war regulations and thereby ennbling the club to hold its usual races, was referred to appreciatively. The commodore referred to the decision made last season to substitute certificates for the usual cash prizes, such cash being transferred to a fund for the care and upkeep of craft belonging to members who were away on active service. A donation of £SO was made to this fund. The commodore reported that, after an inspection of all such boats drawn up. only two required any attention.

The balance-sheet showed flint sound administration of the funds, in spite of the remission of subscriptions of members serving with the forces, bad resulted in a surplus of income over expenditure of -C2SS 3s Od.

With n view to keeping: a record of members on active service, Mr. H. T. Goldie offered to provide a suitable honours board. This offer was accepted with thanks. The flags of office were presented by Mr. W. J. Endcan, M.P., an ex-commodore of the squadron, to Commodore M. Iv. Draffin and Vice-Commodore Dr. K. Macky. The work of Mr. G. Metcalf, who retired from the position of honorary secretary during the season, wns eulogised by several speakers, and he was presented with a case of nipes. The loss suffered in the deaths of several members during the year was mentioned by the commodore. The meeting stood iti silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the following Late members:—Messrs. H. A. Dargaville, G. Wing, R. T. Reid, H. E. Farr, A. Buchanan and Captain W. P. Holmes.

The election of officers resulted as follows: —Commodore. Mr. M. Iv. Draffin; vicecommodore. Dr. F. Macky, rear-commodore, Mr. W. Scott Wilson; general committee, Messrs. D. G. Commons, A. H. Crawford, G. W. Frater, W. E. Fullerton, J. Gifford, H. N. Hewson, G. S. Reid, W. J. Reid, B, rlfc: Stewart, jun., J*- K.-Tattetsfield.