OTAGO GYMNASTIC ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12649, 29 April 1903, Page 8

OTAGO GYMNASTIC ASSOCIATION.

The annual meeting of tho Otago Gymnastic ~ Association was held in Wain's Hotel on Monday evening, when there wore 10 delegates from the various clubs present. The chair was taken by the president (Mr J. W. Smith). .In submitting the report (previously published) the Prcsidont said that during tho ' three years of the association's existence it had, (lone a great .deal of good work. During the' • pi3t year two displays had been held, both of which had been thoroughly successful.. Tho last display, which had been an outdoor one, perhaps, had been, tho more successful of the two, .and he hoped that another pf a similar.character would be held during the coming season. With reference to the inter- • provincial contest which had. been arranged for tho }>ast season, but had to bo foregone, ho . hopedthat the incoming committee would lake . the nutter up and bring it to a successful conclusion this year. Ho thought that steps should be taken to securo good rooms for the association, where the various clubs affiliated could meet, a'nd;he would be extremoly pleased if this matter were taken up by the association. ' Finally, he thought that tho time had arrived j for the.association to procure the services of a thorough exponent of tho art of physical culture. The report and balance sheet (which showed I a credit balance of £25 193 6d) were adopted. ! The President stated that he had held the ; position for three years, but he felt that a more j influential man should take over the duties. Tho Mayor (Mr J. A. Park) had been ap-| proachod on the question of taking up the: duties of president, and he was happy to say that that gentleman had agreed to the suggestion. He had vory great pleasure in nominating Mr Park for the position of incoming , president. ) Mr K. D. Grace seconded the motion, which I was carried unanimously. I lit Park thanked the association for electing ' hint to •% position, and said that although he had intended to retire from publio life for a, year or so ho could not resist tho temptation to take up this position when it wa? offprpd to him. He was very'enthusiastic in things pertaining to athletics, and lie hoped* that as tho. association had prospered in the past it j would continue to do so under his presidency. ' He knew he had fallen among gentlemen who j would carry things through; and with'" their assistance he hpped that things would bo even more successful in the future. Although the association was'" called the Otago Gymnastio Association, hitherto there had been no clubs represented' outside of Dunedin and suburbs, : but-lie- trusted that clubs from Oamaru'and Invercargill would soon be-affiliated to the association. Speaking as Mayor of the city, he was in sympathy with the erection of publio baths, and a gymnasium, and he was sure that all the present councillors were in favour of this innovation. He thought that facilities should he' provided for our factory and warehouse girls, who had no opportunity for physical exercise, to spend some of their spare time in thus' helping to preserve their health and strength. A public gymnasium would also prevent d great number of our young meii from giving way' to many of the vices and temptations that lay in their path. It remained for the committee to approach the new City Council and impress it with .'the necessity for an up-to-date gymnasium.' ', . . The following additional officers were elected: Vice-presidents—Messrs J. W. Smith and W. Davidson; .secretary, Mr E. S. 'Wilson; treasurer, Mr W. Beadle; auditors—Messrs G. G. Austin and J. Melville; committee—Messrs A. E. Chapman (Momington), F. C. Liggins (Dunedin), E. D. Grace (High street), E.' : Acltroyd. (Trinity), and J, Dreaver (George street).. • ' Mr Smith hero vacated the chair in favour of Mr Park, just elected president. The question of holding the competitions ; ' in a different way from that followed at present 'i was discussed, and a motion, to the effect that '•: teams should draw for dual competition, and tlius spread Uie contest over several evenings, was carried- for recommendation to the ihcomV . ing committee. . ' " " ' . ■ A- motion to allow' captains of clubs to conw ' pete in the annual banner competition was dis- . cussed strength, but was finally lost on 'a show, of hands by two votes. It was moved as a recommendation to the incoming committee that an individual contest! should be .held, and the motion was carried, j Motions that it is advisable to approach the'' Wellington Association with reference to ar- ': ranging' for an interprovincial contest;' that I the ladies' competition be continued; and that a second, grade. competition be inaugurated'were carried; the incoming committee to consider the motions, With reference to the dcatli of Mr Hudson, a ' lato vice-president of the association, the President moved—"That the Otago Gymnastio; Association record its sympathy with Mrs . ' Hudson and her family in their sad bereave- ' ment, and place on record the association's appreciation of the many valuable services rendered by tho late Mr Hudson as vice-president." —Mr Smith seconded the motion, vihich was carried. , A motion to-' place on record the valuable serviced of Mr Smith, the retiring president, was carried'with acclamation, and tho meeting - then ended. I