OPUNAKE SURF CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1930, Page 8

OPUNAKE SURF CLUB

GOOD RECORD LAST SEASON. THE ANNUAL MEETING HELD. The keen interest that is taken in lifesaving matters by the young people of Opunake and, indeed, by the townspeople generally, was strikingly in evidence by the enthusiasm shown at the annual meeting of the Opunake Surf and LifeSaving Club, which was held at Opunake last night. The president, Mr. J. N. Stephenson, occupied the chair, there being present also about 50 members, including about 20 ladies. As the president stated in his opening remarks, the enthusiasm displayed augured well for the coming season, and he prophesied that the time was not far distant when the ladies of Opunake would take the same place as leaders of life-saving in Taranaki that the men now held.

In supplementing the report, already published, the president paid a tribute to the splendid work of the members and officials. It was due to the spirit of co-operation that existed in. the society that it had achieved such success, lie said. He questioned if anyone realised the amount of sacrifice members made in devoting so much time to training to ensure that the Opunake beach was properly safeguarded. A striking feature was the total amount received from members by way of subscription, not one subscription being- outstanding. He pointed out that there had been a loss of £6 over the sale of costumes and badges. ■ , The balance-sheet showed that receipts had totalled £173 14s 3d, the principal iteins being members’ subscriptions ±2l 12s, donations £37 15s 2d, sale of costumes and badges £2O 0s fid, grant from head centre io, annual ball £2O 7s Bd, dances and euchre party £8 Ifis Id, collections on beach £9 ssj drawn from Post Office pavings Bank £5O 17s lOd. Expenditure totalled £l6O 4s 2d, the principal items being Dominion championships ±7l 12s Bd, badges £l2 16s 4d, costumes £l4 18s fid, new reel and cartage £l7 Cs lOd, secretary’s honorarium £3 3s, affiliation fees £4 4s, new lines £6 17s 2d, improvements to club house £3 9s 3d. There was a balance of £lB 5s lid as compared with a balance of £4 15s lid. at tire commencement of the year. Moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman added that for a club in a small town to have expended £l6O and still be able to show a credit balance of £lB was a record of which they could well be proud. It showed ‘that the club had behind it the whole-hearted support of the townspeople. Officers were elected as follow: Patron. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. (re-elected); president, Mr. J. N. Stephenson (reelected) ; vice-presidents, eight were elected;' honorary secretary, S. M. Smith; treasurer, L. Brown; club captain and instructor, P. Smith; assistant instructors, captains of other than senior teams; honorary surgeons, Drs. Watt and Bowell (re-elected); delegates to the Taranaki Centre, the president and. club captain; house committee, Messrs. J. Clouston, W. Haggett and N. Shields; executive committee, officers ex officio, Messrs. J A. Sinclair, G. Harrison and L. S. Donnelly and two ladies to b?. appointed. The chairman expressed pleasure at the formation of such a strong ladies’ branch of the club, and it was resolved, to place on record the club’s approval. It was reported that 7 Mr. W. Haggett had been appointed to represent the ladies’ branch on the- executive, the opinion being expressed by the chairman that the ladies should also have direct representation on the executive. . The subscription was fixed at the. same figure as last year. It was resolved that the club procure necessary z costumes and badges. The executive was recommended again to hold the annual carnival.,.’The president stated that a straight 100 yards could be secured in the lake where a successful carnival had been previously held, though all the expense of erecting the necessary platform, etc., had to be borne by the club. _ Mr. Donnelly suggested that if there were. difficulty in the way of holding the carnival at Opunake the club might consider holding one either at Hawera or New Plymouth. Members generally favoured holding the carnival at Opunake, tjie date to be during January. It was stated '• that - the life-saving championships would be held at.Wanganui during the first week; in March. It was resolved to continue the euchre parties, and an enthusiastic vote of thanks was accorded the committee that had organised , them, comprising Messrs. Haggett, Brown, Clouston and Shields, together with the ladies who had assisted. ' „ ' . ..