ATHLETICS AT STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 1 November 1930, Page 8

ATHLETICS AT STRATFORD

CASH AMATEUR CLUB MEETS.

DECISION TO “CARRY ON.”

“It is not necessary to elaborate’ on the report except to say that as the amateur club held a Taranaki championship meeting at Stratford this chib decided to give the new body an opportunity to establish itself firmly,” said the chairman of the executive, Mr. E. TT. Young, at the annual meeting of the Stratford'Athletic (cash amateur) Club last night in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (already published). Last year, he continued, the club had received sanction to hold the New Zealand championship meeting at Stratford and/ the town had been canvassed to secure promissory notes in case there should be any loss. Over 100 residents gave tlieir notes for £l. As the cost of running the sports was estimated at £3OO and as a two-day meeting would have been necessary to dispose of the events the project was abandoned. If the amateur club thought it could carry on athletics in Stratford without the aid of the cash amateur club there arose a question whether or not officers should be elected, said the chairman, Mr. J. W. McMillan.

Mr. Young suggested that no officers be elected and that the credit balance be placed on deposit to be utilised as a ‘nucleus for the formation of a similai body later should it be desired to do so. I “We need not abandon the club; we ; could elect officers and let the club remain dormant in the meantime, said the chairman.

Mr. R. R. Tyrer said the club had been formed primarily to promote athletics in Stratfor and to induce youths to train. Whether those ■ objects were served by an amateur club or by a cash amateur club did not greatly matter.

It was decided to appoint officers as usual, the following being elected: — Patron, Mr. W. J. Polson; president, Mr. J. W. McMillan; five vice-presidents; executive (with power to add), Messrs. McMillan, Young, Tyrer, G. Jones, W. A. Brown, T. Kirkwood; treasurer, Mr. Young; secretary. Mr. G. C. Johnston; auditor, Mr. Tyrer. The question of an annual sports meeting was held in abeyance.

WORKLESS AFTER ACCIDENT.

RETURNED SOLDIER BANKRUPT.

Creditors of William Robert McQuay, a returned soldier whose unsecured debts amount to £246 16s lOd, failed to attend a meeting to have been- held at Stratford yesterday. McQuay was at the front in the Great War for four years. On returning to New Zealand he followed his trade of carpenter and married in 1922. In 1925 he had an accident at the Midhirst factory, having his arm nearly torn off, which left him in hospital for two years. Then it was another year before he could do any work. When he resumed it was on relief works at 12s per day. Later he was employed on the rubbish cart. After being out of work for several months, he found work with the Public Works Department at Tangarakau. There he met with another accident, being involved in a gelignite explosion, which put him out of work for five months. While he was in the Stratford hospital his wife and child received £2 5s per week as compensation. The remainder of the compensation (£150) was used to keep himself, his wife and two children while he was unemployed for twelve months after leaving hospital. For the five mouths he was off work in 1929 he received £2 12s 6d per week compensation. Since he had been at Tangarakau he had not received more than 14s per day in fine weather and ne found that after he had bought food and clothing for his wife and three children (aged 6, 4 and 2 years) there was no surplus. His average wages would not be £3 10s per week. None of the present debts had been contracted during the past eighteen months. He had not been able to pay any of the old accounts and as a judgment summons had been issued against him he had no option but to file. He could not make any offer to the creditors.

The chief amounts owing to unsecured creditors were: Phillips and Sons, £5 19s Bd, G. Knight £5 (is 6d, E. D. Evans £5 Bs, R. H. White, Ltd., £l3 11s Id, Stratford Hospital Board £IRB 14s, Farmers’ Trading Company £ll 7s.