LIFE-SAVING IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1931, Page 5

LIFE-SAVING IN TARANAKI

ANNUAL MEETING OF CENTRE!

VENUE OP THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. ■ STRONG PROTEST TO N.Z. CENTRE; A busy season in life-saving is antii cipated by the Taranaki Head Centre of the Royal Life-Saving Society, judgino’ by the enthusiasm shown and the remarks made by delegates at the annual meeting of that body last night. The president,. Mr. R. G. Howell, occu-; pied the chair, there being also, present delegatee from the Ladi.es’ Life-Saving, Opunake, Ritztoy, East End, Old Boys and New 'Plymouth' High Schbdl clubs. The balance-sheet showed that receipts had totalled £3O 14a 9d, 'the principal items, being. examination fees £l6 12b,'affiliation’fees £2l2s 6d.Government grant' £9 2s 4d. .Expenditure had totalled £69 6s, the chief items' being stock £29 3s, medals and engraving £8 196 6d, travelling expenses to New Zealand championships £lO. The credit balance was £24 2s lid, as against £63 10s 7d at the commencement of the year. Assets exceeded liabilities by £97. In moving the adoption of the report (already published) and balance-sheet the chairman referred to the splendid manner in which clubs had responded by coaching their members, etc. As a result there had been a good deal of activity. The fact that they had won the Wigram Shield disposed of Manawatu’s allegations of slackness. Thanks were especially due to Miss Allan and Miss Taylor, of the Girls’ High School, and Messrs. W. H. Moyes and F; J. Eggleton, of the Boys’ High School, for the keen interest taken in life-saving. Without their assistance the centre would not have taken such a prominent place. • The Opunake and East End Surf Clubs were also to be thanked- for keep-. in<r the centre in full swing as far as the competitions were concerned. Whilst Opunake had 'been most ' successful and deserved congratulations; he considered the East End Club deserved special congratulations as it had been the most active club■ in the centre, having built up in a couple of. years, from a small club to a very strong one. The interest displayed had been remarkable and he thought that Opunake would be the first, to admit that‘but for East End they would not have been able to obtain the competition they had. SCHEMES FOR FINANCE. The season had been a very successful one, due entirely to the enthusiastic way in which the clubs had worked. Despite a strenuous year, the centre had come out with a satisfactory credit balance. However, that was not sufficient to carry the centre through the season, but no doubt the centre ex eeutive should devise some scheme to augment the finance. Replying to Mr. J. N; Stephenson (OpunakeF, the president stated that .therefwas a possibility of the Government 'grant being cut out or reduced. The N ew Zealand Council did not allocate / any portion of the grant to a centre that did not gain any award. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. Q. W. Palmer; vice-presi-dents, presidents of affiliated clubs; hon. auditor, Mr. L. W. Lovell (reelected); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr £. Frethey (re-elected); hon. exam-, iners, Misses E. L.. Dowling, H. Thompson (Stratford), Knight (Waitara), Mrs.. Govenlock, Messrs. R. G, Howell, W., Penman, A. E. GiUiver, H. Thompson, C. plumtree, W. E. Smith, P. Smith, L. Brown, L. Dickey, H. S; Weston and F. J. Eggleton (the Patea Club is also to be a'sked to nominate two examiners)- 4 elegate to ; the New Zealand Council, Mr. H. J. Ballin; surf judges, Messrs. A. R. Standish, G. E. Jago, C. Brown, R. G. Howell, W. H. Haggitt and Miss.E. L. Dowling; hon. competition instructor and surf examiner, Mr. S. Corkill. ? . . . . Eulogistic reference was made to the splendid work of the" centre’s delegate, and he was accorded a vote of thanks, as was 'Mr. W. N. Stephenson for the uee of his rooms. ' ’ A vote of thanks was accorded the secretary for his indefatigable work, and he was voted an'honorarium. In response to a. deputation from the centre, : the Borough Council, notified that the , council, had resolved to refer the request to the Mayor to see what 1 steps could be taken to raise funds for the society. . The president stated that the Mayor wag sympathetic to the centre and there was every probability that the subsidy would be reinstated during the next financial year. INVITATION TO AUSTRALIA. The New Zealand Council notified that an invitation had been received through the Wellington Centre from the New South Wales Surf and Life-Saving Association inviting a New Zealand team to take part in the Australasian surf championships to be held during the bridge opening celebrations in March. pailFncr a New Zealand team, a local team was invited. Consideration of the matter was deferred. It was resolved to fall in line with the suggestion of the New Zealand Council 0 to close the financial year on May 31, and that all reports be forwarded to the New Zealand Council not later than June 20. Mr. Stephenson (Opunake) submitted a report on the last New Zealand conference at Wanganui, at which he represented the centre. He pointed out that the ends of the conference were to a certain extent stultified by the action of the chairman in limiting discussion. Mr. Stephenson considered that , the regulations for the Nelson Shield competition should be re-drafted to enable the water work to be doue in heats, it possible. That would give every, team nracticaily the same conditions. A ’motion was proposed that all examiners at New Zealand shield championships should be holders of the bronze medallion, but that was thrown out. He considered, too, that the centre should voice a, strong protest at the championship competitions being fixed for Ch ns - church next year. The South Island had sent only one four-man team to the championship meeting at Wanganui last year. The feeling generally was that the championships should be held in the North Island at a central place. He had suggested Opunake. A move was on foot to move the headquarters of the council from Christchurch to Wellington. Mr. H. S. Weeton favoured the headquarters being moved to Wellington. He would be sorry to see the Nelson Shield rules altered, but he considered the William Henry memorial competition could be run iu heats. The secretary pointed out that there were 2789 awards granted in the North Island as igainst 880 in the South Island. It was pointed out by Mr. J. N. Stephenson that the Surf Association was making headway in the South Island. Mr. F. J. Eggleton said the delegatee had the mi tter in their own hands. The North Island had the preponderance of voting power and could re-

move the headquarters at any time. It was resolved to forward a strong protest against the action of the council in allocating the championships to Christchurch. Mr. Eggleton pointed out that the High School was directly affiliated to the centre, and while in the holidays they had no objection to the boys competing in outside club teams, it was consi3ered that while school was in session the boys should compete for the school. When a boy left school he could link with any club he desired. Members generally favoured the suggestion. . Mr. J. N, Stephenson suggested that a committee consisting of a delegate from each club and the president should be set up to consider revising the rules in the Ballin Cup competition. A suggestion was made that the transfer system should be adopted, and after discussion this was referred to a committee comprising Messrs. Howell, Eggleton and J. N. Stephenson. °Mr. Eggleton congratulated the ladies’ club on the spljendid progress made in life-saving work and the high standard attained. It was resolved to place on record appreciation of the work of the retiring president, Mr. J. N. Stephenson, expressing thanks of. his fairness in dealing with various matters which had done much to restore goodwill between the Opunake Clnh and the centre.