GOLF CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1932, Page 11

GOLF CONTROL

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION.'

DELEGATES’ ANNUAL MEETING.

On© of the most important questions dealt with at the annual general meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Golf Association in Wellington on Tuesday was that of the levy upon affiliated clubs. On the motion of the council, it was decided that for the current year a refund of 20 P e - cent, be made on all contributions. A sum of £lOO was voted to the New Zealand Ladies’ Union, to spend as it thinks fit. This is in -lieu of the customary grant to the . union of £5O for the purchase of trophies. Tn moving the adoption of the annual report, the chairman, Sir Alexander Roberts, referred to the deaths during the-year of'Mr. M. J. Crombie and Lt.-Colouel R. 0. Chesney, both of whom had been very keen members of the council. Their deaths had indeed been a loss not only to the council but to the golfing community of New Zealand.

Sir Alexander said that there were 300 clubs affiliated to the association, demonstrating that the game of golf was extremely popular in the Dominion, and gaining more followers every year. Of the 200 clubs, 183 were in the North Island, with a membership • of 5736 men and 5698 women. The 63 clubs in the South Island had a total membership of 3045 men and 2837 women. The membership of the association, therefore, was 17,315. . " «A PROUD ACHIEVEMENT.” “Considering the short time we have had to build up a golf organisation, I think we can be very proud of the development that has taken place,” continued Sir Alexander. For the information of members, he pointed out that the senior golf club in New Zealand was the Otago club, which was originally formed as the Dunedin club in 1871. Of the original 26 members, only three were still alive. In reviewing the activities of the past year, Sir Alexander Roberts said that excellent work had been done by the green keeping research committee. The result of its labours was apparent to anyone who visited the experimental grounds on the Manawatu Golf Club’s court at Palmerston North. Sir Alexander said that the revenue for the year was £1391, compared with £1338 for the preceding year. The ordinary expenditure amounted to £1029 and the expenses of the Kirk-Windeyer Cup matches in Sydney to £264, leaving a surplus of revenue for the year of £99, which, added to the accumulated fund, brought the latter to £639. The sitting council, which comprises Sir Alexander Roberts, and Messrs. A. ■D. S. Duncan, W. E. A. Gill, W. A. Kiely, E. Page, J* H* Drake and A. R. Sclanders, was re-elected. , ■ In moving that for the current year e refund of 20 per cent, be made on all contributions, Sir Alexander Roberts eaid that the council had in mind the feelings expressed at the last annual meeting. As the governing body of golf in New Zealand thp council required sufficient funds to carry out its work in a proper manner,. and although there were accumulated funds available, the council believed the wisest policy was to conserve its funds as much as possible. After careful consideration of the estimated revenue and expenditure, and takincr into account the fact that the Kirk-Windeyer Cup contest would be played in New Zealand during the present financial year, the council recommended a reduction of 20, per cent., which would leave sufficient to carry on existing activities. .It would also allow the associatio” to augment the contribution given in the past to the New Zealand Ladies’ Golf Union, which was desirous of establishing a fund for the expenses of overseas matches, and whose members contributed substantially to the association’s funds. On behalf of the Timaru club, Mr. W. H. Walton moved an amendment that the contributions for the current year be reduced by 50 per cent. He said that the position could be met by reducing the professionals’ prize money from £278 to £l5O, the secretary’s salary and expenses from £263 to £llO. He mentioned other ways in which money might.be saved and contended that expenditure on greens research was not justified, as the’ work was simply a duplication of that being carried out in. England and the. States. The amendment was defeated by 88 votes to 28. A further amendment on behalf of the Hagley Golf Club that the rules be amended to provide for a reduction of the annual fees to Is for men and 6d for women was rejected by lOS votes to 8. The motion was carried on the voices. It was decided that it be a recommendation to the council to revert to qualifying rounds.at the next New Zealand championships, 32 to qualify over 18-hole matches. .