SWIMMING AT STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1933, Page 8

SWIMMING AT STRATFORD

CLUB HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING. QUESTION OF SCHOOL BATHS USE. Activities during the coming season were discussed at the annual meeting of the Stratford Swimming Club last night. Mr. V. J. Henderson presided over an attendance of more than 20. The report has already been published and the balance-sheet showed that the season commenced with a balance of £24 6s. 9d. Receipts were £36 9s. Bd. and expenditure £32 ss. 6d., leaving a profit of £4 4s. 2d. Against that, however, had to be placed an outstanding debt of £5 for rent of the baths. The credit balance was still £2B 10s. lid. Assets totalled £44 10s. lid. and the balance of assets over liabilities was £39 10s. lid. Mr. Henderson in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet said the club made an actual loss in the year of about 16s. That was due to a decline in public support and to a smaller amount of subsidy. Mr. Henderson referred to the carnival run by the club and the school committee which had brought in £9 for repairs to the baths. There was also a verbal agreement, which it was intended to keep, to pay £5 rent a year. Mr. Henderson referred to the effort made to obtain tepid baths and said he considered the school committee would be the last to blame the club for endeavouring to better swimming facilities in the town. The club had not been successful and as it had not approached the High School authorities it would be approaching the school committee again to see what could be done. It had always been more or less of a fight between club and committee regarding liability for the running expenses, Mr. Henderson Baid. He considered in view of what had occurred regarding the tepid baths proposal that the club would have to support the present baths to the limit of its resources. A representative of the club Would be present at the next committee meeting to discuss affairs for the coming year.

Mr. Henderson referred to rumours that circulated last year fhat the conduct of club members at the baths had not been all that it might have been. He characterised them from his own knowledge as unfounded and Mr. Henderson appealed to members to make a drive for new lady members. The report and.balance-sheet were adopted. The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P.; president, Mr. V. J. Henderson; six vice-presidents; club captain, Mr. Hunter Smart; secretary, Mr. R. Trueman; treasurer, Mr. M. Thompson; auditor, Mr. D. Young; committee, Messrs. R. Watson, R. Girling, T. J. Haughton, R. Clayton and S. McCluggage; ladies’ captain, Miss Wickham; delegates to the Taranaki Swimming Centre, Messrs. Henderson and Clayton; starters, Messrs. D. Butcher and W. Davis; timekeepers, Messrs. Butcher, Petrie and W. Mills. A vote of thanks! to the school committee for the use of the baths was passed unanimously. The meeting discussed the proposal to have two Taranaki championship meetings, one for seniors and one for juniors and intermediates. The delegates were instructed to support the proposal. Mr. Henderson discussed the position of the school committee in regard to the baths. Its funds were small and it was contended that the present condition of the baths was good enough for the children, but it could not be said that the conditions were good enough for club activities. The seats were used mainly by the club and the dressing shed repairs were a condition of public use. Mr. Henderson considered the club should do everything it could to help the committee, and he would like an expression of opinion. The club had run a carnival which had raised £7 and with £5 rent there was £l4 that would help. It should be possible to run another carnival.

The money from the carnival was. to be expended on improvements, not maintenance, said Mr. J. Gardner. As long as the committee could be sure of the club’s support he did not think there .would be any difficulty. The meeting considered that the school committee should be assured of the club’s support. Mr. Henderson was elected delegate to the school committee meeting.

Subscriptions were left at the rate of the previous year. The matter of forming a polo team was left to the committee. The delegates were instructed to support any suggestion for North and South polo divisions. Mr. Girling drew attention to handicapping difficulties and suggested a record being kept of members’ times.

Notice of motion to the Taranaki centre was given that the system of times sent in by competitors at inter-club carnivals be placed on a better footing. It will be recommended also that a centre handicapper be appointed to act in conjunction with clubs’ handicappers.