ALL-CLUBS NIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1935, Page 2

ALL-CLUBS NIGHT

ORGANISATION OF SWIMMING. MOTION FOR CHANGE DEFEATED. A proposal to hold combined clubs’ swimming nights at New Plymouth instead of individual club nights as at present was last night put before a meeting of the combined association by, the secretary, Mr. J. W. Moorhead. After a short discussion the proposal was put to the vote and defeated »by/seven votes to one. There were present Messrs. W. Brown (chairman) and A. Crombi (Fitzroy), C. Evans and C. Whitehead (New Plymouth), A. Sims (East End), Misses D. Bates and N. Gardiner (Y.W.C.A.) and Mr. Moorhead (secretary). The scheme was outlined by Mr. Moorhead in a circular to the clubs. He suggested the four available nights be pooled and controlled by the combined association. Programmes would be drawn up and events made known at least a week ahead. Mr. Moorhead set out a week’s skeleton programme as follow: Monday (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.), inter-club and club events for all classes of swimmers, men and women, including intermediates and juniors: Tuesday (7 p.m. ty) 8 p.m.), club and inter-club events; 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., polo and coaching; Wednesday, women’s night; Thursday, water polo and other events. Polo matches could be arranged on Tuesday and Thursday nights. With the co-operation of clubs more attention could be given to coaching. Mr. Sims said the East End club was prepared to give the scheme a trial for one year only. It was a means of assisting weaker clubs. Tlie New Plymouth club was opposed to the scheme, said Mr. Evans. The Fitzroy club was not In favour, cither, remarked Mr. Brown. Members felt the spirit of the scheme was excellent but it was ahead of the time. The Y.W.C.A. club was willing to combine with the North Taranaki; Women’s club, explained Miss Gardiner. At the club's opening night on Wednesday 240 people had attended and 60 had been enrolled as members. Next day the membership jumped to 90. The club had a great deal to offer. It had a men’s advisory committee willing to give coaching and to enlist additional coaches: it

would teach every type of stroke. The North Taranaki club certainly had the support of a group of experienced swimmers and it was justified in its formation. But the Y.W.C.A. club claimed that it could offer more to women enthusiasts. It felt two clubs were unnecessary and hoped the North Taranaki club would join with it. So far as sharing a club night went that was impossible from the point of view of the Y.W.C.A. club, which would thus be prevented from catering for its junior and inexperienced members. Already it would be a problem to allow adequate time for coaching small squads. Large squads were impracticable. Miss Gardiner said she was sorry the Nortli Taranaki club was not represented. The Y.W.C.A. desired friendly discussion and co-operation. The chairman congratulated the club on its success and said he thought it would ultimately absorb the North Taranaki club. In his opinion there was not room for two women’s clubs at New Plymouth, and one large club would work more efficiently than two small pnes. The men’s clubs were occupied with competitive swimming and water polo. They could not give the time necessary to coaching the large numbers of junior swimmers a women’s club would give. Such juniors were catered for much better by a club that specialised in training them. Mr. Moorhead pointed out that the North Taranaki Women's club was strong in experienced swimmers. It did not, however, intend to oppose the Y.W.C.A. club but to co-operate in every way possible. Its plan was to enlist support from the primary schools; in this it hoped for Y.W.C.A. co-operation. The question of a carnival date was deferred until the Taranaki centre has met in January.