GERALDINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18832, 21 March 1931, Page 6

GERALDINE.

FOOTBALL CLUB. The annual report of the Geraldine Football Club, to be presented to the annual meeting on Monday evening, states that at the beginning of last season there was an influx of new members, and the Club was able to field teams in the third, fourth and fifth grade competitions, as compared with only two grades in former years. Both the third and fifth grade teams put up very creditable performances, and, while the fourth grade team was handicapped by the inclusion of many inexperienced players, the training these received should stand them in good stead this season. If possible, the fourth grade team should not be allowed to lapse, as it was a very valuable link between the fifth and higher grades. The Club was fortunate in that there was an entire absence of casualties. Travelling was the greatest problem experienced by the Club, and. although the committee drew the attention of the Union to the excessive amount of travelling done by country teams in comparison with town teams, it was still necessary for the teams to travel once a fortnight. However, the committee formed a subsidised travelling fund, and this has materially lessened the cost to players. The Club had entered six teams in the Timaru, Pleasant Point and Geraldine seven-a-side tournaments, the fifth grade A team being successful in winning their grade at the Geraldine tourney. Some trouble was experienced owing to the Oval being the only ground in a fit state for play, and the action of the Union in arranging some of the matches earlier, and thus enabling two games to be played on the one ground, was much apreciated.. At the conclusion of the season a senior match arranged between a Geraldine District team and a team from the Mackenzie Sub-Union resulted in a win for the home side, and was an apt illustration of the committee’s contention that a senior team in the Geraldine Club would be quite possible if Geraldine trained players rallied around the Club that trained them. They refejred with regret to the death of Mr H. K. Anderson, a keen member of the Club, as the result of a motor accident. Thanks were clue to all players who assisted in making the season a successful one, to the Geraldine Hockey Club for the use of a ground, to those who lent their cars for travelling, to those who made donations and who assisted the Club in any way, to Mr J. Kennedy apd the “Timaru Herald” for the use of rooms, and to the Press for the liberal accounts of Club activities. The following table shows how the Club’s 'teams were placed in the competitions at the end of the 1930 sea-

RACING CLUB. At a special meeting of the Geraldine Racing Club committee, Mr J. C. South presided. Present —Messrs G. Fletcher, D. E. Lewis, L. J. Grant, F. E. South, A. G. Macdonald, B. R. Macdonald, W. Quirk, J. Reid and A. South. The secretary (Mr J. Kennedy) explained that the meeting had been called at the request of Mr W. Quirk, to whom Mr W. C. Fielding had represented that he had been harshly treated by being prevented from working in a training stable, on a report sent in by Mr R. C. Keeper. The president stated that he had called the meeting and considered that the Committee should go fully into the matter, and with that end in view he had requested that the secretary, while in Wellington, to interview the secretary of the Racing Conference and obtain copies of all correspondence in connection with the case. After the correspondence was read, a general discussion took place. It was generally conceded that Mr Fielding had a very clean record as a jockey. Mr R. C. Keeper wrote that he was unable to attend the meeting, and stated that it was not his desire to have Fielding prevented from earning his living in a stable. He really meant to notify that Fielding was not in his employ, and had dismissed him for taking a day off without leave. On being called before the committee, Fielding stated that Mr Keeper had told him to look for another job as he had not the work to keep him. He had half a day off to go to the Timaru show, and went to Waimate to see Mr T. Hobbs about a position. Going to Waimate meant his taking another day off. and as he was under notice he thought that he was duly entitled to take it. On return to work he was dismissed. Mr Keeper wrote to the Conference stating that he had neglected his work, and his permit to work in a stable was cancelled. He thought this was too severe, as it meant taking away his living. On the motion of Messrs A. G. Macdonald and G. Fletcher, it was unanimously decided that the Committee of the Geraldine Racing Club support W. C. Fielding’s application to the Canterbury District Committee for a permit to work in a training stable, and further, recommended and support his application for a jockey’s license, on condition that he sends forward with the application a prohibition order taken out against himself. A BEAUTIFUL DAY. Glorious weather was experienced in Geraldine yesterday, following a frost in the morning. Signs of approaching winter are many, however, and the fall of the leaf has commenced. COUNTY RATES OUTSTANDING. Less than £3OOO is now outstanding from the £14,954/3/6 in rates levied by the Geraldine County Council, on which the 10 per cent, penalty is now due The amount collected is quite satisfactory and compares favourably with those of other counties. CROQUET. Two croquet matches were played by the Geraldine Croquet Club on Thursday—an “A” grade friendly match with Aorangi at Timaru which resulted in Geraldine gaining four games and 176 points, and Aorangi, four games and 184 points: and a “C” grade flag match with Allenton, at Geraldine which resulted: Geraldine, six games, 217 points: Allenton, three games, 166 points. The final of the “C” grade will be played on he Geraldine lawns on

■g g ° < £ v E 3 p K, K 0 E Thirds . . 9 5 4 r— 69 54 10 3 Fourths . 10 4 6 — 40 81 8 6 Fifths ..9 6 2 1 75 22 13 3