WORKING MEN’S CLUB HAS A SAM WELLER SWARRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19119, 11 July 1930, Page 11

WORKING MEN’S CLUB HAS A SAM WELLER SWARRY.

Because it marked the golden Jubilee of the club, more than ordinary importance attached to the Sam Weller swarry held by the Christchurch Working Men’s Club in the Caledonian Hall last, evening-. Mr James Gray (president) presided over a gathering* that filled the hall. The “ boiled mutton with the usual trimmings ,f found the members in responeive mood, and song's, music and the minis--1 rations of gentlemen who hated to Eee an empty glass contributed to the jollity of a very enjoyable evening. The toast of “The Club and Its Founders" was proposed by Mr J. Jfc]. Cooper, who said that the club owed its existence to a man with a grouch. On n certain Sunday evening the licensee of h certain hot*l refused to servo drinks to some regular customers. As a reprisal, they rented a house in Armagh Street. The movement was so successful that the original cottage proved inadequate, and premises were rented in Gloucester Street. It was from th»t small beginning that the present club grew. They owed a givat deal to the men. who had founded the club. When they had men who had taken an interest in an institution for fifty years, then that institution must be all right. The speaker handed Messrs J. K. Path* - rick and A. Clark, the oldest members, gold medals. The club had built an edifice. Ire said, that it had every reason to be proud of. The president handed medals to Messrs J. K. Cooper. A. Peverill, K. Rainbow and. J. Jl. Oakes, all old members. The president also handed to Mr O. Hayden six life membership tickets for blind soldiers in Christchurch. Mr J. Cray, the president, was handed a medal as a memento of his occupancy of the principal office in the club’s jubilee year. Responding to the toast, Mr Petlierick said that even fifty years ago clubs were not looked on too favourably by the authorities, and fifty years had not seemed to have altered the authorities. However, he defended club life because it brought men together. Mr Clark, who also responded, thanked the members for the manner in whtcli they had honoured the memory of the founders.