OVERDUE SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1482, 27 March 1924, Page 4

OVERDUE SUBSCRIPTIONS.

THERE are few members of sports bodies who invariably pay their annual subscription fees immediately they become due. Secretaries frequently have difficulty in collecting the amounts, and the finances of the clubs suffer as a result. Various means of overcoming this difficulty have been discussed over and over again at meetings ,of sports bodies. On Tuesday night the local Football Club decided unanimously that no player will be allowed to take part in a match until his subscription is paid. Other institutions have adopted similar resolutions., but they are not enforced. Those responsible for the motion usually promptly forget all about it, and leave the honorary secretary to battle round and ask the members for their subscriptions. Is it any wonder that so many people flatly decline to accept the job of secretary? Executive members of one sports body recently discussed the subject. The suggestion was made that there should be a fixed date by which all subscriptions should be paid, after which the amounts chargeable would be increased. But as there were members of the Club who were not players, it was thought that this system would not be workable. It would be ridiculous to issue a summons against a non-playing member for a paltry 5s subscription. As an alternative, the opinion was expressed that at each annual meeting the names of the unfinancial members should be read out, with a view to encouraging prompt payment. This method might, perhaps, be a little more effective. However, an investment in a few stamps and account forms would in most cases solve the problem satisfactorily. The continuous receipt of monthly •, accounts would keep the defaulters reminded of their liability, and if they valued their membership the cash would soon be forthcoming. Of course, many secretaries would object to this, owing to the extra work involved in sending out the notices. Players in the various branches of sport are very poor specimens of sportsmen if they do not pay their subscriptions. In the case of non-playing members, it should be remembered that their membership is usually retained for the sake of old associations and to help along the club's finances. The practice of electing a lengthy list of vice-presidents is one open to strong objection. Apparently the person "honoured" with election as vice-president is expected to forward half-a-guinea or a guinea as a mark of appreciation. That may have been what happened years ago, but nowadays the appointee usually ignores the notification of election. A year ago one local club elected no less than 31 vice-presidents. What the financial response was we do not know, but notice that at this year's annual meeting only 12 vice-presidents were elected out of 16 nominated, including some who have long identified themselves with this class of sport. Perhaps next year the club referred to will merely elect two or three vice-presidents, and thus indicate to the gentlemen chosen and to the general public that the office of vicepresident is one of honour and a mark of real esteem.