Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 6

Town Talk

Damages Claimed A writ claiming’ £5OOO damages has been served by the Mercantile and General Insurance Company, Limited, upon the New Zealand Financial Times Company, Limited and Messrs E. F. Jones, Limited, printers, for alleged libel in connection with an article which appeared in the August issue of the Financial Times. Tennis Coaching. At last night’s annual meeting of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association a recommendation for tho management committee was passed that enquiries should bo made as to the possibility of having the tennis professional, G. Ollivier, now in Invercargill, coming to Wanganui for a month to coach, players in the city. Inter-club Tennis, That tho challenge system of interclub matches should be dropped with a view to working out a draw, was a motion passed at last night’s annual meeting of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association. Mr AL L. Lampe, proposing the motion, said that a draw could be worked out and ho thought that it would be more satisfactory than tho challenge system. Tennis Tournament Profit Speaking at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association last evening Air N. G. Barkman said that he would like to draw the attention of tho delegates to the very satisfactory financial position resulting from the annual tournament. There had been a profit of £55 on the tournament, notwithstanding the fact that free afternoon tea and morning tea had been provided. Not Incorporated. That the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association was not an incorporated body was information conveyed to the annual mooting last night by the chairman, Afr N. R. Bain. He said that the secretary was now engaged in the compilation of a set of rules, and that a special meeting of the association would be called later in tho year for conformation of the rules so that the secretary could then put matters In train for tho incorporation of the association.

Helping Motorists “There is always work to be done with signposting, as is shown by the fact that 270 banger and direction signs and 117 posts were erected, compared with 191 signs and 72 posts last year,” states the annual report of the Wanganui Automobile Association, to be presented at the meeting to-night. Alileuge covered was 16,353 as against 11,183/ duo to increased patrol service, etc. Service on patrol was given to 211 members, and 23 race meetings, shows, etc., attended. During the Easter and Christmas holidays, the service officer was in attendance at the office mornings, and the camp site evenings, and answered. numerous enquiries.

Affiliated Tennis Clubs Thirteen clubs were affiliated with the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association which had, through them, a membership of 1041, said the president, Mr N. R. Bain, at last night’s annual meeting of the association. He thought that although efforts had been made by the secretary last year to enlarge the membership, the officers might this year make further efforts. In the past matches had been played with the country clubs and it might well be to re-commence them for the purpose of establishing a spirit of friendship between the outlying clubs and the association. Speaking later in the meeting, Mr A. Wheeler, delegate for Marton, said that the suggestion was an excellent one.

Making Drivers Better “Another free service inaugurated during the year as part of the association’s policy of service to members is that of post license tuition,” states the report of the Wangapui Automobile Association, to be presented at the annual meeting to-night. Free instruction in the finer points of driving is now given by our service officer to any members, who have only to apply to the secretary when an appointment will be made. Amongst other things, tuition covers correct driving position, silent gear changing, double de-clutch-ing, changing gear when descending hills, wheel and tyre changing, parking, signalling, rules of the road, safety principles, etc. Although this service only commenced about Easter, fourteen lessons have already been given.”

Teaching the Children “The issue of posters to every school in the Dominion is one of the first steps in the association’s safety first campaign,” states the annual report of the Wanganui Automobile Association, to be presented to-night “Every three months a poster is sent to every school in the Dominion. The posters are explained to the children by the teachers, and that the system is an unqualified success is proved by the many letters of appreciation received from school teachers. Some extracts from these letters may be of interest. (1) ‘I think the posters arc very valuable indeed. I hope you will keep on supplying them.’ (2) ‘The posters are an ideal method of teaching anything, and your posters are certainly efficiently doing the work they are intended to do. We trust you will continue this branch oE your activities.’ (3) ‘Keep on with tho good work.’ We hope in the coming year to be able to send our service officer to the schools in our district and explain to the children what and what not to do on the highways.” Finance and Membership After making grants to the earthquake fund and to the airport road totalling £234 8s lOd, the balance-sheet shows that the Wanganui Automobile Association had a surplus of income over expenditure last year of £143 19s, that amount being transferred to the accumulated fund. The gross income for the year was £1687 3s lid, compared with £1370 5s 3d the previous year, an increase of £316 18s Bd. The annual report states that despite the financial depression, it was satisfactory to note an increase of membership from 1508 to 1552. Those who resigned and those who had boon struck off numbered 184, and the new members elected numbered 228. At Wanganui there was an increase of 69, at the Feilding agency an increase of 12, at the Raetihi agency a decrease of 12, at the Ohakuno agency a decrease of 16, at the Taihape agency an increase of two, at the Marton agency an increase of two, at tho Bulls agency a decrease of 15, at the Hunterville agency a decrease of 12, at the Waverley agency a decrease of two, making the total increase in the membership 44.