BOWLING.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17492, 28 August 1928, Page 5

BOWLING.

MORRINSVILLE CLUB. THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members of the MonrinsvilJe Bowling Club was held ou Saturday evening. The president, Mr Oates, presided over a large attendance of members, and in opening the meeting said iie was pleased to sec such a large gathering, as it was a good sign that the club was in a healthy condition. The secretary read the annual report and 'balance sheet as follows: As the balance sheet shows the past season was fairly successful financially. The bank overdraft stands at £6BO lis lid, as against £077 7s lOd twelve months ago. The season would have 'been considerably better had all members paid their subscriptions; eight are now outstanding. On the other hand, the slightly improved position of the club is in a very large measure due to the generosity of certain members in making donations. The season is conspicuous in this respect and the whole-hearted thanks of the | club arc due to the undermentioned I donors: —Mr D. Coghill, a cash ooni tribution towards trophies for tourney; I Mr Martin, cash •contribution towards touring expenses; Mr Donald, cash contribution for trophies in handicaps; Mr Cummer, trophy for champion singles; anonymous donor, valuable silver cup for annual competition in champion singles; Mr Moncnef, trophy for IS grade singles; Messrs Butler and

Mcharry, forfeiture of trophies in handicap pairs of previous season. So far as playing is concerned, the season was probably one of the most successful ever .experienced 'by the club. If there is a disquieting fact at this annual meeting it is that the club is not in a position to meet its commitment to the Irank. This has caused your committee grave 'Concern, and it has concluded that there is no option hut to again recommend that the subscription be increased. The committee wishes to thank the ladies who took" an interest in the club during Ihe season. Without detracting from the gratitude due to the ladies' committee, as a whole in this connection, your executive would like particularly to mention the names of Mrs and Miss Yardley, Mrs O'Brien and Mrs .Needham.

The Balance Sheet. The balance sheet showed the club's liabilities to he £IO4U 13s, the principal items being Hank of New Zealand £OBO 14s .1 id, -capital account and 'balance of revenue account £3OB ißs Id. Its assets wore: Land £GOU; buildings, £3Bl 8s 2il; plant, £Gi, 3s lOd; badges in hand £•'! Is. In the statement of revenue and expenditure the principal items of expenditure were:—Greenkeepor's salary £O3 10s, irophics and expenses of tourney £J2 19s Gd, rates, insurance and lighting £ll 8s Gd, interest to Bank of -New Zealand £4O 18s Gd, trophies £2O l y s Gd, depreciation of buildings and plant £3l 10s ltd. The revenue was: Subscriptions (54) £IGI 10s, entry fees and sale of badges £33 18s, donations £27 Is, badges in hand £4 Is, 'balance to 'capital, etc., £l6 17s.

The chairman said that so far as a playing season was concerned it had been a great success. The financial position was not so satisfactory. The club was indebted to the bank for a large amount and the bank was pressing for a reduction. He had tried hard to reduce this indebtedness, and had suggested several schemes for doing so, but they had all been turned down. It-would be the duty of the incoming committee and the members to try and reduce their overdraft. Mr Needham moved the adoption of the report and 'balance sheet. .Mr Martin seconded. Need For More Revenue. Mr Yardley (secretary] said he had,

been twelve months on the jab, and had given the business of the club very careful consideration, and he would like >' tell them that they coukL not work the clutb .unices they gat more revenue. The club got £l5O from members' subscriptions. 01 this £93 10s was paid to the grecnkeepcr, and interest absorbed the balance, and the only way out of the difficulty was to increase the members' subscription. In answer to questions the ohairman said that thero had been a .profit _ of £0 8s 9d on afternoon tea. The money spent on beer -was for the tour- j naments, and was paid -for on the day I by members.

Election of Officers. President, Mr Donald; vice-presid-ents, Messrs Branch and Sing; secretary and treasurer, the following were pro-posed, but. refused to 'accept the position and the eLection was 'left in the hands of the incoming committee: Messrs Nccdham, Yardley, Marten, Buc'han, Barford, Strand, Chapman and Oates; groeu superintendent, Mr George Howie; delegates to conference, Messrs Yardley and Branch; delegates to Goldflclds Association, Messrs Yardley and Branch; committee, Messrs W. Abercrombie, E. R. Strand, J. T. Osborne, A. Skinner. In regard to a match committee, on the motion of Mr Needham, it was decided to leave the business in the hands of one member and Mr Donald was appointed. The newly-clooted president, Mr Donald, then took the chair, and briefly thanked the members for the honour they had done him. I General. j

The question of raising 'the subscriptions was discussed at considerable length. At present the subscription was £3 i os, reduced to £3 if paid before December 31. It was agreed to make the subscription £3 i'Os, with a reduction to £3 us if paid before December. A proposal to make the subscription to beginners £2 for the first year,was lost. The president and Mr Branch were authorised to sign cheques for the club. _ A vote of sympathy to Mr Woodley was passed.

Mr Yardley thanked the president and 'committee, specially mentioning Mr' Needham for the help they had given him in carrying out his work as secretary. Mr Chapman moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to confer with the Croquet Clu'bas to the advisability of getting a combined greenkecper for ihe two clubs. Mr Branch moved that it be a recommendation to the selectors to carefully consider the rules re championship's. In past years they had not ibeen satisfactory. Enjoyable Banquet. At the conclusion of the business of the annuail meeting Mrs Oates, wife of the retiring president, entertained the company. The table was prettily decorated with spring flowers and loaded with all sorts of dainties. _ During the evening the retiring president, Mr Gates, presented the cups and prizes won during the season, accompanying each presentation ■with a few suitable remarks. The recepicnts were:—Mr Donald, A grade singles, held glasses and silver cup; Mr Yardley, silver teapot; Mr Nicholson, trophy; percentage fours, M. Branch, Foster, Strand and Mcharry, each a silver cup; handicap pairs, Butler and Hetherington, trophies; progressive pairs, Strand and Yardley,

The following toasts, interspersed with musical items and amusing stories, were honoured: "The newlyelected president," proposed by Mr Gates and responded to by Mr Donald; Mrs Oates for the splendid banquet provided; the trophy winners, coupled with the names of Messrs Branch, Mcharry, Strang, Fulton Yardley; "The Ladies," who had helped with the the afternoon teas, specially mentioning Mrs and. Miss YardJey.