YEAR OF PROGRESS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 18, 18 April 1947, Page 4

YEAR OF PROGRESS

ROD AND GUN CLUB CHAIRMAN’S REVIEW In his annual report to the Whakatane Rod and Gun Club the president, Mr J. D. Rivett, stated as under:— Gentlemen, I feel that in giving my report for the year 1947, that I can refer with pride to the. activities of the club. It has been a particularly busy year, in which many important events have taken place, and in which much progress has been made. As you know this is only our second annual meeting and in the short two years of our existence I think we have done exceptionally well. Membership: We have today 170 members in the club, practically all of whom are financial, the only exceptions being the R.S.A. members who are admitted free for the first year.

Financial: We commenced this year with £36 17s 7d in hand. We have handled from ‘shoots’ alone £1133 15s 2d. We have applied our funds in the building of the new pavilion at a cost of £229 9s 4d, and a new automatic trap at £7O. In this way we have built up assets valued at a conservative estimate at £350. We are at present on overdraft at the bank to the extent of £64 10s,

but this I contend is more than offset by valuable assets we now hold. The overdraft will likewise be reduced further by a grant of £25 which we have applied for as a Government subsidy on the pavilion. Meetings: There have been 16 committee meetings held during the year and two extraordinary general meetings, which were occasioned when we took the important step of drawing up our constitution and incorporating the club. Shoots: No less than ten shoots have been held, including two club championship events.* In the first of these the Lodge Cup was won by C. Brown, of Rotorua, who also captured the Skeet Cup. Later on however our own Champion, Stan Kerr, brought both back to the club, and for this I again congratulate him. The recent two-day shoot attracted •many outside sportsmen and was a marked success. The club likewise Staged a very successful benefit shoot in aid of the R.S.A. Queen Carnival funds. Legion of Frontiersmen Matches: Members also gave a very creditable performance at outside events, running second for both the Bay of Plenty Valley Cup and also the Jensen Cup at Te Teko. Dog Trial: The club promoted a Dog Trial, but the response was very poor, and the support very disappointing.

Conferences, Fishing: The committee has been particularly active in its efforts to better the sporting conditions throughout the district. To this end it met Ranger Francis and arranged for the release of trout fingerlings in suitable places over the Eastern Bay. Also to b|ive most of the rivers sign-posted for the benefit of sportsmen. A later meeting between the Ranger, Mr Morris of the Lands Department, and the manager of the Onepu Block, resulted in tentative arrangements being made for the, use of that splendid area by members of the Whakatane Club. This is a big concession and final arrangements have yet to be completed. .

Another important conference took place between the executive and the Conservator of Fish and Game, members of the Pongakawa Rabbit Board and as a result we were able to make satisfactory arrangements regarding the controlling of the laying of poison for rabbit destruction within the Whakatane area.

I would like at this juncture to pay a warm tribute to the co-opera-tion of'Mr McNamara, the Conservator. At all times he has proven himself a true friend of all sportsmen, and I feel glad to reflect that much of the old. misunderstandings have now been overcome. Overcoming Difficulties: Members will all be aware of the rather strained feelings which existed in a certain quarter in the earlier part of the year, and the letters which were written from time to time to the ‘press.’ The committee in its efforts to meet all parties and to bring about full harmony called a number of meetings with a very favourable result. I am very pleas*ed, gentlemen; to be able to report that all matters in this direction are now amicably settled, and the spirit of true sportsmanship now obtains Annual Smoko: I must record the success of the Annual Smoko, which attracted a splendid attendance of sportsmen from this district and from neighbouring centres. All members will agree that it was a worthy gathering in every way, and I sin-

cerely trust that it will be carried on from year to year. I would seriously suggest however that in future, this gathering be open to members only who should be invited to bring their wives and , sweethearts.

Thanks: May I express my very warmest thanks to all members of my committee, and in particular to the secretary, Mr W. J. Jones, the treasurer, Mr S. Hirst, and the auditor, Mr L. R. Spring. I would like also to thank those public-spirited members who assisted at the various working bees held from time to time, especially Messrs. Kerr Brothers. The club has also to thank Mrs F. Matchett for her donation of a cup for future competition. Suggestions: May I suggest that in future it would be an advantage to draw up a full programme for the year’s activities, showing all dates of the main events. This would be a permanent guide to all npembers. Also I would like to recommend that at this meeting the secretary and the treasurer be placed on a definite basis of honorarium. I feel that this is necessary in view of the club’s expanding activities. Prospects: In conclusion I would like to draw members attention to the invitation of the Winter Show Committee to the club to assist them to promote an annual Dog Show in conjunction with their Winter Exhibition. I feel that this new venture would be one in which the club should definitely be interested, and I sincerely hope that the committee will see its way clear to co-operate to the utmost. I desire to wish the club all success in the future, and feel that after such good progress over the past two years that the forthcoming season must be a record one.