ASHBURTON CLUB

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21415, 6 March 1935, Page 16

ASHBURTON CLUB

DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME JUBILEE BANQUET A most successful banquet was held by the Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts at the Ashburton Drill Hall last evening to celebrate the golden jubilee of the club. There was an attendance of between 400 and 500 members and representatives of kindred clubs. The president of the Ashburton Club, Mr M. Macmillan, presided. Among those present were the president of the Canterbury Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association (Mr G. King), the president 01 the Richmond Working Men's Club, Mr C. W. Mann, the president of the Christchureh Working Men's Club, Mr J. L. Ashworth, with whom were associated members of their respective clubs, and Mr R. E. Lechner, of Christchureh, the oldest living foundation member of the Ashburton Club. Proposing the toast of "The Foundation Members of the Club," Mr A. A. Fooks said governing bodies and foundation members who had charge of the club's affairs had done valuable work, sometimes under trying circumstances. They had exercised tact, firmness, and ability to bring the club up to its present standard. 'Messrs Lechner, T. Hayes (Ashburton), and J. W. Ollivier (Greenstreet), the oldest members of the club, replied. The Mayor of Ashburton, Mr W. H. Woods, proposed the tdast of "Kindred Affiliated Clubs." He congratulated the club on attaining its jubilee. On behalf of the Ashburton club he welcomed the visitors. , Messrs Ashworth (president.) and W. Crossen (vice-president) of the Christchurch Working Men's Club, Mann (Richmond Club), and King (Commercial Travellers) responded. Sir William Nosworthy, who proposed the toast of the "Ashburton Club and Mutual School of Arts," congratulated the club on its position to-day after its big fight for the retention of its charter and the rights of its members. The conduct of the club had been clean and honourable. Had it not been for the perception of a former solicitor of the club, the late Mr C. W. Purnell, who advised them to keep the charter in existence, they would not have been celebrating the jubilee that night. He wished the club the best of good luck. The president referred to the friendship that existed between the club members.

The toast of "The; Ladies" was proposed by Mr V. W. Russell and responded to by Mr C. Moller. On behalf of the members, Mr R. Kennedy presented the president with a narrow bound copy of the history of the club as a memento of the occasion.