Rooms For Travel Club Discussed

Press, Volume C, Issue 29516, 18 May 1961, Page 2

Rooms For Travel Club Discussed

A move to start a fund for permanent clubrooms for the Canterbury Travel Club was not fully supported at the club’s annual meeting held in Christchurch yesterday. But the question will be discussed further at a later meeting.

A lively discussion arose when permanent rooms were first suggested. Members said they thought too many years had been wasted already and even if the rooms could not be obtained for more than 10 years, a start should be made on the fund to benefit the club members in the future.

Some members objected when the president (Sir Joseph Ward) said a considerable increase in the subscription amount would be necessary if the fund was started. ‘‘We have many very elderly members who enjoy our Travel Club teas,” said one. “Why should they have to pay more and work for club rooms that will benefit a privileged few?” “Not a Real Club”

- “At present the Travel Club Is not a club at all,” commented another member. “We would like to call it a real club which we cannot do as it is now.

“We join the Canterbury Women’s Club and the

National Party Club because they have rooms where we can entertain our visitors. We would like to be able to bring them to the Travel Club for more than just a cup of tea and a talk by a speaker.” “The purpose of the Travel Club has never been that,” Sir Joseph Ward answered. “There is nothing in the constitution to say that members would ever work for their own premises.” Those in favour of the move then insisted that present members did want club rooms and suggested that a circular be sent to all members of the club. “It has been suggested by some that we lease the top floor of the new insurance building in Cathedral square as our permanent rooms.” they said. “Then we would have somewhere to hold our functions instead of hiring rooms whenever we want to hold a cocktail party or large-scale meeting. If we had a place of our own we could lease it to other organisations and supplement our funds that way.” Sir Joseph Ward said he did not think the Travel Club would ever be able to afford such a lease. It would certainly never be able to purchase a building in the city or even a site.

“We realise we would have to work hard to raise a lot of money, but other clubs have done it. But once we had the money we would be able to look around for buildings suitable for permanent rooms.” a member said. The president then invited those present to voice their opinions for and against the move. The majority were against it Officers Officers elected were: patron, the Governor-Gen-eral, Lord Cobham; vicepatron, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning); president. Sir Joseph Ward: vice-presidents. Mesdames M. H. Godby, Cecil Wood. H A. Young, H. Wyatt C. Shaw, H. E. Goggin. J. Erwin, R. T. Toeswiil, Miss M. “might. Messrs N. S. Coxhead, and W. A. Erasmusson; executive. Mesdames A. W. Beanland. M. McNab, Read Masters. A. M. Vile. D. Carrick. V. Godfrey. Sedley Welft, A. Palmer. J. Stewart (organiser), IL Fraer (treasurer), E. M. Trueman (secretary).