COMMUNITY CLUB

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 111, 8 February 1928, Page 6

COMMUNITY CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Community Club was held last night, Colonel J. J. Essou, C.M.G., taking the chair. The report commented ou the splendid work done by Mr. P. G. Thompson, director and gymnastic instructor. Concerning the upkeep of the institution, it had been shown that an income of £5OO a year was necessary to maintain the existing organisation, but as a subsidy of £lOO per annum had been granted by the Macarthy Trust, and tlie Government had invested £lOOO received from the recent Searchlight Tattoo to render a yearly interest of £52 10s., the total financial liability had been reduced to £350. Upwards of 500 lectures had been delivered to parading units at the clubhouse with a view to imparting sound moral and physical principles to the trainees, while also giving them an insight into the responsibilities of citizenship. Boxing and dancing classes had been inaugurated and a canteen had been established by the general house committee. It was thought that the next military tattoo would be held in 1931. Colonel Esson moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, at the same time thanking those ladies who had acted as hostesses, and hoping that their plea for additional helpers would soon be answered. In seconding the motion the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), who was present with Mrs. Troup, said that, although not himself connected with the project, he realised to some extent the scope of the work through being associated with a similar institution. He had once been asked whether the work of the Community Club interfered at all with that of the Boys’ Institute, to which he replied that no organisation could take np the stand of being the only one to toil amid the young people. The more there were the better for Wellington and the less inducement to mischief and crime. Wonders could be worked with a boy if vou caught him at the right moment, and that only required a little patience. As an old worker himself he knew the value of patience, and he was sure that there was no lack of it in the members of the Community Club. Above all, he admired the attitude of the committee which made of every discouragement a further incentive. It was a wise policy which they had adopted of ‘putting aside endowments, and he had little doubt that the Macarthy Trust would continue to assist them aS it had in the past. Mr. E. G. Pilcher thanked the Mayor for his encouragement, stating that the object of the club was to show that the boys’ services were appreciated, and to provide occupation for their spare moments. Mr. R. Darroch echoed these sentiments.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, MajorGeneral Sir Andrew Russell; vicepatrons, the Minister of Defence, the Mayor, the G.O.C. N.Z. Military Forces, Commodore G. T. Swabey; chairman, Colonel J. J. Esson ; vice-chairman, Mr W. J. Blundell; hon. secretary, Mr. E. E. Muir; hon. treasurer, Mr. H. H. Turner; hon. auditor, Mr. S. G. Cowles; hon. solicitor, Mr. A. Gray, K.C.; general house committee, Mesdames E. E. Muir, H. Lundins, E. G. Pilcher, M. 11. Chatfield, K. Preston, J. Pow, Gaby, Murphv, C. H. Chapman, E. L. Pocock, Sir John Luke, Messrs. E. G. Pilcher, W. J. Blundell, W. L. Gibson, E. L. Pocock.

A number of volunteers were called for, to assist in the management of the Leap Year ball.