NEW ZEALAND GOLF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 17, 15 October 1942, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND GOLF

Annual Meeting Of Association

GREENS RESEARCH WORK

That golfers in New Zealand before long might have to play with something resembling the old gutty ball was prophesied by 'Sir Alexander Roberts, who presided over an attendance of 21. delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Golf Association in Wellington yesterday.

The report of the council stated that the total revenue for the past year was £923/12/6, and the expenditure £999/1/9, which included £.17/0/6 of subscriptions written off. This lelt a loss on the years working of £75/9/3, which must be considered satisfactory in view of the fact that subscriptions were charged at only half rates, that a large number ot clubs resigned because of war conditions; and that those remaining in had greatly reduced memberships. The council considered it was right to invest £liA)o in the War Loan. There was also, at July 01, a fixed deposit of £lOOO with the National Bank, which “aGtred in August ami cleared an overdrait ot x4u~/.io/j<., which had been obtained to provide for a £5OO investment in the Liberty Loan The accumulated fund remained at £l9OO. War conditions caused a heavy loss of members, there being at July 31, only 245 clubs on the register, as against o-3 a vear ago. Prevailing conditions had to some extent restricted t’he activities of the greens research committee, but nevertheless much valuable experimental work bad beeu done and advice given to clubs. Loss of 78 Clubs. Iu moving the adoption of the report, Sir Alexander Roberts, chairman ot the council, said that the position had not improved and that there was a dithcmt time ahead. There would be great difficulty in obtaining golf balls, but there was a chance that the manuiacturcrs in t'he United States of America might be able to produce a synthetic ball and golfers yet might have to go buck to something in the nature ot the old gutty ball. He regretted that some 60 clubs had had to close down since last year, and there had been a ibig reduction in membership of all clubs. One club with which they could express sj'nipathy was the Maungakiekie club, Auckland, which was fighting for its existence. It would be very regrettable to see such an oldestablished club closed. Their duty was to keep the game going, aud all hoped that conditions would return to normal before long. They were grateful to the <r recDS research committee, whicli lielu. carried on its work well during the season and given much valuable advice to clubs. The motion to adopt the report and balance-sheet was seconded by Mr. \V. A. Kiely, and carried without comment. It was decided that clubs should again pav half subscription rates during the, coming year, and that the council be empowered to make any reductions it deemed fit. _ . Value of Kesearch Work.

Mr. A. Seifert (Manawatu), chairman of the greens research committee at Palmerston North, reported that, while expenditure had been cut down to a minimum, research work on the plots had been kept going during the year, and had been of inestimable service in giving advice to green-keepers. The work could be continued if the council could sec its to renew the grant it had made last year. It would be fatal if organization was lost, as it would be most difficult to build Keiller (Manawatu) said the Manawatu Golf Club had been able to assist by appointing the greens research committee’s supervisor, Mr. \V. M. Horton, as acting-secretary of the club, and he now divided Ibis time on the club s links and the research, plots. Mr Horton said the research committee had been able to give valuable advice to green-keepers during the year. Jhe Scientific and Industrial Research I e partment had taken over one-fifth of the area of the plots at Palmerston North in order to carry out research work for aC Mr. h °P. L. Porter (Christchurch) said that the golf clubs of New Zealand highy valued the work which was being done by the greens research committee, and were anxious that every financial assistance should be given for the carrying on Alexander Roberts said that everyone would agree with this view, aud, on his motion, a vote of thanks was passed to the greens research committee. A vote of thanks to the,council for the able manner in which it bad controlled the game during the year was Pa The'couneil-Sir Alexander Roberts T nd H le Drake? A iVJclanders, D. IL Turner, and Co. were reappointed auditors.