Association Decides on Radical Changes in its Constitution

Grey River Argus, 24 November 1948, Page 5

Association Decides on Radical Changes in its Constitution

P.A. DUNEDIN, November 23. Important proposals designed to effect far-reaching changes in the constitution of tiie New Zealand Goif Association, came before the annual meeting. . . One rule in particular was regarded as unsuited to present conditions. This rule is that the members of the council had to be resident in or conveniently near Wellington. Auckland, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland favoured changing the constitution. Wellington voted against it. . . a long discussion, during which the present set-up of the Association came in for trenchant criticism, a motion was carried that the Council should bring down proposals, at a special meeting to be held before March 31. 1949, with a view to amending the rules to make provision, inter alia, for the membership of the Association Io comprise provincial and district associations, instead of clubs, as at present. . The discussion was introduced by Mr A. R- Blank (Waitikiri), who said “The present system of control is antiquated and obsolete. The days are past when four or five big clubs dominated the game, and I hope that the meeting will do something to effect an improvement”. He added that, if other games were like golf, thev would have every cricket and football club sending delegates to the annual meeting of the national body. Mr G. P- Roberts (Hutt) claimed that the suggested constitution would make the structure of the Golf Association top heavy, and the Wellington District Association would be faced with the prospect of having to employ a secretary. . . Mr Blank agreed to make provision for district associations in his original motion. , , x The amendment was then put to Urn meeting and carried on a show of hands. , .. A number of motions were submitted by Mr H. S. Ross (St. Clair Club) seeking a revision of the present constitution. One resolution, which was carried, expressed agreement with the principles that there should be one vote for' everv financial member of a golf club, and that the rules should be amended accordingly. His further motion:. “That the annual meeting is dissatisfied with the present constitution of the New Zealand Golf Association, and directs the Association to set up a sub-committee to bring down a fresh set of rules , was carried.