HOKITIKA SWIMMING CLUB.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1925, Page 3

HOKITIKA SWIMMING CLUB.

'The following report and balance sheet of the Hokitika Amateur Swimming Club in connection with last season’s workings at the Baths will he presented at the meeting to he held in the 'Town Hall this evening at 7.30 p.m., when a full attendance of season ticket holders is desirou. Gentlemen

In presenting the Report and Balance Sheet for the season 11)21. there are some outstanding, features, which call for special attention, and which may he useful in connection with the financial and general work at the Baths for the incoming swimming season. Prior to the year 15)1-1 the X.Z. Government made an annual grant of £4OO

to the N.Z.A.S. Assn., really as a capitation amount, to he passed through the Education Department, then on to the .several Centres for the purpose of teaching swimming to school children. Our Citih received its quota, but owing to the retrenchment schemes operating during the war period, this grant was cut out altogether, thus throwing the Club in to its own resources. 'Through the persistent efforts of the Swimming Clubs, the ,grant lias again been made, but only to the extent of C2(!() for the whole of the Dominion. 'Thus, our Club have to rely on its gate receipts and members subscriptions. and a perusal of the balance sheet will see at a glance bow this works out. Of a total of £1)1 (is !)d in gate takings, some £33 1 Is 9d was taken on the six nights on which Carnivals were held, hut for which, the Club would have had great difficulty in carrying on its work.

The Season tickets showed a slight falling off. especially in the adult section, hut was more than balanced by tin- school children's section. Oil February (itli. numbers of children competed for the distance certificates, thirty three being successful in gaining these, the distances swum ranging I'm in 50 to 2.000 yards. Since then. Miss Alva Mclntosh and Miss Lucille Payne registered over 4000 yds, certificates for same to tie issued in 1925. Ail effort was made to induce “Miss G with a Shnnd to visit Hokitika, but her visit to the Olympic Games in Britain did not allow of her appearance here, but it is Imped to got her here in the next Season. The Club made a donation of £3 3s towards her expenses, the results more than justifying the expenditure. Of tin' amount expended, which totals £lB2 11s Id. the Club has guarded its finance in such a way that CBO 12s 5d has been expended in improving the enclosure, erection of stands, enlarging Isays dressing shells, and purchasing a motor and pumping plant, besides erecting sheds to bouse the necessary gear. Other sums totalling over £lO have been expended in painting etc. The balance of expenses can lie gleaned from the expoiulitui e figures. "That such a large sum of over £IOO should be spent on tbo baths m one season out of a total of £lB2 Us Id, should ho nleasant news to tlio residents, as, the Baths being owned as they are. by the Council, really are tho peoples’ This fact is evidently appreciated as our Club received ft very | nigi-atnlatury hitter from the Borough Council thanking them for the efforts they were making towards teaching the school children to swim.

\ visit to the baths on a fine afternoon. would lend one to believe that almost <‘verv child in Hie town could swim, whereas, on a (cnsus being taken i„ Hie two local schools last November, out of a total number of 307 pupils m Standards ITT- to Standards VI (inclusive) 155 could not swim ft stroke. Ibis fact is rather alarming when a child can ~e t n season ticket, allowing them the use of the Baths on Q days a week from G a.m. until 5 p.m. for the small sum of -s fid. and rather suggests compulsory swimming as a subject in all schools. If the Club could only see a decent credit balance nt tho end ol the next Season, possibly sfmw arrangements could he made to confer with the parents to help to reduce this big per centage of non-swimmers. The Club again tried to arrange some suitable hours for Ludies only, hut they had to he discontinued, owing to the poor response shown. Perhaps a Ladies’ Club would right matters. In conclusion the Club is greatly indebted to the Municipal Band, the ladies who helped with the supper arrangements at the Carnivals, donors of trophies, and the general public for patronising the several carnivals held during tbo Season. The balance sheet shows the receipts were: —Balance from season £32 12s 3d. Borough subsidy £2O 8s Sd. season rickets £35 ss. gate receipts £35 125.. Carnival gates and nominations £55 14s 9d. cash donations £3 Is fid. total £lB2 17s 2d. Th.e expenditure included motor and pump £54; other material and work £32 12s oil, labour and caretaker £54 17s Id. prizes £l7 16s. printing and advertising £l6 Gs fid. sundries £6 18s, balance to credit (is Id. total £lB2 17s 2d.