NGATEA WEEKLY DANCES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5152, 15 July 1927, Page 4

NGATEA WEEKLY DANCES

o LIVELY PUBLIC MEETING. REORGANISING CONTROL. For some time trouble has been brewing in connection with the weekly dances held in the Ngatea' Hall. The nature and cause of this trouble has been difficult to ascertain, owing to the many conflicting stories, but the upshot has been that the dances have apparently been boycotted in favour of house parties. From the nature of the conflicting stories it is apparent that the large body of disinterested dancers have been led away by misrepresentation of facts. The weekly dances were commenced some nine months ago by the Ngatea Tennis Club as a means of raising funds to help meet its annual instalment of £6O on the purchase of the four courts-. A few months ago the Ngatea Football Club decided to 'hold weekly dances in aid of its funds, and as it became apparent that the same people would have to organise the two functions, which would detract from each other, the tennis club offered to allow the football club to work in with it on an equal footing at the Saturday night dapces. This arrangement worked satisfactorily, each body receiving about £3 a month and on occasions the proceeds were given to other bodies, or the other bodies were; allowed to hold on the evening when the hall had been booked for the regular dance. Naturally, there was some public criticism of many matters in connection with the organisation, but the two clubs- were satisfied with the people they had placed in charge of the functions. However, with the needs of the Hockey Club as an excuse, rival house parties were organised, and the past two Saturday night dances proved failures-.

Feeling was running high, and to arrive at some Understanding a meeting was called by the social committee of persons interested in the welfare of the football and tennis clubs. Almost 60 persons attended on Wednesday evening, despite the awful weather. Mr H. Dent, who presided, explained that he understood .the purpose was to reorganise the administration of the Saturday night-dances, for it was quite apparent that things were not as they should be. He called on Mr C. Bertelsen, president' and secretary ■ of the dance committee, and, incidentally, president of the tennis club and secretary of the football club, to address the meeting. Mi Bertelsen explained a little trouble that had arisen in- the football club recently concerning its representation on the committee, which had resulted in new delegates being appointed. He then read the minutes of a recent meeting of the dance committee showing the whole organisation of the control of the dances. After mentioning the poor results of the last .two dances- on account of the “opposition function” Mr Bertelsen stated that he had been accused of ta.king part for what he could make out of the functions, and,, in fact, had been stealing the money. He would welcome an investigation by anyone. He and Mrs Bertelson had done their best for the two clubs, but all they had got from the public was criticism and abuse. They therefore wished to sever a.ll connections. Mr Barriball asked who was the committeeman referred to by ,the, previous speaker who had taken part in an opposition function. If he wa.s the one referred to he wished- to point, out that bis wife had a perfect right to have a social evening in her house if she wished to do so. The chairman intervened and asked whether it was intended to fill the vacancies caused by the resignations and continue the functions, and whether other sports bodies were to be included.

Mr C. S. Foster said the chairmah of the Hall Committee had told, him that the hall could not be hooked up for an indefinite period, but only for three months at a time. Mr W. McDuff, a member of the Hall Committee, and Mr H. Dent, an ex-member, denied this. Mr Barriball contended that it was not a fair thing for one body to book the hall for an indefinite period to the exclusion of other bodies who wanted to hold a dance on a Saturday night. Mr R. C. Abel said it seemed that the issues were becoming confused. He asked if the question was whether the present organisation was' unsatisfactory, or whether' the hiaJl was being monopolised to the exclusion of the other sports clubs attd .tihat they had been driven to organise other functions. He suggested that the Saturday night dances should be run for the benefit of all .the Ngatea sports clubs. Mr Bertelsen said he was pleased to hear the suggestion, which, had never been made before.

Mr Dent welcomed the idea, .and said that the football club had Jiever been approached to give up a night. Mr McDuff submitted that other bodies than sports clubs might want a Saturday night. Mr Bertelsen s.aid that the social committee had always givem way when asked by other bodie s. The Ladies’ Guild had not asked and been turned down, as contended by ;Mr McDuff.

In answer to the chairm an both the football and tennis clubs stated their desire to continue the functions. Mr Dent said tihat as president of the football club, he aimed to raise money with which to purchaise a. playing field. Until the money! was in hand it was useless endeavouring to buy land in Ngatea. He paid a. tribute to Mr Bertelson, who had been mainly responsible as secretary for bringing the club to a sounc’f financial position from a very bad ] position. In reply to Mr Abe] Mi r Bertelsen said that he and his-, wifei desired to resign on account of th ie personal abuse and unfair criticisr n.

The chairman said th at this had only been street talk, an'd asked whether anyone could take exception to what the Bertelsons hud done. Mr McDuff said tjha ,t there, .must have been something ’.wrong, qther-

wise the public would not have deserted the dances for the house parties. The chairman said he considered that no good would como ef continuing the subject, and would bring the discussion back to the point. Mr Barriball contended that the hockey and cricket clubs should be given a share in the profits of the dances, and suggested that as the tennis club had a big liability the profits should be divided every three months in the proportion of two-fifths to the tennis club and one-fifth to each of the other clubs.

Argument ensued on this point, and no finality was reached at that stage. Mr Abel suggested that each sports club appoint a delegate to a committee, and that one fair and uninterested person be appointed to have a steadying influence.

A long argument ensued as to how the committee was to be appointed. Some were for appointing it and then, while others favoured referring the matter to the various clubs. Finally it was decided to appoint a committee pro tern until confirmed by the various clubs. With the committee were to be four ladies to organise the supper arrangements, and Mesdames McPherson, Wheeler, Barriball, and Gribble were appointed. Mr A. Kemp was elected delegate for the hockey club, Mr T. Alderson for the tennis club, Mr S. Phillips for the cricket club, and Mr Barriball for the football club. For the fifth .member of the committee, ;in outsider, Mr C. S. Foster was selected.

Mr Abel moved that it be a recommendation to the committee that the profits be divided every three months in the proportions of two-fifths to the tennis club and one-fifth to each of the other clubs. He pointed out that unless this was settled a club might incur liabilities) and plead for a larger share. ' The motion was carried.

It was decided that a balance-sheet be published every three months, and that the body be known as the Ngatea Combined Sports Committee. Prolonged applause carried a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs Bertelsen for their work in connection with the past dances, and a vote of thanks to the chairman, and a collection to pay the hall hire terminated the meeting.