SWIMMING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5481, 30 September 1929, Page 2

SWIMMING.

THE PAEROA CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting Paeroa Amateur Swimming Club was held on Friday evening, Mr W. D. Nicholas, presideht, presiding. In opening the meeting the chairman extended a hearty welcome to those present, and asked that dpe consideration be given to the business before them. He hoped that the usual harmony characteristic of the club’s affairs would be evident. Annual Report. Following is the report in part:— “This being the first season, it is with all pleasure that we report a most successful season—both financially and from the viewpoint of the sport of swimming. “Balance-Sheet. —The balance-sheet shows a credit balance and assets to the value of £l9 18s 3d. “Membership.—The membership recorded may be taken as a record for a newly-formed club in a town the size of Paeroa, there. I>eing 81 senior members and 35' junior jpembers, which make a total of 116 in all. “A senior and junior points prize competition, for both ladies and men, was successfully conducted, Miss D. Cocks winning the ladies’ senioi’ competition and Miss D. Simmonds the junior ladies’ competition, while Mr D. Fraser won the senior and Master G. B. Dickson the junior competitions for men.

"Carnivals.—During the season two carnivals were held, and both were successful. The members of the club who competed in these carnivals are to be congratulated on their first season’s efforts, especially the junior swimmers. Members, while not travelling to a large extent, did exceptionally well at the Waihi carnival. The progress of swimming in Paeroa should, in the coming season, increase i tremendously, for it will be really only this summer that‘the many boys and girls who received coaching last year will notice the benefit. We feel confident in stating that both carnivals were appreciated by both competitors and the public. At the second carnival we were honoured by the presence of our patron, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of Public Works, and His Worship the Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, who welcomed Miss E. Stockley to Paeroa. “Resignations.—The original secretary of the club, Mr H. V. Cocks, tendered his resignation during February owing to pressure of business, and such had to be accepted with regret. The present secretary, Mr D. Fraser, however, volunteered to take up the position, and up to the present has carried on. Miss D. Cocks’ resignation from the committee had also to be accepted with regret owing to her leaving the district. “Visiting Swimmers.—The club received able support from outside clubs, and we extend our thanks to all visiting swimmers. For the second carnival we were fortunate in securing Miss E. Stockley to give an exhibition swim. Her performance, her sporting spirit, and the coaching given to young swimmers will be long remembered by all in Paeroa. The club wishes Miss Stockley every success in the swimming championships of Australia.

“Championships.— The championships decided during the season were : The South Auckland Men’s Senior Championship, 100yds (club) Senior Men’s Championship, and 50yds (club) Junior Men’s Championship. We congratulate Mr G. Burgess on retaining the 440yds championship; also Mr S. Denise and Master V. Nicholls on winning the senior and junior club championships, respectively. “Working Bees—At the beginning of the season the seating accommodation was nil; at the end, permanent tiered seating for over 400 persons was finished. All credit for this is due to Mr. R. I. Roberts, the carpenters, friends, and club members who willingly game their time and labour for this urgent and necessary improvement. In this matter the Mayor, Mr W. Marshall, gave every assistance, and we also wish to thank Messrs F. Bayfield, G. S. Taiboys, and E. P. Fathers. “Bath Conditions.—To the incoming committee we make a strong recommendation to endeavour to have proper' lighting installed before the next carnival. Apart from this matter, the baths are eminently suited for the holding of carnivals. “Dance.—The dance was a complete success. A great deal of time was devoted to this dance by the social committee, and it proved a sucessful finale to a successful season.

“Ladies’ Assistance. —Our 'sincere thanks are extended to the ladies who helped.during the season, especially so to Mesdames Alp, Turton, and Darbyshire, whose services were so willingly and ably given in making the free coffee stall a success ; also to Miss Hilda North, who acted as ladies’ steward. “Carnival Officials.—To those members outside the executive committee, officials from other clubs, and friends who acted as officials during the carnivals we extend our appreciation of the able mannei’ in which they carried out the various duties allotted to them. “Donors of Trophies.—To various donors of trophies the sincere thanks of the club are due, and their generosity in no small way contributed to the fostering of keen and healthy competition.

“Meetings.—During the season a great number of meetings of the executive committee were necessary, and it was only on rare occasions that a member was absent.

“In conclusion, we wish to place on record our thanks to those who at the beginning of the season worked so hard towards the formation of the club ; to the Paeroa Borough Council, who did everything possible to help ; to the custodian of the baths ; to Mr G. P. Lamb, for the loan of timber for seating accommodation; and to the local Press, for the publicity given to meetings and reports on different club nights and carnivals.”

The adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet was carried unanimously. The chairman expressed his thanks to all members for their wholehearted support during the last season, saying that it had been a pleasure to attend meetings under such circumstances. Whenever any assistance was needed members came forward willingly and helped, as was specially shown in the erection of seats for the carnival. The secretary had gone to great pains to draw up the annual report, which was complete, dealing effectively with the whole year’s work. Election of Officers. Mr Nicholas, in proposing Mr F. G. Williams for the presidency, said Mr Williams was a very keen member and knew a great deal about swimming ; he would be eminently suitable for the position. Mr Williams, in asking that he might be allowed to decline nomination, said he did not think they could go past their present president; he had a grip of things, and should he allow himself to be nominated again, swimming would be on an even better basis than during the last season, and he (the speaker) would wish to see Mr Nicholas president once more. , Mr Nicholas was of the opinion that the office should go round, but on Mr Williams’ name being withdrawn at his own request, and there being no further nominations, Mr Nicholas was re-elected president with acclamation. In accepting office for another term Mr Nicholas thanked the members for their expression of confidence and gave his assurance that he would use his best endeavours to put Paeroa even more firmly on the map.

Mr D. Fraser, in at first declining to take up the duties of secretary, explained that the work in connection with the position at carnival times was too onerous for one who wished to take part in swimming events as well. On Mr Priestley’s suggestion that an assistant secretary should take over the duties at carnival time being put to the meeting and passed, Mr Fraser accepted nomination and was re-elected secretary. The eleetjon of officers resulted .as follows :— Patron, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P.; vice-patrons, Messrs W. Marshall and E. S. Masters ; president, Mr W. D. Nicholas ; vice- presidents, Messrs P. S. Meachem, H. H. Priestley, G. S. Taiboys; secretary, Mr D. Fraser, with a deputy to be appointed for duty during carnivals; treasurer, Mr D. Currie; auditor, Mr G. E. Allen.; hadicappers, Messrs P. S. Meachem and F. G. Williams; committee, Messrs A. Clowes, F. Hayward, L. McDonald, W..J. Simpson, and F. G. Williams ; delegates to South Auckland Centre, the president and Mr P. S. Meachem. Visit of Australians. The South Auckland Centre wrote stating that there was a possibility of a visit from the Australian swimmers, Greer and Ryan, in December or January, and it was asked that those who wished to obtain an appearance of these two swimmers should notify the Centre as soon as possible. The tour was as yet merely tentative. No terms had been drawn up, and the association merely wished to get an idea of the number of clubs desiring an ap-

pearance. The president thought it would he an excellent idea to have the Australians in Paeroa, not only for the good of the club, but for the town as well. Mr Fraser, in stating that £lO tb £l5 in expenses would be incurred, said that 2s and Is 6d entrance fees could be.charged. People would be willing to pay that to see two of the world’s champion swimmers in action. It was. decided to refer the question to the incoming committee, with a recommendation that it be given every consideration. Championship Carnival. The South Auckland Centre wrote intimating that its committee had in mind Paeroa for the next Centre championship carnival. It felt sure that it would do a great deal of good for the sport in the district and should attract swimmers from Ngatea, Thames, Waihi, Te Aroha, and the Morrinsville end. The centre could not offer the local club any percentage of the gate, for it was by the carnival that the centre subsisted. The centre collected the gate and stood the risk of loss. The president considered that it was a fairly tall order, and would bring no profit to the local club. Still, if it was decided to hold it here, it would be good propaganda for Paeroa. There was keen interest in this annual event, but at the same time it would mean the Paeroa club losing a club carnival, and therefore additional funds. Mr Fraser thought it would be a pity to drop a club carnival; it would be better to have the club on a sound’ financial basis from holding its owh carnivals before entertaining the proposition. It was finally decided to leave the subject to the incoming committee to deal with. Samuel Cup. Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., wrote stating that he was quite favourable to leaving the disposal of the cup he had presented in the hands of the club’s committee. General. It was decided to ask the Borough Council for Tuesday and Thursday, evenings as the club nights, and to write to it on the subject of more adequate lighting. Opening of Baths. The chairman announced that in the course of conversation the Mayor had said that the question of an opening date for the baths would be decided at a council meeting on October 10. The chairman added that if held fine and dry there was a ity of them being opened in night’s time. a ~ In conclusion the president exprfessed the hope that the coming season would be as bright and succcesful as the last. He was quite sure a visit from the Australians would give local boys encouragement to imitate their prowess.