FOXTON SURF AND LIFE SAVING CLUB.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4522, 25 October 1930, Page 3

FOXTON SURF AND LIFE SAVING CLUB.

♦ —- ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the Foxton Surf and Life (Saving Club was held in Harvey's Rooms last evening, presided over by the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau). There was an attendance of twenty members including Messrs W. Collier, Campbell and Weston J. Smith of Palmerston North.

The president extended a welcome to the Palmerston North visitors and expressed the Club’s appreciation at their attendance which demonstrated that they had the welfare of the Club at heart.

In reporting oil the activities of the Club during the past season Mr. Perreau siiid that since the inaugural meeting was held twelve months ago the Club had steadily •progressed and had a very line membership to-day. A great deal of this progress had been due -to the assistance given by members of the Manawatu Life Saving Club, particularly so in respect to Mr. Collier and his colleagues. The Club had been unfortunate in losing' the services of its captain (Mr F. Bums) during the year while their first secretary (Mr. A. B. McCorlciiidale) had also left the district. Both these men had had the welfare of the Club at heart and done much to assist it along' during the diifijeult times’ experienced at the commencement. They had been fortunate in securing th eserviees of Mr. 'VV. E. Alsop who took over the secretarial duties, but he very much regretted to learn that this enthusiastic member was now loa\ing‘ Foxton. The success of the Club had been due in a large measure to his enthusiasm and great credit was due to him for the excellent financial position in which the Oub was in to-day. Air. Alsop had devoted all his spare time to Surf and Life Saving work and had kept the teams together right throughout the winter by means of a gymnasium. The Foxton Harbour Board had given the Club unstinted assistance, financially and otherwise and in every way displayed its appreciation of the fact that a Life Saving Club was operating on the beach. 'They realised that such a body was an asset not only to Foxton Beach, but to the district as a whole. In conclusion lie expressed the hope that the Club would experience a very successful season and be able to retain the valuable assistance of Mr. Collier and other Palmerston North residents.

Air. 'Collier expressed the appreciation of the Manawatu Life Saving Centre for what the Foxton Club had accomplished during the past year. lie felt sure the Club had .come to stay. The Alanawatu Centre realised that it was only by the efforts of such Clubs us Foxton that the good work they wore carrying on could bo placed -before the public. Such Clubs were really the mouth-pieces of the parent ibodv which by reason of its situation was unable to carry out any practical work. The Centre had been surprised at the progress made by the Foxton Club during its first year’s operation and also at tin*, laid, that the Club had kept practising right throughout the winter. Now that the. Club was mi its feet it Would be of great scr- \ ice not only to Hie Beach but to the district and bq hoped that the boys would get together at the earliest possible opportunity and get into active practice on the beach in order that, they would 'be able to enter a team, through the Manawatu Centre in the Wanganui yhampionships to be held next March when tlit*.v were all looking forward to seeing Foxton make a name for itself in the Life Saving world in the same manner as the Opunake Club had done on its first appearance recently. He assured the Foxlon Club that it bad the earnest support of the Manawatu Centre and ‘anything that that body could do to assist the iCJub would he done willingly. Mr. Campbell (president of the Manawatu* Swimming Centre and member of the executive of the Manawatu Life Saving Society) endorsed Mr. Collier’s remarks and said lie had been pleased with the manner in which local delegates had placed their views before a recent meeting of • the Centre in matters pertaining to the welfare of the Club. If a 'Club had such able members he considered that it augured well for its future. He impressed on the members that they were oar dying ouit a gfieat work in which they were obtaining experience and training which would prove useful to them in after life. He could not help noticing the all-round enthusiasm which characterised the meeting while the balance-sheet disclosed such an excellent state of affairs that no further comment was necessary in that connection. The Centre was looking to Foxton to give it its greatest boost. The public attended the beach and there were able to see the work of the society in practice. He hoped the. Club would have a very successful year and they could rest assured that whatever assistance they required would be forthcoming from Palmerston North. NEW MEMBERS. The following new members were elected Messrs H. Perreau, L. Thompson, J. Hirini and E. and K. Robinson. The balance-sheet, as previously published was then read and to - gether with the report adopted. RESIGNATION. Air. W. E. Alsop tendered his resignation flrom the Club as he was shortly leaving the district. In doing so he wished the Club every success for the future and intimated that he would always retain a ('Concluded on page 4.)