Greater Hastings Minutes 1967

GREATER HASTINGS INC.  CONFIDENTIAL

MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD AT GREATER HASTINGS’ OFFICE ON MONDAY, 6th FEBRUARY 1967 at 7-30 p.m.

PRESENT:   Mr. H. B. Poppelwell presided over Messrs. J. Heron, R. Orr, K. Carran, H. Robinson, J. Sykes, G. Aitcheson, H. Wong, I Hickman, R. Robertson, R. Ingram and J. Minty.

In opening the meeting the President welcomed Mr. John Sykes on to the Executive, and thanked him for his support.

MINUTES:   The Minutes of the Executive Meeting held on the 23rd January 1967 were read and confirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Inwards – From Sam Taylor accepting invitation to commentate at 1967 Games.

From Hastings City Council re Secretary/Organiser’s report on Christmas activities at Windsor Park.

Mr. Aitcheson stated that Mr. Taylor had written to him regarding accommodation for six over Easter weekend.  Mr. Hickman offered the use of his caravan to Mr. Aitcheson to help with Mr. Taylor’s accommodation.  This offer was accepted with pleasure.  The Executive expressed their thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Aitcheson for their kind gesture in accommodating the Taylor family over the past several years.

ACCOUNTS:   Receipts and payments for October, November and December 1966 were received, along with the accounts for the 1966 Highland Games.

HIGHLAND GAMES:

The following Executive members reported on approaches they had made regarding sponsorship of events at the 1967 Highland Games.

R. Orr reported that he had approached the Dominion-Sunday Times and had received a sympathetic hearing. On the motion of Mr. Aitcheson, seconded by Mr. Sykes, the Secretary was instructed to write to the Dominion-Sunday Times, through Mr. Orr, and offer the Athletic and Cycling events for both days at a cost of £200, and the Highland events at a cost of £300.

H.B. Poppelwell – Cyclone Auto Ltd   £20   Any Event
John Hill Ltd   £5.5.0   Any Event
Farmers Trading Co.   £15.0.0   Novice Board Events Monday
Stortford Lodge Motel   Will sponsor an event and possibly accommodation (to be confirmed)
H.B. Asphalt Ltd.   Will sponsor any section up to £20 (to be confirmed)

G. Aitcheson – Wattie Canneries Ltd. £52 All cycling events Saturday
Atkins Caravans Ltd.   £3.5.0   Schoolboy 1 lap cycle event
Morrison Industries Ltd.   Non-commital [Non-committal]
Robt. Holt & Son Ltd.   Non-commital

K. Carran – Bunkers Ltd. Trophies to the value of £12.0.0 for Hastings Scottish 100 (women) Monday.
Millar & Giorgi Ltd.   £4.10.0   Strathspey & Reel, B. Grade, Monday.
F. L. Bone Ltd. £80 Tug O’War (to be confirmed)
Les McDonald   £6   Slow March B. Grade Saturday (to be confirmed)
Letter sent to M.S.D. Spiers Ltd. Offered the Axecraft section at £80.

– 2 –

J. Heron – Dawn Meat Company £3.0.0 For any event.
Unilever   £25   Highland Field events and Weightlifting

I. Hickman – Griffiths Footwear Ltd. £2.5.0 Colts 1/2 mile under 16 Cycling, Monday.
Tuckers Woolwash   Tug O’War (to be confirmed)
Hickmans Booksellers   £6.0.0   For any event.

H. Wong – Kelts Ltd. £5.5.0 For any event
Evans Furnishers   £3.3.0   For any event
Ranfurly House (H Wong)   £5.5.0   For any event

J. Minty – Hastings Panel Repairs £6.0.0 March B Grade, Saturday

BOXING:   The Secretary reported that arrangements were well in hand for the Boxing Section to be held at the 1967 Highland Games on Saturday and Monday.  The Boxing Association have advised that they were financially embarrassed for the £20 which it will cost to conduct this section.  The meeting agreed that Greater Hastings would pay the expenses involved up to £20.  It was suggested that the Secretary seek sponsorship for this amount from H.B. Asphalts. Ltd.

ATHLETES & CYCLISTS

The Secretary was instructed to extend an invitation to Mr. Barry Burns, Dunedin, who has been running the mile in exceptionally good times recently.  The invitation to be for payment of limited expenses.

Mr. Aitcheson reported that he had approached the following cyclists who indicated that they would be prepared to attend the 1967 Games.  The Secretary was instructed to extend an official invitation offering reimbursement of travelling expenses:
K. Goldsworthy, Takapuna
N. Robinson, Gisborne
G. Wright, Wellington
B. Goldsworthy, Wellington
Des. Thomson, Wellington

FLOAT SUB-COMMITTEE REPORT:

The President congratulated Mr. Carran and Mr. Sykes on their fine efforts in bringing down a report which they hoped would prove the solution to securing better type floats for future Blossom Processions.  In presenting the report, Mr. Carran stated that the voluntary roster system, either with or without the suggestions as stated in the report could go a long way in solving our problems.  “This scheme would need to be presented in an attractive manner,” said Mr. Carran, “hence the reason for proposing to have booklets and sketches available”.  Mr. Carran presented a draft of contract which can be negotiated between Greater Hastings and participating firms.  Already a group have indicated that they would be prepared to provide a float for each of the next five years.  It was suggested that the roster could be decided by ballot.  The Secretary reported that loss of revenue through float contracts in the way of advertising could be approximately £200 per year.

Also, it is felt that a cash prize basis should be instituted for winning floats in this commercial section.  This was left for further discussion as the meeting was not unanimous on this point.  The Secretary explained that by offering prize money to this section only would possibly have an adverse effect on other sections where organisations are spending a considerable amount of money, which some can ill afford, for no financial return.

In summing up, Mr Carran stated that in selling this contract idea all we are asking for, for a major effort, is an advertising expenditure of £40 per year over the next five years.  He felt that with the inclusion of the advertising benefits and cash prizes as offered in the report, along with the knowledge that firms would only be approached once every five years, this proposal should succeed.

3.

Mr. Carran moved, seconded by Mr. Aitcheson, that the report be adopted in principle.   Carried.

Mr. Carran moved, seconded by Mr. Sykes, that a sub-committee be formed to action proposals in the report.  Sub-committee:

Messrs. K. Carran
J. Sykes
H. Robinson
with right to co-opt.   Carried.

Mr. Carran moved, seconded Mr. Heron, that a maximum of £75 be allocated to general promotional purposes in conjunction with the report.   Carried.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

Press Releases:   Mr. Carran moved, seconded by Mr. Wong, that the Secretary/Organiser release to the press items of public interest emerging from Executive Meeting.

Subscribing Firms:   Mr. Carran suggested that the Secretary compile a list of subscribing retailers and firms to our various promotions.

Membership:   Mr. Orr suggested that in an endeavour to increase our membership, 200 selected citizens should be sent honorary membership for one year, giving all privileges of Greater Hastings, and then follow up with an account for the following year.  It was agreed that the question of membership should be included on the agenda for the next meeting.

Agenda:   The Secretary was instructed to include the following topics on the agenda for the next Executive meeting:
Retailers’ participation in Blossom Festival
Blossom Concerts
Park Activity on Blossom Day

The meeting closed at 11.57 p. m.

CONFIRMED
Chairman.