CLUB PROCEEDINGS

 

THE
HIMALAYAN JOURNAL
RECORDS OF THE HIMALAYAN CLUB

 

EDITED BY
H. W. TOBIN

 

‘To encourage and assist Himalayan travel and exploration, and to extendl knowledge of the Himalaya and adjoining mountain ranges through science, art, literature, and sport.'

 

VOLUME XV
1949

OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
LONDON : GEOFFREY CUMBERLEGE 1950

 

THE HIMALAYAN CLUB

 

President:
G. E. J. CRAWFORD, ESQ.

Vice-Presidents:
T. A. SCHINZEL, ESQ.
G. B. GOURLAY, ESQ.

Honorary Secretary:
W. E. MURPHY, ESQ.

Honorary Local Secretaries:
DELHI: MAJOR R. E. HOTZ
DARJEELING: T.J. HARDINGHAM, ESQ.
BOMBAY: A. R. LEYDEN, ESQ.
KULU: MAJOR H. M. BANON.
UNITED KINGDOM: LT.-COL. H. W. TOBIN

HONORARY EDITOR:
LT.-COL. II. W. TOBIN

Honorary Assistant Editor:
MRS. H. P. V. TOWNEND

Honorary Treasurer:
G. I. TURCAN, ESQ.

Honorary Librarian:
V. S. RISOE, ESQ.

Honorary Equipment Officer:
W. A. BROWN, ESQ.

Committee:

J. B. AUDEN, ESQ. W. A. BROWN, ESQ. S. E. GOLLEDGE, ESQ. H. LALL, ESQ. J. LATIMER, ESQ.

V. S. RISOE, ESQ. F. H. V. SCRIMGEOUR, ESQ. R. A. F. THOMAS, ESQ. MRS. H. P. V. TOWNEND T. D. WELBY, ESQ.

 

Additional Members of the Balloting Committee:

L. ARCULUS, ESQ. CAPT. R. B. BAKEWELL E. BERNHARDT, ESQ. DR. K. BISWAS A. F. CHARLTON THOMAS, ESQ.

A. J. DASH, ESQ. M. J. HACKNEY, ESQ. A. H. JUST, ESQ. DR. S. C. LAW J. O. SIMS, ESQ.

 

Reprinted from the original edition published by Oxford University Press, Indian Branch, on behalf of the Himalayan Club by arrangement with the publishers.

 

Report for the year ended 31st December 1948

Members will recall that by the end of 1947 the headquarters of the Himalayan Club had been transferred to Calcutta, and it would be fitting here to record a tribute to the many members of the Club who, as Committee Members or in other capacities, guided the Club's activities so successfully for the nineteen years during which its headquarters were in Simla and Delhi. Members will be glad to learn that there is still an active nucleus of Himalayan enthusiasts left in Delhi.

Though there were no climbs or expeditions which the Club can record during 1948, much useful work was done during the year which might be regarded as rehabilitation after the war period. The de facto Committee which took over in Calcutta had many difficulties to contend with, not the least being that of keeping in touch with members, many of whom were registered under service addresses through which they cannot now be traced. While the Honorary Secretary has made every effort to get in touch with members where their addresses were known, there are many obscurities still to be cleared up, and if any member has been inadvertently omitted from circulation of Club notices, &c., his indulgence is asked for.

During the year most of the equipment held in Delhi was transferred to Calcutta, a small portion being sent to Bombay for use of members there. Arrangements were also initiated for the removal of the Club's Library to Calcutta where it has since arrived. Our thanks are due to the Honorary Local Secretary in Delhi and to the Honorary Librarian for the efficient way in which the equipment and books were transferred. For most of the year the equipment was stored in one of the Boat Houses belonging to the Calcutta Rowing Club, and the Committee wish to express their appreciation of the great assistance which this arrangement afforded.

At the Annual General Meeting held in December 1948, the Club was fortunate in being shown colour films by Dr. West illustrating a Geological Expedition to Afghanistan and by Capt. R. B. Bakewell depicting ski-ing in Kashmir, both of which were much appreciated by the meeting which was well attended.

Members are aware that hitherto Messrs. A. F. Ferguson & Co. have acted as Auditors of the Club. With the transfer of the Club's headquarters from Delhi to Calcutta it is preferable that a firm of Calcutta Auditors be appointed. Messrs. Price, Waterhouse, Peat & Co. have been approached and they have confirmed that they would be willing to act as Auditors if appointed.

As will be seen from the Balance Sheet and Accounts which accompany this report the finances of the old Central and Eastern Sections of the Club are now shown under one head. The financial position of the Club, with fairly substantial reserves, continues to be satisfactory, and it is intended now to utilize a portion of these reserves in the purchase of new equipment for the use of members in replacement of deteriorated stocks mostly of pre-war origin. Against this expenditure, which has long been foreseen, a reserve fund was started during the war.

As indicated in the last Annual Report a start was made last year in compiling an up-to-date Register of Members and work on this has proceeded steadily. At the end of December 1948, a year in which twelve new members were elected and four resignations recorded, there were 608 names on the Club's Register, but this number almost certainly exaggerates the true strength of the Club at present, for the membership of many has unfortunately lapsed under Rule 19 owing to non-payment of subscription. Considerable latitude has been allowed over this because of the unsettled period through which the Club has passed but any member whose subscription has inadvertently fallen in arrears or who has paid a subscription which has not been acknowledged by the Club is asked to communicate immediately with the Honorary Treasurer. It should be noted that subscriptions for Overseas Members should be paid to the Club's account with the Imperial Bank of India, London; those for Resident Members should be paid not as formerly into the Imperial Bank of India, Delhi, but into Lloyds Bank Ltd., Calcutta. It is proposed for the convenience of members at the beginning of 1950 to send a Banker's Order Form to all those on the Register at their last recorded addresses.

Checking the addresses on the Register has been a difficult job. It is still not known whether all addresses as recorded in the Club's Register, and to which this report is being sent, are correct, and it is hoped that all members will keep the Honorary Secretary up to date with any changes.

The Club have now obtained a P.O. Box No., which will be its permanent address and it would be appreciated if in future letters are sent to the Committee Member concerned c/o The Himalayan Club, P.O. Box No. 9049, Park Street P.O., Calcutta, 16.

For the Committee
W. E. Murphy
Honorary Secretary

calcutta, 19th August 1949