CLUB ASSISTED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 173, 24 July 1941, Page 5

CLUB ASSISTED

; . RATES REMITTED I DECISION AT TAKAPUNA I , "We regret that we are forced to Iconic, but we are proud of the 'cause," said the spokesman of a jdeputation from the Takapuna Teninis Club, which waited on the Takapuna Borough Council last night to I 'seek full remission of the club's rates for the past year, amounting to £31 9/9. After hearing the deputation's! submissions, the council unani-| imously decided to make a special! Igrant from the unauthorised expen-i jditure account of the amount of the! -rates owing. I i Figures were produced by the 'spokesman of the deputation, show[ing that in the two war seasons the J membership of the club had been 1 'reduced from SO to 40. and there I were 30 men serving with the armed ■!forces. In the same period the 'iclub's income had fallen from £271 ;j to £l-"") 2. while it was becoming inicreasingly difficult to raise money by jsocial activities.* Almost all the reimaining men players of the club i were liable to be called up for serjvice in the near future. It was also 'shown how the club had made •strenuous efforts to reduce expenditure in every possible way. Of the 'isix grass courts only three had been "I used and attempts had been made to •jtemporarily dispose of the others. ;|The services of a caretaker had been 'dispensed with, and the members 'were themselves undertaking all prejparation and maintenance of the Si courts. It was stated that unless :lthe council saw its way clear to S remit the full total of the rates the .iclub would probably have to go out jiof existence. , "We have a duty to the men overseas in keeping sports clubs going fjuntil their return," said Mr. C. V. -'Holyoake. who also pointed out that lithe tennis dub was affected far more ithan bowling, croquet and golf clubs, j. which had a membership with a jjp'gher average age. and most of I;their members were ineligible for military service.