SUNDAY TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19787, 27 November 1929, Page 14

SUNDAY TENNIS.

PLAY AT WILDING PARK. PROPOSAL REJECTED BY ASSOCIATION. By 30 votes to 17, delegates to the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association last evening rejected the proposal to open the Associations grounds, Wilding Park, for play on Sundays during the summer months. In accordance with notice given, Mr D. M. Mcßae moved:— "That Wilding Park be open tor plav to members of affiliated clubs on Sundavs between November oOth, 1929, and April 2Sth, 1930." Mr Mcßae said he would like the meeting to note that the proposal was for onlv a limited time and was open onlv to" members of affiliated clubs. He thought that Sunday play at Wilding Park would be very desirable in the interests of the game. In the past, the question had been discussed from a religious point of view, but it must be remembered that Sunday observance was not so strict as it used to be. There were many clubs in Christchurch with their grounds on parks controlled by the Domains Board, and for them to indulge in Sunday play members would have to pav two or in some cases three subscriptions. A suggestion had been made that Sunday play at the park would rob some clubs of a portion of their membership, but he was sure that with the limited play permitted by the opening of the courts on Sundays, no players would forego their privileges with other clubs merely for this reason. Play at Wilding Park on Sundays would not" be detrimental to any club. Revenue Needed. The finance of Wilding Park had been run in the past on a losing basis, said Mr McKae, and last year there was a considerable loss, even though the year should have been a good one for tennis. The proposal would provide a new source of revenue, and every possible avenue in this direction should be explored. The opinion of a Christchurch solicitor had been obtained as to whether a man could be employed to supervise the play and hire out courts on Sundays, and he had decided that this was permissible. Tickets for play could be sold by club secretaries, thus restricting play to members of affiliated clubs.

Mr E. Salvesen seconded the motion. At this stage a number of letters bearing on the question were read after a protest by a minority of delegates. Ascot, Colombo street Baptist, Beckenham, Trinity, and Union -wrote expressing disapproval of the proposal, two of the clubs intimating that in the event of the motion being carried, their support for the park might be withdrawn. In reply to a question as to why the period of Sunday play should be limited to the summer months, Mr Mcßae said that such a stipulation was designed to protect clubs who might otherwise lose members through players obtaining tennis throughout the year at Wilding Park. Views of Opponents. Mr E. A. Lee, secretary of the Fendalton Club, said his club felt that it would sustain a loss of their best players. It was not only the numerical weakening that had to be faced, but the fact that many of the oldest and strongest supporters of the club would be lost. The proposal, if adopted, would be followed inevitably by the opening of the park for play throughout the year. Mr A. Stewart supported Mr Lee 'a views. His club, Fendalton, had been accused of selfishness, which consisted only in trying to build up a strong membership. Most of the Sunday play at present was carried on on private courts, but the great fear was that Wilding Park would assume the status of a club with a huge membership. Many United members still played at Fendalton on Sundays, but that would not be the case if they could obtain plav on the grass at Wilding Park. Mr F. M. L. Sheppard, a Linwood delegate, opposed the proposal. Linwood was the nearest club to Wilding Park, and it had already lost members through the opening of clubs in surrounding districts. The opening of Wilding Park for Sunday play would be a step toward a municipal club. Mr G. Berry, representing Avonside, said that his club had voted against the proposal. Mr G. F. Woodham, secretary of the Wesley Club, said it had decided against the proposal. His club was a Methodist Church club, and it had taken up a contrary attitude on the matter on principle.

Withdrawal of Support. Mr S. W. Jameson said suggestions had been made that clubs would withdraw their support in the event of Wilding Park being opened on Sundays. That phase of the question would require consideration. "I would be very sorry to see any such action being taken," said Mr Goss. "We must be ruled by the majority in all questions of policy, and I am sorry to see such suggestions made by affiliated clubs." "It would be in the interests of tennis if play were permitted at Wilding Park on Sundays," said Mr F. Longton. "Players would be split up, and would obtain a greater variety of play, to their own benefit. Dealing with the financial side of the matter I venture to say that an additional revenue of £2OO to £3OO would be obtained from the hire of courts on Sundays. At present there is not enough depreciation being written off on the Wilding Park account, and this depreciation is going to increase year by year." . . "There are few members in Cbristchurch clubs at the present time who take advantage of the play permitted on Sundays on club courts," Baid Mr A. Borrows. He did not think that Sunday play at Wilding Park would be any great success. Mr B. Browning: I am not so strongly against Sunday tennis as some members of the Association, but I feel that any step taken to cause disunion among the clubs would have very serious consequences to the Association. The grass courts at Wilding Park are its great asset and advantage, and I would be sorry to see these courts thrown open for general play. Mr W. N. Seay, vice-president of the Association, said the time had arrived when something must be done regarding the finance of the Park. About £14,000 had been spent on the Park, of which only about- £2OOO was for the land. There was a steady depreciation on the balance of £12,000. Last year the revenue was only about £240, where it should be £SOO or £6OO. He would remind the meeting, too, that grass court play was essential for the development of good players. "Times have changed and views have altered in regard to Sunday observance," said Mr Seay, "and even some churches are arranging services for sportsmen early on Sundays, while the Government is providing Sunday excursions and other bodies are permitting Sunday recreations.''

The Wilding Park account, said Mr P. R. Harman, was £4OO overdrawn. He, personally, was in favour of the proposal, but his club had directed him to vote against the motion. He would point out that some improvement in revenue would have to be made. Mr J. Mercer (Cathedral Club) supported Mr Mcßae's motion. Mr Goes said that on principle he was not in favour of Sunday, plajt

As chairman of the Ground Committee he would point out that the courts would have to be closed on many occasions because of their showing signs of wear. He could not see that the financial difficulties would be solved by Sunday play during the limited period. It would be necessary for something in the nature of a club membership, as the City Council had given the decision that courts could not be offered for hire on Sundays. A elub membership would, in his opinion, be a great mistake. A New Bule. After Mr Meßae's motion had been put to the meeting, consideration was given to the following notice of motion by Mr H. Thomson: — "That the rules of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association be altered by adding thereto a rule that Wilding Park shall not be opened for Sunday play." An amendment by Mr Longton that the matter be deferred to the next annual meeting was lost, and Mr Thomson's motion was carried by 36 votes to 28.