ECONOMIES IN SPORT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20470, 13 February 1932, Page 20

ECONOMIES IN SPORT.

EFFECTS OF THE TIMES. MANY CLUBS LOSING MEMBERS

Sport, like practically every oilier human activity, has suffered from this effects of the economic depression. Tho reaction litis been u perfectly natural one, and is evidenced this summer i-'i the tendency towards ;i reduction in th;) numbers taking part in the more expensive sports, and an increase iu the nuutbers following tho.-.e sports that require a smaller outlay in equipment and subscription!:. Golf and tennis, perhaps, have been the sports most seriously affected by the universal desire lor economy. Memberships of local <4oll' clubs have shown a shrinkage, that has caused their ufiicials some concern, and in many cases reductions of snlv>»riptions and the waiving of the entrance fee rules have been resorted to in order to maintain the strength of the clubs. No ardent golfer, of course, will give up the game except as a last resort, but any number liavo shown a willingness to go for their games where the least cost to themselves is incurred, stated a number of golf club officials yesterday. It was pointed out that Christchurch clubs were doing all that was reasonably possible to meet the prevailing conditions. Tennis Players Economise. In 110 other sport to the same extent as in lawn tennis do people regularly pay club subscriptions for playing Vighits that, thev may exercise only occasionally during the season, stated a tennis elub official. There has been less of this during the present year than for a long time past, and casual membership of tennis clubs lias been counted as one of tho luxuries that must he abandoned in the general economy cainpaign. r l he result is that while there has been no appreciable slackening of the use of club courts, clubs have found their financial memberships dwindling. Few hut the best players now pay subscriptions for membership of more than one club, ami most of these have effected economies bv reducing their expenditure on rackets, bulls, and other equipment. Most of the clubs, however, have been able to economise in their turn, and entries for competitions and tournaments have not fallen oil in Christchurch. United, the chief club of the City, has Miffered a reduced membership of nearly <O, while most of the suburban clubs have lost more members than they have gained. It was not so long ago that many of the Christchurch clubs had waiting lists o! candidates for membership, but those days are now definitely past. Increases of membership would now be welcomed ■bv anv- club in Christchurch. 'Cricket is one of those sports 111 which the participants can regulate their expenditure very much as they please, and the Christchurch clubs have not suffered any severe losses of membership. Many, however, have had l" "carrv" a nnmlxr of their young players, who. unable to employment, have found difficulty in paying subscription.®. Bowls, being 'i mistime inninlv for those ivoll adva need in Vcars and irt comfortable staiio'is ot life, has not been aflec?e*l very .nucb bv the depression. a elub secretary tohi the reporter. The clubs bad nrtip--I.'lined tlvir mcrnl.'-rsh i'fairly satisfactorily. Swimming and Tramping Eoom. While golf ami tennis clubs have boon losing members, such .sports as swimming, trumping. and athleti'-: have been increasing rapidly m popularity. The small elub subscription-, and the infinitesimal' outlay required hare evidently attracted a number of young people to the sport- of swimming, which is at present enjoying an unprecedented boom in the province. Not only have the numbera increased considerably since last year, but the added enthusiasm has resulted in a higher competitive standard. An official of u local surf club stated that there had been all-round increases in the memberships, but it was a very noticeable fact that greater numbers of people, unconnected with the affiliated clubs, were spending their hours of recreation in the water and on the beach. Many of them must formerly have been devotees of sports that they could not now afford. Many athletic clubs have had additions to their membership rolls this season, hub a sign of the times is the increase in the membership <>f tho Canterbury Mountaineering Club, the only locrd organisation that '(iters for tramoers nnd alpine enthusiasts. The membership has increased over 2o per cent, in n few months, this indicating clearly the accession of the sport itl public favour. Its chief advantage, apart from tho low subscriptions, lies in the fact that the entf '.w'.tM, \s able to suit his needs to his nocl<efc without sacrificing any of his enjoyment.