LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21290, 9 October 1934, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS

WILDING PARK LEVY NOT CHANGED GROUND FEE FOR MATCH PLAYERS The adjourned annual meeting of delegates to the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association decided last evening that the annual levy on members of affiliated clubs for the support of Wilding Park sliould remain at 2s 6d a member. The financial position of the park was discussed at some length, and numerous proposals for raising funds necessary for repairs and maintenance were considered. Among the suggestions adopted was one for a graduated ground fee for players using the park each week for competition matches. The president (Mr P. R. Harman) presided over a large attendance. Mr W. N. Seay said that depreciation on the association's equipment at Wilding Park had become an acute problem in recent years, and the committee was faced with heavy expenditure for repairs and an annually recurring sum for maintenance. Tennis in Canterbury is cheaper than in any other part of the world," said Mr Seay. "In New South Wales the subscriptions are very much larger than they are here, and the cost of tennis in Wellington is very much higher than in Christchurch. For many years Dunedin tennis players in the country as well as in the city paid a levy of 4s for hard courts only. "Are we going to let Wilding Park slip?" asked Mr Seay. He said there were sufficient players in Canterbury to place Wilding Park in a sound position and save the £14,000 that had been sunk in the association's ground, which he described as a great asset to the province. Mr Seay appealed to delegates to take a broad view of the question as sportsmen and not to look at it from the purely selfish view of club interests. About £4OO or £SOO was required annually for the upkeep of the park. Heavy Expenditure Necessary Mr G. L. Berry, chairman of the Wilding Park Ground Committee, said that the committee had in the past followed the principle that it should spend no more on the ground that its income justified. The motor mower that had been in use for seven or eight years now had to be replaced, the stadium had to be rebuilt, and a great deal of expenditure was necessary on the hard courts. "In Wilding Park we have a fine ground of which the whole of New Zealand as well as Canterbury should be proud." said Mr Harman. "It compares very well with any other ground in the southern hemisphere." He said that its maintenance should be one of the objects of every one of the 5000 players in the province. Mr R. Browning moved that the levy be the same as in the previous year. He felt that while the revenue had to be increased it would be unwise to increase the levy at the present time in view of the financial condition of most of the clubs. Mr E. A. Lee seconded the motion.

Mr Harman said it was a fallacy to say that only the players who used Wilding Park had an interest in it. If all the competitions now held at Wilding Park were conducted on club courts members would find their opportunities for play on Saturday greatly restricted. Wilding Park saved a great deal of congestion on club courts on Saturday afternoons. Motion for Larger Levy Mr J. Longton moved as an amendment that members of clubs within a radius of 10 miles of Cathedral square be liable for a levy of 2s. Cd each, members of clubs within a radius of 25 miles Is each, and of clubs beyond 25 miles 6d a member. Mr W. V. Stevens seconded the motion. On the suggestion of Mr Arthur Sherrls, Mr Longton agreed to give notice of his motion for consideration at a general meeting, so as to give country clubs an opportunity to discuss the proposal. Mr J. W. H. Francis said that while his club (St. Albans) was opposed to any increase in the levy, the association should remember that another 2s Gd a member—less than a penny a week—would Fee Wilding Park well out of its difficulties. Mr D. N. Mcßae moved that a levy of 3s 6d should be made on all club subscriptions of 10s or more. He believed that "mid-week" and other special memberships in certain clubs were not paying the 2s 6d levy. The amendment was lost by a large majority, and the motion was carried. Mr T. W. R. Wardell suggested that club returns should be subject to audit. Some appeared to have been lax in supplying correct figures regarding the numbers of members subject to the levy. It was decided that the membership return of each club should be accompanied by a certificate from the club's auditor. After a discussion on the liability of mid-week, Sunday, and half-yearly members, the chairman ruled that all members of affiliated clubs, with the exception of school pupils, were liable for payment of the levy. Ground Fees Mr J. R. Johnston moved that a ground fee of Is a head for senior players, 6d a head for A grade players, and 3d a head for lower grade players be collected each week by captains of teams playing at Wilding Park. Mr J. Mercer, chairman of the competitions committee, said that such a fee would produce about £IOO a year. The motion was carried by 26 votes to 23, several members expressing doubt about the practicability of collecting the fee.

Mr Johnston also moved that players of affiliated clubs be asked to subscribe voluntarily an additional 2s Gd, that each club be asked to appoint a committee to canvass for the subscriptions, and that the percentages of subscriptions collected by each club be published weekly. The motion was lost by a substantial majority. Mr Longton moved that an "associate membership" of Wilding Park be instituted. Under such a scheme players should have the use of courts on week-days on payment of an annual subscription of £1 or 30s. Mr Browning said that there were already regulations under which players could receive these privileges at a slightly higher subscription than that suggested. The necessarily restricted hours of play made the scheme unattractive. ~ Mr Berry doubted whether the grass courts would stand much more play than they received each summer. The motion, together with another that a charge be made for the use ot courts for ranking list matches, wao 10 Among the suggestions of delegates that were referred as recommendations to the management committee were the holding of art a. Wilding Park., and the conduct cy clubs of "vanishing" or chain teas and parties.