LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21580, 17 September 1935, Page 17

LAWN TENNIS

WILDING PARK FINANCE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE LEVY The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's affiliated clubs, which are now holding their annual meetings, are being asked to discuss a proposal that the Wilding Park levy should be increased from 2s 6d a member to 5s for men and to 3s 9d for women, or to 4s (id for both men and women. The circular letter to clubs sets out lucidly the difficult financial position of the association, which, in the last five years, has shown an annual average net loss of £361. . The circular sets out the facts as follows: • , (1) During the five years ending August 31, 1934, the association has shown a total net loss of £IBO4 12s Id. These figures do not include an amount o? £285 raised as a special effort by the fete held in 1932. The figures for the current financial year indicate a similar state of affairs. (2) The seriousness of the portion has been fully disclosed to delegates to this association at special meetings held during the year, and they fully realise that definite steps must be taken not only to stop the drift, but to provide further money for extensive replacemeots and repairs which are urgently required. (3) With a view to raising a substantial, sum to meet this urgent expenditure, the management committee decided to adopt a recommendation made by delegates to promote a scheme known as the "vanishing tea scheme," and this was put into operation early iri the current year. Contrary to expectations, this proved a complete failure, owing to lack of support from the I clubs; .!

(4) Had the scheme proved a financial success it would have enabled this association to effect the necessary replacements and repairs referred to, but would not have solved the problem of making up the annual deficiency. Realising this, a number of clubs have expressed the view that they would prefer an increase of the present Wilding Park levy, instead of being called upon to support schemes for raising money at more or less regular intervals.

(5) From these expressions of opinion and other views given to members of the management committee it has become evident that there is a considerable body of opinion in favour of increasing the Wilding Park levy, and, in the opinion of the management committee, that is the only businesslike solution of the problem. (6) Last year the - levy realised £3BO, and as far as can be gathered at present, the current year should produce approximately the same amount. An increase in the levy from 2s 6d to ss, therefore, would produce, say, £3BO. As against this, the ground fees collected during the last season have amounted to £BB. Consequently apart altogether from the amount required to effect the replacements and repairs now urgently necessary, the annual deficiency to be made good, in round figures, is £3OO. (7) In order to raise this sum it would be necessary to raise the present levy to 4s 6d, but a suggestion has been made by one of the largest hardcourt clubs here that, while the levy for men should be increased by 2s 6d (that is, to ss), the levy for women should be increased by only Is 3d. As either suggestion' would raise the amount required, the committee commends both proposals for your earnest consideration with a view to instructing your delegates at your annual meeting to support one or other of these proposals. ■ (8) Many club members who do not play on Wilding Park have asked themselves "Of what use is Wilding Park to me?" Do these members realise that the playing of the greater part of the inter-club competitions on the Wilding Park courts relieves the clubs of a great amount of congestion on Saturday afternoons? Do they realise also that without the advantages of inter-club competition it is impossible to bring on our young players, and to, train them up to championship standard, and consequently that it is essential, in the interests of the game, to have available grounds where these matches can be pi yed under conditions which all rec >gnise are immeasurably superior to those obtainable on club courts? Periodically, the tennis public is able to enjoy the privilege of seeing some of the worlds best players in action, interprovincial matches, tournaments, and other fixtures such as Wilding Shield and Kathleen Nunneley Casket matches. Wilding Park is an asset of which we can all be proud, being, as it unquestionably is, one of the finest playing grounds in the Southern Hemisphere, and comparable with the world's best.

LINWOOD CLUB'S SUCCESSFUL YEAR A year which is described as "most successful from every point of view" is reviewed in the fiftieth annual report of the Linwood Lawn Tennis Club. The club membership showed a slight increase to 234, and it is expected that in the coming season it will once more reach the 300 mark. As the club has 11 hard courts it can readily accommodate this number. Eight of the courts have been renovated during the last year, and the club's financial position has improved. The club entered five teams in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's summer inter-club competitions, and the A team in the winter competition was successful in winning the Hawkins Shield. Club Championship In the final of the women's singles championship of the club on Saturday afternoon Miss C. Dickson defeated Miss F. Williamson, 1934 champion, 6-1, 6-1.

SCARGILL CLUB Tlio anniiu! meeting of the Scargill Tennis Club, wag held in the Scargill Hail, with Mr h. H. I'wnlmm presiding. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £l9 cash in hand. The following officers were elected: —Patrons, Mrs H. Acton-Adams, Mr T. E. L. Roberts, and Mr E. Gardner; president, Mr L. H. Parnliam; vice-presidents, Messrs G. A. Ore is?, T. N. Gardner, and W. J. Leach; secretary and treasurer, Miss B. Roberts; committee, Mrs H. V. Murray, Miss Watson, and Messrs H. Shadrach, K. Maxwell, T. Ciibb, and A. Gardner; club captain, Mr T. Gihb; competitions committee, Miss A. O'Brien, and Messrs R. Gardner and H. Shndrarh. Opening day was fixed for October 5. It was decided to make enquiries about the cost of repairing and top-dressing the courts, and the matter was left in charge of the president.

HAWARDEN CLUB The annual' meeting of the J-lawarden Tennis Club was held recently in the Hawarden Memorial Hall, with Mr B. B. Foster presiding. The annual report showed that the club had experienced a successful year. An expenditure of £55 on improvements had left tlio club with a debit balance, but during the coming Beason little expense would be necessary to maintain the courts. A full programme of club competitions was completed and cups were given dttriDg the season by Mrs 11. T. Little and Mr C. Anderson and a trophy was given by Mrs G. Bernie. The senior team retained the Mander Banner for the district competition, and played friendly matches against Kajkoura, Cheviot, Willuughby, and Medbury Clubs. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Patron, Mr G. L. Rutherford; president, Mr J. Spence; vice-presidents, Mrs H. T. Little, the Rev. Father Halvey, Messrs W. Neeve, J. Quigley, L. A. Rutherford, C. Anderson, and H. Piercy; secretary, Mr F. J. Ilydings; assistant secretary, Mr Ray Lewis; treasurer, Mr J. L. Feek; captain, Mr R. E. Foster; women's captain, Mrs G. D. bcott; committee, Mesdames A. Webb, R. Foster, G. Ecroyd, Miss G. Newman, Messrs G. Ecroyd, G. Mason, and "W. Mason; auditor, Mr G. S. Kellaway; handicapping committee, Mrs G. I>. Scott, Messrs R. E. Foster and F. J. Rydings; grounds committee, Messrs G. Ecroyd, C. Brooker, and W. Prendeville; delegates to Hurunui Sub-union, Messrs R. E. Foster and F. J. Rydings.; social committee,

Slesdamcs R. Galletly, G. Ecroyd, J. L. Feek, Misses J. Fisher, i&. Wright, J. Croft, G. Newmjin, M. ICidd, Messrs J. Milne, W. Mason, G. Ecroyd, J. h. Feek, and C. Harris. Mr J, Spence was elected an honorary life member of the club. During his association with the club, Mr Spence has given financial nssistancc, and several years ago gave £SO to the club's funds. Opening day was fixed for October 4. Final arrangements were made for the annuel ball, which will take place on Wednesday.