TENNIS IN WAR TIME

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 8

TENNIS IN WAR TIME

ASSOCIATION’S FUNDS LESSENED NEW GRASS COURT CLUB PROPOSED The formation of a new grass court tennis club at Wilding Park is being considered by the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association. The proposal wa made at the annual meeting of the association last evening. when m n e , a " of improving the finances of the association were considered. Several clubs have withdrawn their affiliation to the association because the war has so depleted their membership that they are unable to enter teams for the association's competitions. The war had caused difficulties foi the clubs and for the association said the chairman (Mr J. Mercer). Clubs and their members would have to use come extra effort to retain the game at the standard it had reached before E. A. Lee said some clubs tended to withdraw their affiliation from association because they could no longer enter teams. The association needed their support, as it had an obligation to carry on. Another generation of players had estabhshe Wilding Park; it was not too much to ask the present generation to maintain it. , . . In discussion of the chairman s motion that the Wilding Park levy should be ss, Mr S. W. Jameson said the administration of the game had to be paid for. If the association’s facilities for competition play did not exist. the club courts would not be available to so many members on a Saturday. The clubs should be loyal to the association. A motion that those paying haltseason subscriptions should pay a levy of only 2s 6d was defeated. The chairman said six clubs had withdrawn their affiliation, among them being the United Club. Representations had been made to these clubs and it was possible that some of them might reconsider their position. . . . . Mr Lee said the association should cater for those players, who wanted grass court play. He suggested the formation of a new grass court club at Wilding Park, its members to be members of affiliated clubs. Revenue from Courts Mr D. Martin said Wellington in 1938 derived £420 from court hire, compared with Canterbury’s £65 10s. The association should use its asset at Wilding Park, and offer clubs an incentive to affiliate. _ Mr J. Nunes moved: ‘That this meeting is in favour of forming a grass court club at Wilding Park.” Mr C. K. Williams, who seconded this, said the association had offered too many sops to the United Club in the past. The association should show that it could do without United. Mr Lee suggested that the subscription for the proposed grass court club might be the difference between the members own club subscription and some such amount as £3. The motion was carried. After the meeting had been informed, at the request of Mr A. M. Hintz, of the amounts of levy and affiliation fees paid by each club. Mr Nunes suggested altering the rules to provide for each club to be represented on the management committee. When it was suggested that this would make the committee too large, ®Mr Nunes suggested that no club be allowed more than one member of the committee as at present constituted. Officers were elected as follows: — Patron, Mr W. N. Seay; president, Mr J. Mercer: vice-presidents, Messrs E. A. Lee, T. W. Patterson, and W. A. Clothier; management committee, Messrs G. Pierce, A. M. Hintz. A. R. Aitken, A. T. Bell, R. N. C. Hill, E. A. Lee. J. K. Burtt, J. L. Squire, S. W. Jameson; competitions committee. Messrs D. Bannehr, W. A. Clothier M. W. Hawkins, J. L. Squire, K. S. Jameson. W. J. Deans, Walsh, R. N. C. Hill, D. Martin; selectors, Messrs J. Mercer, T. W. Patterson, J. L. Squire. Messrs R. N. C. Hill and F. H. G. Johnstone were elected to fill vacancies on the Wilding Park Committee. Members expressed regret at the retirement of Mr S. W. Jameson from the position of secretary of the association. To enable the management committee to report back on the grass court club proposal, the meeting of delegates was adjourned until October 14.