MR AND MRS J. MERCER HONOURED

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25870, 1 August 1949, Page 2

MR AND MRS J. MERCER HONOURED

LONG SERVICE TO LAWN TENNIS Mr J. Mercer, president of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association tor the last nine years, and Mrs Mercer, were the guests of honour at a dance at the Waldorf on Saturday evening. The function was arranged to show appreciation of Mr Mercer’s 30 years’ service to the association. The New Zealand Association has already recognised Mr Mercer’s work by electing him a life member. Many congratulatory messages were received from other associations and sub-associations and from Mr H. Stevens, the manager of the New South Wales lawn tennis team which recently toured New Zealand. Thirty years as a tennis administrator was a long time, and he questioned whether any other sport had a man with an equal record, said the chairman of the management committee (Mr J. K. Burtt).

Other speakers who paid tribute to Mr Mercer's work were Mr W. A. Clothier, chairman of the competi'ions j committee and a vice-president of the •’ Canterbury association: Mr F. H. G. Johnstone,* representin g the grounds I committee: Mr J. Squire, a member i of the New Zealand management com- ; mittee; Mr J. M. Hargreaves, secretary ; of the Canterbury Association, on behalf of affiliated clubs: the Rev. Father I E. Brosnahan. on behalf of country ; sub-associations. Mr E. Downe. on i behalf of the Halswell Club: Mr E. Parrish, on behalf of the “old-timers”: ,Mr E. A. Lee. a past president of the . management committee, on behalf of past officials: Mr J. W. Arnold, president of the Umpires’ Association: and Mr T. W. Patterson, on behalf of past and present representative players. Tributes were also paid to Mrs Mercer’s work for the association and the hospitality she had shown. A grandfather clock was presented to Mr Mercer by Mr W. M. Hawkins, the second oldest official of the assocation. Mrs Mercer was presented with a toilet set.

Mr D. Martin, chairman of the committee which arranged the dance, was master of ceremonies. Other members of the committee were Misses T. Poole. J. Valentine, and B. Andrews, and Messrs Hawkins, Clothier. Burtt. Arnold.. Johnstone, G. E. R. Atkinson, Parrish, and D. Bannehr,