ASSOCIATION’S FINANCES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27151, 22 September 1953, Page 5

ASSOCIATION’S FINANCES

LAWN TENNIS

LOSS REPORTED TO ANNUAL , MEETING ~

LACK OF PUBLIC SUPPORT DEPLORED

The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association had lost money in the year ended July 31, although it had expected a profit because of the New Zealand title tournament at Wilding Park and visits by leading players from Australia and the United States. It had been dogged by bad weather, and the attendances at Wilding Park had been discouraging, said the president of the association (Mr J. K. Burtt) at the annual meeting last evening. “Perhaps we can’t expect the public to know of the high standard of tennis we offered during the season, but we do expect the tennis plawers themselves to show more interest,” said Mr Burtt.

During the coming season It was hoped to bring the Wimbledon women’s champion (Miss Maureen Connolly, of the United States), and another leading United States woman player to Christchurch, Mr urtt said. It was also hoped to bring the United’ States Davis Cup team, including Tony Trabert, to Christchurch. The association hoped that’players would turn out to see these players at Wilding Park. The loss for the year, £B3 4s lOd, showed that even in a season with many attractions, the problem of fostering tennis in Canterbury was a difficult and costly one, reported the association's management committee.

“Wilding Park provides all that tennis followers can wish for, and the poor attendances at big events show that the Christchurch public is evidently not appreciative of the tennis provided. Even the Wimbledon champion, Vic Seixas, did not draw more than a few hundred to the exhibition games,” said the committee’s report. The association got £271 18s 3d as its share of running the national championships. There had been a slight decline in membership throughout New Zealand in the last four years, and it was satisfying to see that Canterbury had shown a marked increase, Mr Burtt said.

. Membership had increased by 222 to 6385, and this figure was second only to the all-time record of 6397 in 1948-49, said the committee’s report. The association’s funds had been divided into two sections, special and accumulated funds, said the committee’s report. Included in the special fund was an amount of £2003 2s 4d, now available for the Wilding Park Memorial Stand. The amount already spent on the stands (£3573 15s 4d) had been transferred to the accumulated fund.

ANNUAL LEVY ON CLUBS

MAXIMUM RAISED TO 7/A MEMBER

Delegates to the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s annual meeting last evening decided to raise the maximum annual levy on affiliated clubs from 6s a member to 7s. They also decided to paise the annual levy on sub-asspeiations from Is a head to Is 3d.

The president (Mr J. K. Burtt), discussing the increased costs which had to be met by the association, said the amount of the extra levy required from each member was not large. “If every player in New Zealand gave the price of half a packet of cigarettes a year to the New Zealand association it would be enough to send a Davis Cup team away. “With 40,000 players, tennis is as big a; sport as Rugby as far as numbers are concerned, but we do not take

interest in our 'leading players. If Canterbury took the Wilding Shield from Auckland there would not be as big a crowd to welcome the team as welcomed the Canterbury players who have just come back from Wellington with the Ranfurly Shield,” said Mr Burtt. CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION ELECTS OFFICERS The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association last evening:— Patron, Mr A. R. Sherris; president, Mr J. K. Burtt; vice-presidents, Messrs T. W. Patterson, W. A. Clothier, and W. M. Haw-

kins; delegates to New Zealand Association, Messrs G. Gore. L. J. Berry, H. S. Wilkinson, J. Mercer, J. L. Squire, C. Angas, G. E. R. Atkinson, F. H. G. Johnstone Burtt, P. Burnett. D. Martin, A. C. Felton, and A. M. Hatch; management committee. Messrs W. D. Rawlings, Johnstone. Atkinson, R. N. C. Hill, B. R. Penfold, Clothier, A. B. McCallum, B» Jenkins, and E. Biddle; retiring members of Wilding Park committee, Messrs Hawkins and Atkinson (re-elected): competitions committee, Messrs C. R. Bailey, W. A. Dickson. R. P. Murphy, Martin, G. Shaw, J. Nunes. J. Tregear. A. C. Wills, and L. G. Jones; selectors. Messrs Atkinson, Penfold, and McCallum; handicappers. Messra Nunes, S. D. Bannehr, Shaw, and Miss T. Poole. ST. MARY’S CLUB The annual meeting of the St. Mary’a Tennis Club was held on Sunday. Officers were elected as follows:—patron, the Rev. Father P. E. Heagney, S.M.: president, the Rev. Father P. Stapleton, S.M.; club captain, Mr G. Shaw; women’s club captain, Miss J. McCormick: secretary, Miss G. Poore; assistant-secretary. Miss C. Lattimore; honorary auditor, Mr S. Purcell; delegate to Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association. Mr G. Shaw; committee, Messra P. Bergin, K. Bergin, P. Leeming, V. Leech, T. Purcell, Misses H. Parris, A. Habgood, and J. Dolan. Opening day has ;been. fixed for Sunday, October 4. DARFIELD CLUB A--decision to enter one team in the Malvern Lawn Tennis Sub-Association’s A grade competition and two in the B grade was made at the annual meeting of the Darfield Tennis Club. Mr P. Redmond, the retiring club captain, and Miss J. Forbes, the Yetiring secretary, were thanked for their services. It was decided to have working bees on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to get the courts In order for play. Officers were elected as follows: patron. Mr G. GillSnders; president, Mr P. Redmond; senior vice-president. Miss J. Forbes; junior vice-president, Mr B. : Thompson: club captain. Mr E. Elstob; secretaries. Misses F. and J. Thompson; assistant secretary, Mrs L. Irvine; delegates, Messrs B. Thompson and P. Red* , mond; committee. Mrs W. McKay, Mrs • Ell, and Mr F. Manson.