Table Tennis JAPANESE MATCH

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29228, 11 June 1960, Page 7

Table Tennis JAPANESE MATCH

Hall Booking Withdrawn

The lack of a suitable hall on June 21 may jeopardise the Canterbury Table Tennis Association’s chances of holding the first of a series of four international matches to be played in New Zealand by the touring Japanese world champion players. A booking of the Civic Theatre for June 21 was made two months ago, and as soon as this theatre was damaged by fire the St. James’ Theatre was booked for the same evening, said the secretary of the Canterbury Table Tennis Association (Mr E. D. Kwok) yesterday. This week the association’s booking was cancelled by the management of the St. James’ Theatre, as it has been decided to renovate this theatre. The ’Canterbury association is now faced with having to hold (the match on June 21 in a much smaller hall, or seek an alternative date on the Japanese players’ very crowded schedule. It is felt that the holding of the match in a small hall would result in a heavy financial loss to the provincial association. The first free evening on the Japanese itinerary upon which the Civic (Theatre is available is Friday, July 1. However, the Japanese are playing in Rotorua on the previous evening, and are scheduled to appear in Auckland on July 2, and the New Zealand association feels that the expense of transporting the players and their manager to Christchurch and back may be too much. The president of the Canterbury Table Tennis Association (Mr F. H. G. Johnstone) will travel to Wellington this evening, in his capacity as national president, to welcome the Japanese players, Misses K. Matsuzaki and K. Yamaizumi, to New Zealand. While in Wellington he will confer with officials of the national association, in an effort to ensure that table tennis enthusiasts in Christchurch will have an opportunity to see the world pions in action.