PROSPECTS OF BETTER FINANCIAL POSITION

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29383, 9 December 1960, Page 3

PROSPECTS OF BETTER FINANCIAL POSITION

Although at the beginning of the 1960-61 season it had appeared that the finances of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association were in an unhealthy position, prospects had improved considerably since then, the chairman of the management committee (Mr G. E. R. Atkinson) told the quarterly meeting of delegates to the association last evening. A large-scale raffle was at present being organised by the association, said Mr Atkinson, and there would be a visit from the professional players, on December 31. In addition, the Harlem Globetrotters’ professional basketball show would use Wilding Park on the evenings of February 20, 21 and 22, and revenue from these sources should considerably assist the association. Mr Atkinson also referred to the criticism of the association’s action in not sending a women’s team with the Canterbury’s men’s team which played West Coast at Greymouth two weeks ago. Canterbury had taken up the annual match at the request of the national association, he said, in an effort to assist tennis on the For the last two seasons, said Mr Atkinson, there has been difficulty in regard to the fielding of a women’s team by the West Coast, and thisseason the Canterbury selectors were quite unable to arrange a team. In reply to a question from Mr G. R. Bedford (Malvern), Mr Atkinson said sub-association players were not asked to fill the team as they were not playing on the Canterbury ladder. Abandoned Matches The chairman of the competitions committee (Mr R. P. Murphy), referred td - the number of matches in the senior grade, in partkajlar, -Which were abandoned after “ one team had gained a winning lead in the contest. In a senior women’s match between Avonside and University, said Mr Murphy, one singles match had been unfinished, whereas it seemed as if there should have been a default by one of the participating players. An attitude of “we’ve won the contest so we needn’t bother to. play the rest of the matches,’’ was criticised by Mr Murphy as being responsible for unfinished matches in ine senior grade. The matches should all be completed, he said, or defaults should be entered in the official results. Wilding Park Mr F. H. G. Johnstone, chairman of the Wilding Park committee, outlined the preparations which his committee was making for the visit by the Harlem Globetrotters. The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association would receive 10 per cent, of the gross sale of seats, less any commission payable to selling agencies, said Mr Johnstone. The 10 per cent, was being paid to the Canterbury association for

staffing the show and making sure that it ran smoothly, said Mr Johnstone. He appealed to delegates to arrange for club members to act as ushers, gatemen and other assistants. All revenue from the sale of programmes and the sale of space for the parking of cars would also go to the association.

The junior association was pleased at the number of country players taking part in its ranking matches, said Mr S. T. Day. More than 70teams were taking, part in the Saturday morning under-18 and under--15 competitions, and more than that number in the mid-week secondary schools’ matches, although the latter competition was severely limited by the number of courts available for play, he said.

On behalf of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Umpires* Association, Mr R. B. McCallum appealed to delegates to stimulate enthusiasm among club members towards becoming qualified umpires. Interest had been waning slightly during the last two seasons, said Mr McCallum, and it was most necessary that players should continue to come forward for examination as umpires.

Three new clubs. Aranui, New Brighton and Addington Catholic, were formally admitted to membership of the association.