LAWN TENNIS Resigned Members Re-Elected

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS Resigned Members Re-Elected

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 3. Messrs F. S. Ramson, S. Painter and J. D. Vickei-man were re-elected to the management committee of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association at a well-attended emergency meeting of the council this afternoon. . f

They had resigned over the issue of whether Mr R. S McKenzie, as an executive of a sports goods firm, should be permitted to hold a seat on’ the management committee. Mr McKenzie had also resigned and did not seek re-election.

The fourth vacancy on the management committee was filled by Mr G. C. Reid, bringing it up to its full strength. There were six nominations for the four positions. A move at the outset for the meeting to go into committee was defeated. The president (Mr A. M. Hatch) said that ‘"die public might think we are hiding something.” Mr L. B. Mitchell (Hutt Valley), whose association had called the meeting, told delegates that the constitution of the N.Z.L.TA. did not bar any member of any particular trade or calling from a seat on the management committee.

‘‘No constitutional move has been made to alter these rules, yet members of the previous management committee chose among them-

selves to endeavour to exclude or bar a particular person." he said. He moved that an immediate election be held to fill the vacancies on the management committee, but the motion was defeated.

Mr J. R. Bentley (Wellington) said that New Zealand tennis could ill afford to lose men with the administrative experience of Messrs Ramson, Painter and Vickerman.

It was evident, he said, that the previous management committee had taken "all the required steps to deal with the problem it faced in a fair and reasonable manner" He moved that Messrs Ramson. Painter and Vickerman be re-appointed en bloc, and was supported by Mr Reid, who said that to hold an election would be a "definite vote of no confidence” in the trio. But that motion was lost too.

Standing orders were subsequently suspended and an election took place. The council expressed its appreciation of the work of Mr McKenzie for New Zealand tennis. The other members of the management committee who were elected at the annual meeting are Messrs W. D. Rawlings. J. T. Smith and E. B. D. Lusk.