Better Support For Tennis

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 13

Better Support For Tennis

A marked improvement in public support for tennis during the year, especially for the visit of the professionals, and an air of confidence in the association, are noted in the annual report of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association. Leading New Zealand players invited to the Canterbury titles and television coverage of the finals provided a “new look” championship which was most successful, the report says. “Future championships held along these lines when Christchurch is not included in the national circuit would mean

the country’s leading players could be seen here every year.” The report shows membership has decreased slightly on last year. Detailed figures with those for last year in parenthesis are:—juniors, 1940 (2015); seniors, 1882 (1928); sub-Associations, 1684 (1583); total, 5506 (5526). The association’s accounts show a reduction in expenditure for the year—£34lB (£4183 the previous year)— mainly because of lower maintenance costs for courts and a profit from matches and tournaments where a loss was incurred the previous year.

Receipts increased from £2560 to £3285, and Include the profit from matches and tournaments, £147, and a profit from the Harlem Globetrotters of £402. Only a small operating deficit of £123 resulted compared with a deficit of £1623 last year. The £347 depreciation, offset by £lB5 in donations, increased the operating loss to a final revenue deficit for the year of £285. “At present the association is working on overdraft and new avenues of fund raising are deemed essential for the coming year,” the report