Need Urged For Tennis To Find More Finance

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 16

Need Urged For Tennis To Find More Finance

The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association either could sell part of Wilding Park or let in a large sports body to help finance the association, said the chairman of the management committee (Mr M. C. Healey) at the quarterly meeting of delegates to the association last evening.

Frustration was felt by the management committee because of the lack of finance, said Mr Healey.

“A little more of a pionering spirit is required. If we cannot run tennis properly in Canterbury then it is time we had a good look at our association,” said Mr F. Biddle. “Do not let us be too pessimistic.” ■ “I have always been optimistic and not pessimistic,” said Mr Healey. “I have been inclined to gloss things over.” Mr A. B. McCallum suggested that team and court fees could be raised considerably to help give the association a rounder footing financially. “While I agree we have to increase charges, this will not increase our capital to £3OOO which is what we want,” said Mr R. B, Brown. “Of this, £2OOO would be used to pay our debts. Unless we can get this sort of money we will keep finding ourselves in the same position.” Junior Coaching School.—A South Island junior coaching school will be held in Christchurch from August 26 to September 2, said the chairman of the junior association, Mr R. B. Brown. It will cost each player £lO and will be held by the Canterbury junior association. Sixty players are expected to attend. Life Member.—Mrs B. A. Miles became the first woman life member elected to the association. She has been sec. retary of the St. Albans club for many years. Mrs Miles has been a delegate to the association for 15 years. She has served on the competitions committee for 13 years and various other committees,

including the management committee tor two years. In addition, shj has done sterling work in junior tennis, both as an administrator and coach.

Although the association’s accounts showed a profit of £212 up till May 31, 1967, there was still an overdraft of more than £7OO. "We are running an association without any capital,” said Mr Healey. “If this continues we will soon have no people willing to serve on the management committee." Mr Healey said the Christchurch City Council was sympathetic to the situation but could not offer any practical remedy.

Court Material.—ln the United States a nylon type of tennis court has been developed that would revolutionise tennis throughout the world, said Mr Healey. “The court looks like grass and plays like grass.” He said the New Zealand association had written to the United States authorities asking for particulars of the new material.

Afternoon Play.—A recommendation was carried that the competitions committee investigate the playing of the senior men’s competition only on Saturday afternoons. Presidential Nomination.— The president of the Canterbury association (Mr H. C. Felton) was nominated as president of the New Zealand association. Winter Tennis.—The chairman of the competitions committee (Mr A. D. Atkinson) reported that there are only eight teams in the winter competition as against 14 last winter.

“This pessimistic feeling within the association is doing tennis in Canterbury a great deal of untold harm,” said a delegate. “We only want firm leadership to bring tennis up to the standard of play and finance it was in Canterbury a few years ago,” said Mr G. E. Atkinson.