$20,000 Scheme For New Hard Courts

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31934, 11 March 1969, Page 16

$20,000 Scheme For New Hard Courts

A $20,000 scheme for the reconstruction and resiting of the 18 hard courts at Wilding Park was outlined to members of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s management committee last evening by its chairman (Mr R. B. Brown).

Mr Brown said that the idea had originated at a recent meeting between representatives of the management committee, the junior assocation and the Wilding Park committee, called to consider the development of the park.

It had been agreed at the meeting that it was pointless wasting money on the present hard courts and that it would be far better to reconstruct the area, Mr Brown said. It had been suggested that the project be financed in part by money from raffles and that the junior association would pay off the balance owing over 10, 15 or 20 years. Provision would also be made for the covering of the two end courts nearest the present grass courts. They would be available for use at the proposed 1974 Commonwealth Games for almost any indoor sport, Mr Brown said. The 18 courts would be in two rows of nine with parking space in front. Pay Off Loan The junior association stood to gain the most from the scheme, and it was prepared to pay off a loan for something worth while, Mr Brown said.

It was decided to obtain firm costs of the scheme before tak-

ing any further action. Mr H. Dillon was authorised to investigate the costs of constructing new courts in porous concrete. Other surfaces and a combination of surfaces will also be considered.

The junior association might be prepared to pay off a loan at present, but after five years of scraping and saving it might change its mind, said Mr G. Sheppard. He thought that it would cost a “lot more” than 320,000 to reconstruct 18 courts.

Mr A. D. Atkinson estimated that the cost would be more than 330.000.

“Who is going to run these courts?” asked Mr R. P. Murphy. “If the junior association is going to provide the bulk of the cost then it is going to want some say.”

It was agreed to ask the junior association to review its present organisation. “You want to know whether it wants to become a sub-committee of this association,” said Mr H. Dillon.

Mr Murphy asked whether the association Intended to continue with grass courts or phase them out. “The cost of keeping up grass courts is far too great to consider increasing the number, ” said Mr Dillon. It cost the association more than 3300 a year for each grass court. There would be no upkeep for 20 years on a hard court area, Mr Dillon said. Committee Liaison Concern was expressed over the lack of liaison between the management committee and the Wilding Park Committee. The absence of the Wilding Park committee chairman from management committee meetings made it very difficult, members said. It was decided to suggest to the Wilding Park Committee that it appoint an acting chair-

man to attend management committee meetings when the chairman could not do so. The Wilding Park committee was not obliged to make a report to the management committee, said Mr F. H. G. John, stone.

If the management committee could not get a report from the Wilding Park Committee he would make every effort to have it abolished, said Mr Sheppard. Wilding Shield.—A letter was received from the Auckland association agreeing to meet Canterbury in a Wilding Shield challenge match on March 30 provided it still held the shield after two earlier challenges. Women’s Field Days. Provided courts are available, women’s field days will be held at Wilding Park during the winter.