Tennis Shows Progress

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32050, 26 July 1969, Page 15

Tennis Shows Progress

The finances of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association have consolidated to the position where the association knows exactly how much money is available through catering and this will allow for more accurate budgeting. This is stated by the chairman of the association’s management committee (Mr R. B. Brown) in his report for the annual meeting. The season has been one of progress in facilities with the completion of the pavilion, changing rooms and toilets, in the improvement of the grass courts and investigation of the hard-court area, he says. Changes in the ground staff and changes in the constitution sought to create greater efficiency in the organisation.

“We need the backing and support of all clubs and subassociations in order to succeed with these progressive moves,” the report says. The supporters’ club, and especially Mr J. Mercer, has been active in financial support in the furnishing of the Memorial Stand and the management committee has thought it fit to give the main tennis quarters the name, the Mercer Lounge, in recognition of this support The feature of the season had been the United StatesNew Zealand Davis Cupstyle match which proved that with the best players in the world in action the public would still give its muchneeded support. “This led to our application for an open tournament in Canterbury, and much to our dismay and disappointment it was recommended that it remain in the one venue for’three years. The

committee had the support of many associations in this venture and has the situation under continual surveillance,” says the report. Membership figures rose again to 6789 affiliated members. This comprises 2494 town juniors, 2157 town seniors and 2138 sub-associa-tion players. The total compares with 6431 in 1968, 6164 in 1967, 6224 in 1966, 6483 in 1965 and 5506 in 1964. Net operating surplus for the year was $4l, compared with $2645 the previous year and $228 in 1967. Extraneous receipts from donations and raffles amounted to $1546 and this was swallowed up largely by an increase of $1438 in wages of groundsmen and supervisors. A conditional grant of $9OO has been made from the Golden Kiwi funds towards the toilet block and this will come into the next accounts.