Substantial Tennis Rise

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32386, 27 August 1970, Page 13

Substantial Tennis Rise

The biggest increase it has had in one season —4496 players has given the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association a record membership of 47,506, according to the association’s annual report released this week.

Last year’s figure of 43,010 had not reached the previous best of 43,678 in 1950, but for 1970, 16 of the association’s 21 affiliated bodies showed membership rises, some of them substantial, and three

of the other five had insignificant decreases.

Auckland had the biggest rise, 893 (to 10,196), and Canterbury was next, 786 (to 7575). However, among some of the smaller associations there were bigger proportional gains, such as 369 (to 1005) in Wanganui, 301 (to 1357) in Manawatu, 182 (to 776) in North Otago, -nd 210 (to 1214) in South Canterbury. The two worst losses were 70 (to 297) on the West Coast and 63 (to 400) in Marlborough. The annual report says that the total is now within easy range of the objective of

50,000 set some years ago and sights could now be set on 60,000 by 1975.

“Our growing numeric I strength. is surely directly related to interest in the game,” the report says. “The growth also means that a very substantial sum in fees is b> ing injected into the game at all levels, and therefore maintenance and amenities are easier to arrange.” The report shows that income for the year ended May 31, 1970, exceeded expenditure by 85039, but with two overseas tours incomplete by balance date, the net expenditure to date on these—--810.279 —has been carried forward.