Table tennis post sought

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33493, 26 March 1974, Page 12

Table tennis post sought

Mr A. B. McCallum, president of the Canterbury Table Tennis Association since 1*43, will, be opposed for the first time Since elected at the association's annual meeting tomorrow evening. His opponent will be Mr R ;W. Mereer. A former president of the New Zealand association and present ■ sole South Island selector and [member of the national panel, i Mr McCallum is serving his second long term as president. He occupied the position from 1948 to 1957, before retiring. A desire to see the association buy its own property and erect

its own building is the main reason for Mr Mercer deciding to stand, he says. An experienced table tennis; administrator, he was secretary' of the Auckland association for five years and served as secretary for the Southland association before coming to Christi church. He has represented botli association’s at the national annual ; conference. 11 Although the Canterbury asso- . ■ elation has had a building fund 1 i for manv years, Mr Mercer says .(that not enough positive steps chave been taken to plan, search and secure a site. i 1 If elected, he intends to form ■ a special sub-committee to con'•centrate on locating a suitable t 1 site and to plan a new hsMw

,At present the Canterbury body hires the Christchurch Poultry Club's hall in Selwyn’ Street, and pays an annual rental—which was increased recently—of almost 82000. In his travels around the country, Mr Mercer, still a cap- . able A grade player, has represented five provinces, the Souih Island three times, and has totalI led more than 100 representsStive matches. The annual meeting will also [ appoint the provincial selectors ■—and here there are six nomin- | atlons, the most for many years. The present members' of the (panel, Messrs T. R. D. Flint, Me•.Callum, and H. F. Taylor will I be seeking re-election, along with Messrs R. C. Anderson, W, T. I Scott, and Mercer.