Levy on tennis players

Press, 28 July 1989, Page 34

Levy on tennis players

An amended motion to levy Canterbury tennis players $lO per head to assist with the development of Wilding Park was passed at the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s annual general meeting at Wilding Park on Wednesday evening. The association is at present servicing a debt of $164,000 and the levy is expected to raise $60,000. There will be an “adjustment” for junior and country players. They are expected to pay $5. The levy will be reviewed at the annual general meeting next year. There was plenty of discussion as some delegates were against the idea of servicing further development of Wilding Park when the association was not in a strong financial position and there were suggestions to sell off some of the park's assets. Sam Clarke, the president of the association, was against selling assets to revamp the centre court memorial stand. "Every single square yard of this centre is very valuable for the future of the game,” he said. There was also a proposal to sell off the revered grass courts which cost the association a considerable amount of money to maintain. But in spite of the lengthy discussions the motion eventually passed was unanimous. The administration block which comprised stage one of the Wilding Park complex has been without a manager for a year but a new manager was appointed on Wednesday. Dean McKinnel, who has been in Italy for two years, will return at the start of August and will take over the centre and pro shop officially in early September. McKinnel, who was a senior player in Canterbury, could also be making a comeback on the competition level.