TENNIS NEEDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 309, 23 September 1908, Page 10

TENNIS NEEDS.

: 4 : THE TOWN BELT LEASING BILL: - Tennis players have a special interest' in the Town Belt Leasing Bill, because they, badly need new grounds, which they will bo able to obtain from the City Council if the Bill is passed. The management committco of tho Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association .will wait upon the Local Bills Committeo this morning, and urge sundry reasons why, in tho interests of tennis, the' Bill should do approved. From 1901 to date the number of clubs under tho association, has increased from 13 to 32, and the number of active players has increased from 639 to 1766, or practically trebled. In the town centre, -28 teams have entered for the competitions, of which there are four grades, this year. If tho association had permanent grounds the number of entries would be materially increased. The game is also played in the. public schools, and it is estimated that 300 boys and girls, are taking an active part in it, .but owing to> tho .want of suitable grounds they are severely handicapped. Nearly all the grounds used by tho town clubs are held, under lease,- for tho most part on short tenures, and. owing to the rapid growth of the city and to the scarcity of spare ground ■ available for building purposes and to tho heavy rates, it is expected that at-no distant date many of. the tennis courts will cease to ■ exist;, Recently three clubs have lost their leases. The association has no ground-of its .own upon which to play its annual • tournament or competitions. There'are between 350 and 400 players in tho city clubs who are unable to take part in the inter-club competitions owing to overcrowding. Many employees' of mercantile houses are unable to play tennis on tho Wednesday half-holiday because there are no grounds', It is estimated that if the association were granted the right to uso parts of tho city reserves fully -200 additional players would immediately bo enabled to take up tho game. - Tho management committeo of the association, as the result of personal' inspection, is unanimously of opinion that parts of tho Botanical Gardens and also the piece of tho Town Belt at the top of Elizabeth Street would satisfy requirements for some, time to come. These sites aro not sufficiently large for either football or cricket. It is urged ' that tho City : Council might clear the sites and level them, as the association is not a wealthy body, and the association desires tho. right to erect wirenetting fences and chargo for admission for certain matches and tho annual tournament;