ALLOCATING TENNIS BALLS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 3

ALLOCATING TENNIS BALLS

Organization Criticized It was contended at ‘ the quarterly meeting of llic New Zealand .Lawn Tennis Association that the n I local ion of tennis balls left much to be desired so far as organization was concerned. “One association has perused the returns of uiiaililitited tennis clubs in its district, and has brought to tb<‘ notice. of the management committee the amazing iuiiation indulged in by these clubs in giving returns in order t«» secure tennis ball supplies.” said the chairman in his report. Ii was further st-'ited that clubs which had been unable to alliliate in normal tiir.es because they did not have the minimum number of ten players had boosted their membership anything up to 400 per cent, when applying for tennis balls. ‘lt was also considered that private court owners bad overstated the amount of usage of courts, and there had also been a duplication of membership.

The managenient committee communicaled with the Council of Sport with reference to their staleinent that Iherc.wcre more players outside the jui'isdiction of the 5.Z.L.T.A. than umler it, and inquired as fo how this membership was arrived at. The council was also asked what check it had, and as to the steps taken to verify membership returns collected from private court owners, schools, etc. The attention of the * ounci] oi -.Sport was drawn to the fact that in the case of the N.Z.L.T.A. affiliation fees are paid in accordance with the membership returns lodged, and there was thus a cheek on the membership of each elub. The secrefary of the Council of Sport replied as follows: “A very careful survey has been made by provincial councils of sport in arriving at the memberships of and the existence of unaflihated associations, unafliliated chibs, private clubs, private courts, and schools. A standard form of application for tennis balls was evolved, and I enclose a copy. You will notice that a fairly rigid procedure is followed, and the figures which have been supplied to my council are based upon the applications to purchase tennis balls.