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Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 62, 10 September 1924, Page 9

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MIRAMAR TENNIS COURTS

CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMMENCED

WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION'S

DECISION.

The effect of a series of motions passed at a meeting of -the council of the Wellington Provincial Lawn. Tennis Association last evening will be that the work of the construction of the much-dis-cussed recreation ground of seventy-five courts at Miramar will be commenced. General "sympathy with the proposal to immediately begin the work with, the funds available was shown at the meeting, at which twenty-two delegates'were present. Mr. A. G-. Henderson was in the chair. '. ,

Opening the proceedings, the chairman said that the annual meeting of the association had been rather a lengthy one, and the question of the SRliramar grounds had been held over. The re-, port of the advisory committee had been considered by the new management committee, and a further supplementary report had been secured from the advisory committee. - This report also had been considered," and the management committee had framed a series of recommendations which would be placed before those present. The matter was one of vital importance, and the1 speaker was1 of the opinion that the cross-roads had been reached. They either had to go right ahead vigorously or else drop the matter altogether.

SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT.

The supplementary report referred to by the chairman was as follows:— -

"Details of estimated cost.—Store and 'workshed on grounds (since completed), £60; repairs to existing fences and ditches, cutting-new ditch, and con-' structing bridges over where necessary, £240; preparing grounds and laying courts: 16 gra3s courts, £1800; 16 bitumen courts,- £3200; 32 other courts, £2000; fittings for courts; £600; seating on courts (not grandstand), £200; drainage of ground, £300; water supply service, £150; fencing on boundaries, £350 ; wire-netting stop-fences, £700; plant: motor mower, Tollers, hose, and tools, £200; club house, £10,000; contingencies, £200. Total, £20,000. ■ ; ."The reaßons influencing the committee not to make a start until £12,000 had been raised were:., (a) The cost of doing 'the work piecemeal would be greater; (b) subscriptions have beenr promised to a whole scheme as set out in the prospectus, and £12,000 is estimated to be the minimum to be received before the completion of the whole scheme could be guaranteed. It 'is considered that the balance of the £20,000 required would be raised by members' entrance fees and a mortgage on the chib-house; (c) if the scheme be put in hand piece-, meal some of the subscriptions promised might be lost. '. " ■■■'■'

"The means whereby the £12,000 could be obtained within a reasonable time are set out in the prospectus, and the amounts to be raised by a sj'stematic canvass of (a) leading firms and citizens; (b)"by small subscriptions from; tennis players. The suggestion is made that a capable organiser ba appointed to direct the canvass. .':-•■

"The following is a suggestion for the first, section of the scheme: (1) To, erect a portion of the club-house to give ample dressing-room accommodation, showers, and conveniences at an approximate cost of £2000; (2) to prepare 16 grass courts, £1000; (3) to lay down 16 asphalt'courts, £1000; (4) fencingy fittings, and fixtures, £500—£4500; to be followed by 16 bitumen courts. £3200; Total, £7700. : <.',-; "The advisory committee, is, .however, still /of the opinion that' with proper organisation the sum of £12,000 could' be raised, and before.,starting on a section of the scheme a further organised effort should be made, directed .'.by a capable organiser.'■; It is quite possible that at the same time as; an.organiser is appointed a commencement could be made with the scheme, using only such moneys as the subscribers,consented, to, and publicity and help would thus be given. to the canvass. The players themselves would be induced to give more help and enthusiasm towards forwarding the scheme.'" ." : ' " °

COMMITTEE'S PROPOSALS.

The.motions, submitted by Mr. N. A. Foden, chairman of', the Management Committee, were.to the following effect: (1) That a commencement be made with the association's grounds at Miramar ; (2) that life membership subscribers and those who have promised donations be advised regarding the stages in. which it is proposed to. carry" out the work; (3), that arrangements be made for tile collection of« subscriptions and . donations; (4) that the advisory committee be asked to continue its efforts to raise the £12,000. along the liiiC3 set out in the prospectus and in its report; (5) that the advisory committee be. empowered, if thought desirable, to appoint approved canvassers, on a commission basis not exceeding 2J, per cent, on the amounts' collected. '

In regard to section 1, Mr. Foden said the. committed felt that tennis players were of the opinion that a commencement should be* made, a good /start and an enthusiastic start.

Replying to a question, the chairman said that there was a matter of about £300 in hand. The amount promised was something like £5000. • ;".;' Mr. A. J. M'Leiman was of the. opinion that a start should be made. Many life members had signified their desire that the scheme should be proceeded with, and although the amount available was not the sum aimed at, it was nevertheless enough to enable.a substantial start;to be made. He heartily supported the .motion, and thought that all members, after giving the matter due consideration, would be of the game opinion as: was he. '

WITHDRAWAL - 01? MEMBERSHIP.

According to Mr. K. Beeves, one reason whiqh made it almost'necessary for a start to be mado was that it would facilitate the collection of the required money. The scheme had been'in the air rather too long, and some people had stated that if something substantial was not done, they intended withdrawing their promised life membership: Mr. Feist agreed that subscriptions were more likely to he lost Ity delay than by a start being made'- on a smaller scheme.

Mr. Graves thought it would lie advisable lo find out how much of the £5000 was likely lo lie lost. If tho < amount which was likely to lie lost could be mado up within, say a fortnight, then the speaker heartily supported the proposal to "get busy."

Air. Eichelbaum was of the opinion Unit people were more likely to support a large scheme than v proposal of a smaller nature. If it was found that the required sum could nut be found after the work had been commenced, "what then "uuld be l.liis position?

.Mr. .1). i\l:in-cy Kwn Ml. s,i,-,. Unit. i^-3600 vl Oiu £0000 wyuJd be available

within a week. He pointed out how the interests of the subscribing members could be protected by the completion of several courts. The proposed scheme had in no way been modified. ■ -,■-.. Mr. Whyte said that after five or six months' endeavour in Wellington and the surrounding districts, only fifty promises of help had been forthcoming. He was not opposed to a start being made, but was this fact an encouragement to people who had been told that the rest of the money would be found? - -.■■•'

NOT AN "EXPERIMENT."

T]ie chairman remarked that the matter seemed to be one of '.'faith." If people could be shown that a start was being made in a whole-hearted w.-jy with confidence that the project would be carried through, this would be a great encouragement to. them to' contribute. It was by no.means an '"experiment," as one member had unfortunately suggested, - and the speaker wished to 'dissociate :'h"im-' self with this remark. . '; -•-

Mr. Reeves agreed that the proposal was indeed a- commencement and not a modified scheme. Once a start was made, there should be no 'looking back," and it should be an endeavour to involve in the scheme all bodies, commercial and civic.' ■-"-.■ '■ -'■ ..,'.. ,--. .-. \..u. „<,..

At this stage, section 1 of the motion was put to the meeting, and was carried unanimously. ■■■ ,

ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S

FUNCTIONS.

In .regard to section '4, Mr. "Whyte thought that as far as the Advisory Committee was, concerned, it had just about finished its functions. The attempts by the committee-to raise-money- had been disappointing,'to say the ..least of them, and the speaker felt that it was; time the Management Committee itself "took a hand in attempting to' secure the necessary funds. The Advisory Committee would no doubt be pleased to assist, but it would treat rather coldly .an instruction or request that it "continue its efforts to raise £12,000." This section should be framed in rather a different way. " ' •'■ "■■-■. ; •■-■■••■■■. ' .

Mr. M'Lennan said it was not in any way intended that - the Advisory i Committee should do all the work, but the idea in the minds of the members of the Management Committee was that the valuable services of the .members of the Advisory Committee should not be lost. They had certainly dons good work in the past. -. ■:■'.'., -.... ■....-. , . '„ .."'-..

_With the. indulgence of the • meeting,'Mr. Foden amended section 4"to read: "That those gentlemen ,who. formed the Miramar : scheme,' accompanied .by such others as- they wished- to- add., to -their members; be asked to co-operate with tne iVlanagement Committee- in an endeavour to" raise the: balance of the funds required for .the.^cheme.'- The motion was: carried. :'.: ."■■ '•'.■-,.; -.-.■;';-■■. : ■.■..■.-.'-■ ,

Eulogistic reference was made 'to the enthusiasm - shown .and general 'efforts made by. Mr. Eric. Reeves, whom it was' stated had the scheme at' heart." >• ■ .■■•.":

Mr. Fodeni pointed out. in connection with section 6, that if ■there :wa s ' suffi.cierit co-operation, the appointment". of paid canvassers might not be' necessary. Section 6 '\yas adopted without dissent. : :"....''■ .

It was decided that Mr. D. Murray Kean,b6 appointed in his .professional cient co-operation the appointment of the Miramar scheme., .'Reference .was made to Miv.Kean's 'whole-hearted efforts towards the furtherance of. the scheme.