WHAT THE SCHEME MEANS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 64, 13 September 1926, Page 8

WHAT THE SCHEME MEANS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The Watts Peninsula Municipal /Hectors' Association and a player who writes to the editor as "Love All—No Advantage," ha\*e ruised objections _to the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association asking for assistance regarding its ground and pavilion at Miramar. Why objections ..liould bo raised when the Tennis Association asks for assistance is a puzzle, see.ng that all the other sports can get grounds formed and maintained for them, lis well as dressing sheds, pavilions, and •-rands tands erected upon some of the grounds. That has been going on for years and has been done even of late. Why is it possible for help (I mean by that the expenditure of money on the formation and maintenance of grounds, and the erection of buildings) to be given freely to some, and so far always refused to tennis ?

The Tennis Association did not do any boasting about what it intended doing, nnd what it still intends to do, but some of the Peninsula people, prompted by "Somebody," held a stop-work meeting, and did their utmost to prevent the Tennis Association securing the right to improve the property which if known, even to the Peninsula people, was most certainly absolutely neglected' by them. The

"Love-All" objector docs not write true to name, and all he appears to be after is "a quiet game for exercise and enjoyment," but it must be very cheap. He contends that tho courts, or somo of them, should be open at all times to the general public at a charge per game.similar to that charged at Day's Buy. Tho charge at Day's Bay is Is each for two players for singles, Od each for four players for doubles per hour. The Tennis Association is charged with demanding v prohibitive annual subscription. Aa "LoveAll" wants exercise and enjoyment it can be taken for granted that he would play fairly often, and assuming that he does not belong to an affiliated club would have to pay a subscription of. £3 3s per year if ho joined up at Miramar. That would mean i'or under Is 3d per week he could havo admission to the ground and clubhouse of the association, and use the courts for twelve months, besides being allowed to play as often as he liked. Nothing prohibitive about that, and if tho other subscriptions arc followed, ■it can be seen that these objectors should have looked before they leaped. Ordinary lady members' subscription is _2 12s 6d, which works out under Is 2d per week; boys, 18 to 21 years of age, under 9d; girls under 7d, aud tho associate membersmen, under 9d; ladies, under 7d; boys, under 7d; girls, under 4d; junior, under 18 years of age—boys, under sd; girls, undor 3d per week. Tho "Love-All" writer appears to have no love for the children, and he wants all advantage for himself. Is ho game to come from under cover, and help the sport that can give him "a quiet game for exercise and enjoyment?" He should not begrudge tho public school children having the use of the courts on Saturday mornings, or during their summer holidays, as surely he and others cannot be on the courts all tho time, even for ls 3d jicr week. Tho Tennis Association is well ahead of its schedule time re the laying out of the grounds—3ow odd courts were to be completed in five years, and tho Electors' Association need not worry about the scheme being popular. The undersigned invites them, as well as "Love-All," to roll up when the tree-planting is startod on the ground, so that they can say that they did something for the Miramar ground, where their children will be able to enjoy their tennis games under observation and guidance, without any charge.— I am, etc., G. N. GOLDIE. 11th September.