TENNIS PLAYERS' CASE

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 38, 13 August 1932, Page 5

TENNIS PLAYERS' CASE

£12,000 IMPROVEMENTS

Attention has been drawn in the public Pxess to the discussion of the Wellington City Council relating to a debt of £2393 12s Gd incurred some years ago for the construction of the hard courts at Miramar, says the annual report of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association. There is no need again to cover the ground of the explanations in regard to this amount which have previously been published. Several conferences have taken place between the association's representatives and members of the City Council, and as the matter is still under discussion no announcement can at present bo made. It is sufficient to say here that there appears to be a feeling amongst some members of the City Council that the association should be pressed for payment of this amount immediately, and if the amount is not forthcoming steps are to be taken to take over the grounds by the the council. When it is realised that the association has raised and expended on its own initiative the sum of approximately £12,000 in the improvement o£ this land and the construction of courts, it is surprising that a public body should consider taking such harsh measures especially at a time when it is-realised generally that assistance should be granted to those who are suffering from the piesent depression. BEING IMPROVED. The association's property at Mhamar is being gradually improved as occasion and finance permits, and each year shows that further steps are being taken to attain the object of making these grounds the best appointed in the Dominion. The brushwood fences erected during the season as wind breaks are much appreciated by players and have added considerably to the popularity of the ground for players. An endeavour has been made to commence the construction of additional grass courts during the season aud the ground was planted. Unfortunately, owing to the dryness of the weather experienced in the early summer, the planting was not successful and this work will need to be undertaken again. FINANCES. The operations for the year have shown a net surplus of £45 19s 9d. This gratifying result was mainly due to reduction in maintenance charges and expenditure and to increased profits on the Wellington championships and Easter tournaments and interclub matches. The income of the general account was £428 19s 6d and the expenditure £219 12s lOd, an excess of income over expenditure of £209 6s Bd. The income of the Miramar account was £761 12s 5d and the expenditure £924 19s 4d, an excess of expenditure over income of £163 6s lid. The year commenced with sundry creditors of over £200. These accounts have now been wiped off and the new season should commence with very few outstanding creditors. This will relieve the association of an incubus which has hampered the activities of the committee for some time. The association now holds all possible tennis honours, including the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield, the Kathleen Aunneley Casket, and the Anthony Wilding Cup, for the besi performance at the Aew Zealand tournament.