LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

FINANCIAL AFFAIRS

WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION

"In reviewing the affairs of the association financially during the past year we have to record a very definite step in the placing of the rinancial structure of the association on a much better footing," says the report of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association which is to be presented at the annual meeting of the council tomorrow night. "The raising of the inter-club fees and the increasing of the affiliation fees from 2s 6d to 4s per member will have no affect upon the direct finances until next season, but your management committee were compelled in. the past twelve months to bring clubs face to face with the association's financial problems. This resulted in the withdrawal of the groundsman's assistant for six months of the year, the heavy curtailment of expenditure on the grass courts at Miramar, and the cancellation of representative matches for the year. "During the year your management committee, through the state of its finances, visited the committees of those clubs who so desired it and discussed both the association's and the club's problems and through these meetings a greater understanding was established. It is the intention of your management committee to continue this policy of keeping in closer touch with club committees by periodic visits and mutual discussion." MEMBERS' CO-OPERATION. An art union conducted by the association had shown a profit of £43 and the amount had been set aside for the improvement of the dressing accommodation at Miramar. As the coming season would include the Centennial celebrations and the association would be staging two New Zealand championships co-operation of members would later be asked.for to assist in the control and management of various activities in connection with these and other events. "Your management committee is very pleased to record the splendid manner in which all clubs have stood behind the association in the matter of its financial policy and it- feels confident that it has the backing of all members individually and that with this continued co-operation it will be able to place the association on a sound financial footing," the report continues. "We closed the year with a surplus of £67 14s 3d after transferring £321 to the income and expenditure account from the life membership account. The total income for the year has shown a decrease of £83 6s 4d mainly caused by a decline in hire and ground fees. The total expenditure for the year has shown a decrease of £240 13s 3d mainly occasioned by a saving in labour costs and ground maintenance charges." Once again the courts at Miramar had stood up remarkably well to a very strenuous year's play, in fact, they had worn better than in any previous year. Owing to the fact that the Centennial and other tournaments were to be played "this season, the first two bays had been closed earlier than usual last season, and the courts had been given a very intensive topdressing and manuring. The balance of the courts had not been neglected. Appreciation is expressed of the excellent work done on the grounds by the groundsman, Mr. R. Linton.