HUTT TENNIS CLUB

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 17, 18 September 1930, Page 12

HUTT TENNIS CLUB

The fallowing annual report was presented at the annual meeting on Tuesday evening:— The period under review reveals that the progress of the Club has been maintained and • although many difficulties, principally financial, have .still to be overcome, the future can be looked forward to with extreme confidence. The membership showed a considerable increase from the previous year and from t«ae applications already received and enquiries for application forms made for the coming season, it would appear that a full membership ■will be enrolled early in the incoming season. The four grass courts which were opened for play for the first time during the year proved a groat success and were a (testimonial to Mr. G-. H. Chapman; under whose afble guidance they were prepared. The Glu'b's thanks and gratitude are due to the Lower Hutt Borough Council for their support and assistance in making it possible for the sealing and 6urf acing of the ©hip courts to be completed. These courts were not playable uiitil the season had practically closed and should enable the Club to easily cope with tho increased anezajhersliip w}?eh it will have to handle on club days during 1930-31. Financial. The' Club's financial position is quite healtfiy bat dose attention will have to 'be paid to expenditure during th«i' coming season which'lt is hoped will ibe the last of thia hatd financial years whidaihe Club will have to face. A scrutiny of the accounts will reveal that tie" actual expense of the Cluib io' maintain and manage iKe courts is a little over £100 exclusive of interest. The Club's income from subscriptions, fees, etc., amounted to £325 for the yeaT, and this'amount will increase to approximately £500 with a full membership of say 200 to 225 members. It is also evident that without increasing the number of eoirrts the maintenance cost will remain approximately the same. Therefore if the present system of maintaining^ the courts is adkered ■' to, the Club will have, according to its membership, a surplus of receipts over expendiiiffe/excluding^ interest; of be-' tween 'three l and four" hundred pounds per annum. '. i It is unfortunate, however, that the' whole of tic capital cos* of the courts will luave to ibe. "paid curt; of revenue ' from meinibers; ■ suibscriptibiis derived, during the 1 itetet" seven ; yeats.. The sumdunts" tliat vhave ■*& be found for various^ payments during- the ■coming; season are as follows:—To I».HV Borough Council .. '200 0 0 Plus'interest on w&ole A/c 56 0 0 To R. L. Button for balance on. motor mower '~:- ''.. 50 0 0 Plus interest .. ... 310 0 To sundry creditors .. •• .57 13 .4 To Bank for overdraft .. 98 19 1 To repayment of Loan A/c. witth. interest 63 9 0 For upkeep of courts, say .. 110 0 0 Making a total of .. 629 11 5 It is not expected that this whol« amount cau.. 'be met from our income this year and we liavo two alternatives: (1) Raise another fleOO from. tae issue

of debentures; ■ (2) Obtain another overdraft between 31st March and Jst. November 1931 to carry us over the period after payment of the Council account in March. The Borough Council's account will be paid off iv 1934 which will leave three years in which to pay off the debenture holders whose account with accrued interest will in 1937 amount to under £700. "■ | If we raise ' the amount required by the first method, then our financial position should be good from then on, as tho only capital payments necessary in 1931-32 will be the amount of £242 to the Council -which will leave an ample "balance for current expenditure and provision for repayment of debentures. A strong appeal is made to members to assist the Club in what should be t-he last of its financial troubles. The debentures are of the denomination of £5 bearing simple interest at 6% repayable in 1937. The original committee members who have done the spade work in the formation of the Club and the bringing of it to its present happy position, invested their money and gave, freely of their time and labour, and it is hoped .that those who can afPoi-d and .who arc n<rw enjoying the benefits of those efforts, will not fail with tth.e little extra financial assistance that is how required. There is little risk and the benefits will-be shared by all. Club Tournaments. It is regretted that the Club's annual tournaments were not finalised before. the. closing of the season, but it is toped that they will be completed before the official opening of the new season. There axe only a few matches to be played and one afternoon will be,, set aside for them.. . * The chief contributing factor to the delay was that a number of the contestants were also memibers of other clubs,, -with the result that they were often engaged in inter-club matches and other cluib matches on Saturday afternoons. This matter will -have to receive the attention of the incoming committee. The Tesults of finalised events are as follows:— Ladies Handicap Singles.—Mrs. M. Corner. Ladies' Handicap Doubles— Mrs. King and Mrs. Smith. • Men's Handicap, Singles—Mr. A. House. Men's Handicap Doubles —Messrs Gr. Hill and A. House. The Club's congratulations -are extended to these members. Club Blazers. Club Blazers are obtainable at Little's, the Drapers, opposite .t<he Hutt Post Oflfcee. These blazers -were specially manufactured for the Club. The Cluib colours are blue and gold. Members are earnestly requested to equip themselves with these garments which are made up from -beautiful material' and are reasonably priced. Affiliation. The Club's affiliation is a matter for some consideration, at the moment. At the last annual general meeting it was left in the hands of the committee to decide whether we should join the "Wellington Association, or t2ie Hutt Valley

Sub-association. Your ■■committee made a doeision on that occasion in favour of Wellington. The matter will be brought up again at this meeting for discussion and representatives from the Hutt Valley and Wellington associations 'will be allowed to address the members present, and a representative of your present committee will state the position as it affects your own club. Thanlss. ■ The Committee desires to record their thanks to the Ladiqs' Committee who did so much work in connection with the provision of refreshments on club days, and who so successfully "maintained interest in their Ladies' Day" on Wednesday afternoons. A most pleasant social feeling exists between memibexs of the Club and a continuance of this ; with the assistance of all concerned, Will ensure a. most successful season during 190-31.