LAWN TENNIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19454, 13 October 1937, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

CLUB MANAGEMENT GISBORNE L.T.C. MEETING SEASON OPENS SATURDAY A decision to open the courts officially for the new season on Saturday next was reached at the annual meeting of the Gisborne Lawn Tennis Club, held last evening, prospects for the new season being considered thoroughly satisfactory. The meeting was well attended, Mr. D. E. Chrisp presiding. Reviewing the position of the club, the president stated that the loss on the past year had been £2l. and that the accounts would have been a further £3O worse off had it not been for the work of the ladies' committee, which raised £32 in the course ol the season. Increases in maintenance expenses had been faced during the year, he pointed out, and there was the probability of an increase again in the coming season. On the other hand, the assets o: the club were sound, and the committee -hoped that the membership figures would recover this season, with a consequent improvement in the subscription revenue. For the present, the laying down court could not be considered, Mr. Chrisp thought, though it was an improvement 'which the club must keep in mind. Officers for the ensuing season were elected as under: —President, Mr. D K. Chrisp; vice-presidents, Messrs. L. T. Burnard, N. H. Bull, W. R. B. Willock, M. R. Maude, R. U. Burke, and C. L. Margoliouth; executive committee, Messrs. L. Reed, A. Shoriand, W. Kohn, G. W. Langhorne, and E. Woodrow; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. P. Willock; delegates to the Poverty Bay~ and East Coast Lawn Tennis Association, Messrs. M. R. Maude and A. Shorland; hon. auditor, Mr. P. Barlow. The thanks of the club were extended to Mr. M. ~R. Maude for his work as honorary secretary during the past year, his services being recognised by the voting of a small honorarium, which the president re marked was not in any way commensurate with the work Mr. Maude had performed. Satisfaction with the condition of the courts, and the promise of a good season's play, was expressed by members generally, and the groundsman, Mr, D. Sheahan, was voted £5 5s in recognition of the skill and energy he had shown. With regard to the use of the courts for fixtures other than those promoted by the Gisborne club, the president expressed the opinion that other courts should be brought up to championship standard and placed at the disposal of the district association for use In the annual tournaments. The Gisborne club's courts had been used almost exclusively since the annual open tpurnaments f had been instituted, it was pointed out in the coarse of a discussion on the subject, and the few days of tournament play were more wearing on the surfaces than weeks of ordinary use.

Members generally agreed that the open tournament was a decided asset to lawn tennis in the district, and that every effort should be made to furnish facilities for the fixture. It was felt, nevertheless, that other clubs might bear a greater proportion of the that the association should be advised that during the current season, the Gisborne club courts might not be available for the association tournament.