LAWN TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS

ANNUAL MEETING OF SOUTHEND CLUB FALL IN MEMBERSHIP The annual meeting of the Southend Tennis Club was held last evening. The president (Mr W. Rea) was chairman. In moving the adoption of the annual report the chairman said it was most gratifying to see the. excellent playing record of the teams in the various grades. Of 19 matches played 16 had been won and only three lost. The club had suffered a loss by the departure from Invercargill of several of the senior players, said Mr Rea, and he hoped that those remaining, with the assistance of the new members, would maintain the standard of tennis set in the past. Mr L. E. Raines said that ,the decrease in revenue from subscriptions as compared with previous seasons was caused by the fall in membership. He expressed the hope that this season would bring an increase in the numerical strength of the club. The office-bearers elected for the ensuing season were as follows:—Patron, Mr W. Manson (re-elected); president, Mr W. Rea (re-elected); vicepresidents, Messrs F. G. Stevenson, D. W. Reid, A. Derbie, H. T. Thompson, and C. N. Lawless and Dr F. O. McGibbon; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr R. McCallum; club captain, Mr J. J. Buchan; deputy club captain, Miss Lois Mehaffey; delegate to Southland Lawn Tennis Association, Mr L. E. Raines (re-elected); general committee, Misses J. Kelly and M. Breen, Messrs A. Fortune, I. McChesney, A. Alsweiler, L. E. Raines, the secretary, the club captain and the deputy club captain; selection commit-, tee, Miss Lois Mehaffey and Messrs J. J. Buchan and R. McCallum; honorary auditor, Mr L. E. Raines. LEVY ON CLUBS Mr A. Fortune reported on the recent meeting of the Southland Lawn Tennis Association at which was discussed the proposal to impose on each club a levy of 1/6 a member for the purpose of forming a fund to meet the expenses of overseas players visiting Invercargill. It was decided to instruct the club’s delegate to support the recommendation at the annual meeting of the association. It was decided to reduce the subscription for the coming season and to admit junior members at half rates. Opening day was fixed for October 2. It was decided to continue the grant of free membership to two pupils of each of the three secondary schools in Invercargill. Sixteen new members were elected. The annual report stated: — “The 1936-37 season has been most successful and although the weather for the most part, left much to be desired, satisfactory progress was made. The membership has again fallen and now stands at 29, of which three are free members. It is essential that the membership be increased if the courts are to be maintained in first-class condition.

“The A team finished the season as runner-up, the deciding match with St. Mary’s being closely contested. It may well be said that the club came nearer to winning the senior A competition for the first time than on any previous occasion. The B team performed satisfactorily and finished the season in third place. The honours once again go to the C team, and the members of that team are to be congratulated on retaining the Baird Cup. This team finished the season in top place, equal with Waihopai and Bluff. A play off for these three teams was not arranged. “Miss Lois Mehaffey and Mr R. McCallum gained places in the Southland representative team, and Miss L. Mehaffey gave excellent performances in the Galloway Cup matches. “The women’s singles championship Was won by Miss L. Mehaffey and the men’s singles championship by Mr R. McCallum. “The balance-sheet shows that the club is in a sound financial position, the assets exceeding the liabilities by £386 16/3.”