TENNIS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 39, 9 October 1912, Page 5

TENNIS.

ANNUAL MEETING OF STRATFORD CLUB. The animal meeting of the Stratford Tennis Club took place la.se evening. Mr W. D. Anderson presided over an attendance of fifteen members. The annual report showed that the Club had begun the year with a bank overdraft of £llß 11s Bd, the balance sheet giving a loss on the year’s working of £1 11s id. This was caused tnrough the extra expense and laoour expended in lengthening the courts on the back line to enable the nets to he moved from time to time, thus preventing the back lines from wearing and thus saving the expensive work ■of re-turfing. The overdraft, therefore, now stood at £l2O 3s. Though this might at first seem a heavy liability, yet when it was taken into account that the Club had in its present courts, an, asset worth, upwards of £320, it would readily he seen that the Club was in a very sound financial position. The subscriptions for the year were £52 14s Gd, which was exactly the same as last yea: - . The membership was slightly diminished, owing to a number of old players leaving the district. Eight new members were duly elected, but these did not compensate for those they had lost. “Your committee at -this stage desires to place on record a tribute to the memory of the late Mr J. R. Mackay, who passed away last April, after a long illness. Mr Mackay was a former secretary of the Club, and one of the oldest members, and was always an energetic worker in the Chib’s interests. His loss is deeply to be regretted, and will be sincerely felt by all members. During the year subscriptions werb raised from 12s 6d to 15s for ladies, and from £1 5s to £1 10s for men. This increase was very necessary, and tne benefit thereby'accruing to the Club will be felt for many years hence. A .matter of great importance, the quesion of noiv courts, lias been the subject of much discussion during the [>ast year—the Club considering that .the present courts are unsuitable for our increased membership, as well as too far from town—and at a special general meeting, held in August, it was decided to lay down six new courts in Victoria Park North, and place our present property on the market for sale at £3OO, with the right cf removal of netting, building, etc., possession not to be given until March, 1913, should it be sold before that time. To carry on the work of the now courts it was necessary to increase our present guarantee of £l5O to £250. In the event of the guarantors being called upon to meet a deficit, a majority of the male members of the Chib have agreed to be personally liable up to £2 each. At the beginning of the season a working bee was formed, which did very good work in improving the fences and grounds and certainly deserves the special thanks of the Chib for their endeavours to improve the property with the least possible expense. ’The courts have been kept in as good a condition as possible during the winter having been top-dressed, .cut, and rolled, and so should lie in perfect order for the coming season. During the season the Club played nine matches against local and outside clubs, namely. New Plymouth, Eltham, and Inglewood, and of these won seven and lost two; which is a very creditable performance. The Men’s Championship was won for the second time by Mr D. Cameron, and Mr R. B, : -Andersoni was again runnertip. The ladies’ championship was not decided,-owing to rain ending the season rather abruptly. The Ladder challenges were as usual responsible for some first-class games. In regard to the balls to he used for the soming season, your committee has ordered 12 dozen Ayers’ balls from Gentry, Parker and Co., at a cost of 15s 6d per dozen, to he supplied :n Line for the opening of the season. In coiiclns'on, your committee desires to thank those ladies who helped the Club by di pensing afternoon tea to the members an I their, friends, and who took in hand the entertaining of visitors at the Club grounds on the occasion of matches.”

The annual report and balance-sheet were then adopted. Officers were elected as followsPresident, Mi- W. H. H. Young, vicepresident, Dr. Carbery, Dr. Paget, Messrs F. N. Fussell, and W. D. Anderson; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. L. Jdnes; committee, Messrs V. Crawshaw, R. B. Anderson, F. H. Wilkie, I). Cameron, and E. H. Young. Mr A. Coleman was re-elected auditor, and a vote of thanks was accorded him and also to the retiring secretary (Mr Y. Crawshaw), for services rendered to tho Club.

At tho annual meeting of tho Wnverley Tennis Club, Mr H. P.* Mitcalfd was re-elected president, and Messrs W. Wilson and W. vvyoourne vice-presidents. Mr J. C. Nicholson was appointed delegate to the Association.