STRATFORD TENNIS CLUB.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 58, 24 October 1914, Page 4

STRATFORD TENNIS CLUB.

ANNUAL MEETING. Mr W. H. H. Young presided at the annual meeting of members of the Stratford Lawn Tennis Club, held last night. ANNUAL REPORT. The following annual report was submitted by the committee:—lt gives your committee much pleasure to submit to you the twentieth annual report and balance-sheet. It is a matter foi >ome congratulation that the Club should have been in existence foi twenty years and that each year has seen a small but steady increase of members, both ladies and gentlemen. Finance: The season was commenced with a bank overdraft of £l3O 8s lid, of which £IOO is a fixed overdraft, and the remainder a working account. The season closed with an overdraft of £144 9s (kl. At the time' of drawing up the accounts there was £7 7s lOd unbanked and a debit of £9 12s 6d, which comes into next season's account. The actual overdraft on the season's work is £l3O 8s 2d, and the year thus shows

a small profit. In view of the expense of the new court during the winter and the expense incurred in painting the Club's premises—neither of which expenses are annual—this must he regarded as a satisfactory state of affairs. Matches: Only four inter-club matches were played during the season. Of these three wore won and one was lost. The number of matches is less than usual, and is accounted for by the unfavourable weather experienced during the season. The ladder matches were numerous and keenly contested. The men's championship was won by Mr V. Crawshaw for the second season running. Mr D. Cameron was the rmtner-un. . The ladies' championship fell to Miss Mackey, who also won for the second time in succession. The runner-up was Mrs T?obin«son. Groimd and pavilion: The fourth court has hoen ropaivod during the winter and will he ready for play

'at an early date. The other courts have received attention and show promise of being in good order for the opening day. The pavilion has been painted and trees and hodges and netting have been looked to. Balls: Ayres' championship balls were used by tbe club, these being the ones Selected by the Lawn Tennis Association. They were retailed to members at 3s fid per pair, at which price the club gets a small profit, in spite of the fact that 3s Od per pair is below retail price. The supply for the next season has arrived and will be supplied to members at tb.e usual rate. General: The subscriptions for the year totalled £67 18s 6d. This is £3 below last year's receipts, but >s an advance on any year prior to this. The ledies' subscriptions, at £22 Ss 6d, constituted a record. The membership for the season was fifty-three, this being five less than the prior season.- The unusual number of tennis players leaving the town during last season *no doubt accounts for this. During last year your committee decided to purchase new seats, but as the season was well advanced the matter was held over, and it is a recommendation from the outgoing to tbe in-coming committee to bear this matter in mind. In conclusion, your committee is desirous of passing a vote of thanks to the lady members of the club who supplied afternoon tea and entertained visiting clubs and their friends, and to Mr and Mrs Coleman, who so kindly supplied the club with milk during the season.

The report was adopted on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Rutherfurd.

ENTRANCE FEE ABANDONED. Mr V. Crawshaw moved in accordance with notice to rescind the resolution passed in 1911 imposing an entrance fee of a guinea for men and half a guinea for ladies. The course had been taken to increase the revenue, but this result had not been obtained! He was sure that many members, especially young people, were debarred from joining owing to the entrance fee. I ' Mr Rutherfurd seconded. He said that tennis players were to some extent drawn from a class of residents who were frequently shifted by their firms, and if there was an. entrance fee it would operate harshly on them. When the resolution was passed a member stated that he had had to pay ■two entrance fees within two years, owing to being shifted. Dr. Paget could not see that the finances would improve by rescinding the resolution. Mr Macalister thought the club should take every possible course to increase the membership. The entrance fee could be abandoned without incurring any great risk of loss. Mr Fussell said the position was different now to what it was in 1911. as there was then no other club in existence. Mr J. H. Thompson said it had to be remembered that the subscription fee was annual revenue, and a number of new members would soon make up the amount of the entrance fee. —The. motion, was : carried-unanimously. NEW MEMBERS. The following were elected as members of the Club: Messrs Ranford, ReeVes and Hill, and Misses F. Bayly and G. Hogg. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected : President, Mr W. H. H. Young (reelected); vice-presidents, Dr. Paget and Messrs F. N. Fussell, H. E. Abraham, and W. J. Crawshaw (reelected) • secretary and treasurer (appointment held over); committee, Messrs E. S. Rutherfurd, F. N. Fussell, V. Crawshaw, R, B. Anderson and F. Ranford; hou. auditor, Mr A. Coleman (re-elected). THE OPENING DAY. The official opening day was fixed for next Thursday, but, if possible, the courts will be open for play on Monday.

A VOTE OF THANHS. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring secretary (Mr C. G. R Wright). LADDER AND MATCH PLAY. Mr Thompson proposed that the ladder competition be abandoned. Dr. Paget agreed with the motion, stating that the competition caused a good deal of trouble, Mr Anderson opposed the motion. He held that if the ladder was aban-' doned v the play of the club, would deteriorate. /He was twentieth when he was placed on the ladder and he was sure he would not now play as good a game as he did if it had not been for the desire to beat the man above him. Dr. Paget moved as an amendment that it be a recommendation to the committee to abolish the ladies' ladder competition and to modify the men's competition if necessary. This was carried, and Mr Rutherfurd then moved that it be a recommendation to the general committee to empower the match committee to select teams without reference to the ladder competition. This was also carried.