A PLEA FOR OUR TENNIS PLAYERS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 90, 25 March 1931, Page 4

A PLEA FOR OUR TENNIS PLAYERS

(To the Editor.) Sir,— It is hardly necessary for me to offer an apology for writing to yon regarding our tennis players, or f6r that matter in support of our youiic sports receiving all the encouragement we can give them in their healthy recreation, for you have always been so liberal in your report of matches, meetings, etc., and have supported them in every way possible. I am sure tennis players have been helped very much by the publicity you have given them in your very much improved paper. I write as an “old sport” and one who loves to walk through our beautiful parks and enjoy the sight of not only the pretty surroundings and well-kept flower beds; but to observe the pleasure that so many receive in their tennis, cricket and football games. Here I should like to say how splendid it is of our Borough Council that it has brought the parks to such perfection and the interest our Mayor and councillors take in their upkeep. We as citizens are very much indebted to them. I can quite understand they wish to keep our rates as low as possible; still I do not think it is at all fair that our tennis players should be asked to pay half of the upkeep of Vlcfftrfa Park, and I think 1 am voicing the opinion of nearly nine-tenths of our Stratford people when I say they have done wonderfully well in paying for their improvements. I also understand they are considering the expenditure of another £2OO if they can have more ground allotted to them, and under the circumstances Is Gd a head would be sufficient to take from them. Our worthy footballers are well able to pay their part, as they have a paid gate to fall back on, and the balance should not come hard on the public. I write this as I consider it is really a duty for us older citizens to see that our young people have the opportunity to play healthy games at as cheap a rate as we can possibly make for them. As an old tennis player I know that the cost of racquets, balls, shoes, etc., comes fairly heavy, and I do hope that at its next meeting our worthy council will take this view of the matter and be as lenient as it can. —I am, etc., W. H. RUDKIN.