BADMINTON’S PROGRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 636, 12 April 1929, Page 6

BADMINTON’S PROGRESS

GAME IN NEW ZEALAND ENGLISH JOURNAL’S REVIEW The following' note on the progress of Badminton in New Zealand is quoted from the latest number of the “Badminton Gazette,” published in London: Until 1924 Badminton was played only spasmodically in New Zealand. One or two clubs had been started, but had not lived long. The difficulty was to find people who had played the game long enough to become both enthusiastic and skilful. Napier was the first town to find the necessary combination of enthusiasm and experience. The club there was founded by Dr. F. N. Harvey, an old Dublin University man. in 1924, and has made satisfactory progress. It was greatly assisted by the fact that Airs. F. A. Hetley, a very skilful player, also lives at Napier. Play among the women there has, consequently, been always of a high standard. AUCKLAND’S PROGRESS The game could not make much progress while it was played only in these smaller centres. Neither Wanganui nor Napier has a population of more than 30,000. But in 1927 a small group of people started a club in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, which lias a population of a quarter of a million, and is rapidly growing. In spite of difficulties over a hall, which have not lessened as the game waxes in popularity, the club prospered from the start. J. Kelly, from Belfast, proved an acquisition. and several other newcomers brought up the playing strength. There are now four or five clubs in Auckland, including one formed at Mangere, on the outskirts of the city, and another formed by the Naval men at the Calliope naval base, across the beautiful Waitemata Harbour. Another club, we learn, has been formed at Nauru Island, the remote Pacific outpost, where valuable phosphate deposits are worked. A New Zealand Badminton Association has now been formed, and a successful tournament was held at Napier this year, Mr. Kelly, Archdeacon Meredith and Mrs. Hetley being the outstanding players. Next year the tournament will be held in Auckland, and the impending formation of clubs in other centres, including Wellington, the capital city, provides evidence that the game is firmly established.