LAWN TENNIS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 October 1927, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

THE NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. rBOSRECTS FOR THE SEASON. • The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Lawn Tennis Club was held last night, when Mr. C. B. Webster presided over an attendance of about 30, including a number of ladies. The balance-sheet showed that receipts for the year had totalled £402 17s 6d, the principal items being members’ subscriptions and entrance fees £370 15s, and the sale of balls £8 9s. Expenditure totalled £630 10s, the principal items being purchase of section £lBl 7s ■3d, maintenance £197 4s 3d, rent £6O, rates £25 8s 3d, interest £4O os Id, balls £44 5s Sd. The bank overdraft stood at £641 15s 2d, compared with £l'2l 2s lid at (he close of last season. Assets totalled £1724, the only liability being the bank overdraft of £641 15s 2d. In moving the adoption of the bal-ance-sheet, the chairman pointed out that it would be noted on comparison with the previous year that though the receipts were down, so also were the expenses. Members’ subscriptions showed a falling off of £54, and competition fees £7. In fact, nearly all receipts were down. In the expenditure, upkeep, wages and rents were about the same, but rates were down. The credit balance on the tournament was £7, due to the fact that the club had to pay the expenses of the Australians, including a guarantee of £4O. The association fortunately had made sure of that. However, he considered the visits of overseas players gave the game a great fillip.

Mr. G. M. Spence, in seconding, said. there did not seem to be any special reason for a report. The membership consisted of about 100 players (45 ladies and 55 men), while there were 52 honorary members. Last year they were considering limiting the number o'f members, but this year there was room for new ones, as tho membership was we!! below the average. Mr. Spence paid a tribute to the excellent way in which the late secretary, Mr. Andrews, hml carried out his work.

Mr. Kirkby considered that 15s was very small for tho total of visitors’ fees during the season. 'Mr. E. Griffiths said that exclusive of the purchase of land, they had only gone back £4O during the year, and a very few new members would make that up. He tliought that was a matter the committee could take in hand during the coming year. A member pointed out that they not, only had six courts and must be careful to avoid overcrowding. The chairman stated that the association had allowed the club to run the tournament for what it was worth. Last year they had made £7, The report and balance-sheet was then adopted. ELECTION O’F OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows:President, Dr. CL Home (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. E. Griffiths; honorary auditor, Mr. D. LeC. Morgan (re-elected); honorary secretary and treasurer, A. 11. Ki'hards; committee, Alessrs 0. B. Webster, G. M. Spence, S. J. Judd, G. Ellis ami B. Bhimlell. A vote of thanks was accorded _\l.. G. M. Spence, who had acted as secretary since (lie resigiiatnin of Mr, G, Au drews. A vote of appreciation was accorded ths auditor for his services. Votes of thanks wore also accorded Messrs E. King (vice-president), B. Balharry ami W. F. Wagstaff, retiring members of the committee. Some discussion took place over the question of tennis ballfl. Mr. Spence moved pro forma that the balls be supplied to members at cost price. He.stated that the supplying of balls had cost the club over £49. If members, had to pay for the tennis balls they used • they would be more economical. It might be argued that the subscription ( £3 10s for men and £2 10s for ladies) should include balls, but he considered that the subscription was quite reasonable enough, and until the financial position improved the club should not provide the balls. Air. E. Griffith strongly favoured players having to provide their own balls, as besides being in the interests of the club from the viewpoint of economy, it meant that the player who only visited the courts occasionally was not penalised lor the player who was always using the courts. After further discussion it was decided to provide bails for players at Is Gd each. Replying to a question regarding the closing of one of the courts at times, the chairman said the matter was in the hands of tho grounds committee, and he urged members to be loyal to those committees. The fixing of the opening day was left to the grounds committee. Appreciative reference was made to the work of the caretaker (Mr. Beunett). It was resolved to empower the committee to make rules in regard to visitors, with a view to more stringent collection of fees. Votes of thanks were accorded the ladies, the Press and the chairman.