LAWN TENNIS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1928, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERS APPOINTED FOR YEAR. NORTH V. SOUTH GAMES DISCUSSED. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association was held in New Plymouth last night. Present: Messrs. C. B. Webster (chairman), J. C. Nicholson (Waverley), G. M. Spence (King Edward Park, Hawera), R. H. Leece and M. R. Jones (Hawera), N. Balharry (Manaia), E. C. A. Gaw (Sportsdale, Stratford), H. E. Lawrence (Stratford), A. J. Hale (Stratford Methodist), C. Morshead (Fitzroy Methodist), G. S. Ellis and A. H. Richards (New Plymouth), H. E. Brabant (Waitara), C. White and F. S, Grayling (Waiwaka), F. B. Blundell (Alton), A. L. Picard (Eltham), H. Bennett (Rotbkare), R. Syme (Hawera), W. Dixon (Pukekura Park), and H. C. Newell (Woodleigh). The financial position of the association was quite healthy, said the chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, which has already been published. It wa spleasing to note the increasing number of affiliated clubs, this indicating that the game was spreading throughout the province. The committee had written the New Zealand Association asking that Taranaki should be placed in the itinerary of the English team. He understood, however, that they were to go to the four centres only. Mr. Ellis said he had received a letter suggesting the association might put in a claim for a visit during the last wek of the tour. The chairman said that in vijw of this they might still be able to give Taranaki an opportunity o£ seeing the visitors in action. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. J. U. Nicholson; vicepresidents, Messrs. C. B. Webster and R. H. Leese; auditor, Mr. W. M. Valentine; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr. G. S. Ellis; delegates to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, Messrs. C. G. Swinburne and A. G. Henderson; selection committee, Messrs. J. C. Nicholson, A. L. Picard and C. B. Webster; management committee, Messrs. A. L. Picard, E. C. A. Gaw, G. M. Spence, A. H. Richards and H. E. Brabant. NORTH V. SOUTH AND INTER-CLUB “This is an excellent idea and is the solution of getting the players together for selection,” said the chairman concerning a motion by Messrs. Picard and Spence that North v. South matches between teams of 12 men and 12 women should be played each year before the Christie Cup, half of each team to travel and matches being played simultaneously in the north and the south. It would get over the old-standing difficulty of inter-club matches, said the chairman. The motion was adopted. Mr. Picard also suggested the executive should consider the inclusion of Stratford in the southern district in order to strengthen the division. “I am strongly of the opinion that we should revive inter-club matches under the old scheme,” said Mr. Gaw upon the reading of a letter from Mr. H. S. Soffe asking the association’s intention concerning the future of the Soffe Cup, now that inter-club matches had fallen through. Mr. Gaw said the Stratford clubs favoured inter-club matches. He moved that the matches should be revived. This was seconded by Mr. Lawrence. The chairman mentioned that the Waitara club did not favour inter-club matches owing to travelling difficulties. He doubted whether the town clubs would favour the proposal, the difficulty being that on the half-holiday club members liked to be sure of a game. With inter-club matches on, the club courts became crowded. The motion was lost. The chairman: That leaves it open to the south to organise their own interclub matches. It was decided that Mr. Soffe should be asked whether he would allow his cup to be competed for between north and south. On the motion of Mr. Leece a further recommendation approved was that possession of the cup should be decided on the result of three matches, one at New Plymouth, one at Stratford and one at Hawera. The inauguration of north and south ladder competitions was approved, and Messrs. Picard, Gaw and Jones were appointed to run the ladder in the south and Messrs. White, Richards and Brabant the ladder in the north. PROPOSED CHANGE OF VENUE. A notice of motion to hold the next annual meeting of the association in Stratford appeared in the name of Mr. E, Griffiths, on behalf of Opunake, and if.i his absence it was moved by Mr. Gaw. Mr. Syme said that owing to the number of northern delegates on the executive the impression in the south had been that the association was run by the north. It had been suggested that the headquarters of the asociation should be moved to Stratford and he considered it would be a graceful act for the association to agree to this. Stratford was central and therefore a more suitable place. Mr. Gaw raised the question of the distance southern delegates had to travel to New Plymouth. It was not always convenient for those members to travel 45 miles to New Plymouth and back on the same evening, he said. Mr. Nicholson said the Waverley elub had written opposing the idea of changing from New Plymouth, which, being the capital of the province, was the proper place for the association. It was also mentioned that the northern players had in the past done a great deal for the association. Mr. Nicholson pointed out that delegates from all the New Plymouth clubs would have to- do the travelling if the meetings were held elsewhere. However, the question of changing the situation of headquarters could not be decided that night, as notice had not been given. During further discussion it was pointed out that while the travelling would be divided more equally were the meetings at Stratford, there were only four delegates actually in the town. All the other delegates would have to travel. The motion was lost by 16 votes to On the question of affiliation fees being raised, Mr. Gaw said he believed

some clubs were not sending the association correct returns of their membership. He suggested a better basis for the levying of affiliation fees would be at the rate of Is a club member. The chairman said that if Mr. Gaw’s remarks about certain clubs were true it showed they were adopting a most unsportsmanlike attitude. Mr. Spence said the average rate of fee at per club member this year had been 7d. The principal objection against levying at Is a member was that while it would suit the large clubs it would bear hardly upon small clubs whose subscriptions were low. A shilling would form a larger proportion of the small subscription than it would in the case of the higher subscription. While on the present basis the affiliation fees totalled £44, at 7d per playing member they would amount to £3l 18s, and at Is a member £54. After further discussion the question was dropped. On the motion of Mr. Ellis, seconded by Mr. Picard, it was decided to apply for the North Island championships to be played in connection with the New Plymouth tournament in the 1929-30 season. It was decided to start a register or onto colours. Honoraria of £3 3s each were voted Mr. E. G. Foden, the former secretary, and Mr. Ellis, the present secretary. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr. Nicholson for conveying players to Wanganui for the Christie Cup match, to the Press, and to Mr. Webster for the use of his office.

NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB.

PAST SEASON REVIEWED. The annual report of the New Plymouth Lawn Tennis Club for the season 1927-28 states that the club has a membership of 122, made up as follows: —Men: 50 playing, 14 honorary, 1 life, 1 junior. Ladies: 38 playing, 16 honorary, 1 country, 1 junior. Fourteen members joined for a part season only. The attention o£ members is drawn to the fact that the subscriptions show a decrease of £lO2 10s over the previous season. The club’s indebtedness is increasing each year, a condition of affairs that is unsatisfactory, and there is no valid reason why a club of this nature and standing should each year be increasing its liabilities. Teams representing the club visited Pukekura Park and Eltham, a return match being played against Eltham at New Plymouth. A match arranged with Sportsdale was unfortunately postponed owing to unfavourable weather. This year the committee decided to hold a handicap tournament in addition to the club championships. Dotailed results were: —Men’s championship singles, C. B. Webster (runner-up, A. H. Richards); ladies’ championship singles, Miss Rundle (runner-up, Mrs. A. Haase); men’s championship doubles, J. C. Nicholson and C. B. Webster; combined championship doubles, J. U. Nicholson and Miss A. Brewster; men’s handicap singles (A), C. G. S. Ellis; men’s handicap singles (B), T. Redman; ladies’ handicap singles (A), Miss Rundle; ladies’ handicap singles (B), Mrs. D. Le C. Morgan; men’s handicap doubles, A. G. Johnson and A. W. Diprose; combined handicap doubles, Mr. and Mrs. A. Haase. In the men’s section of the ladder competition a considerable number of matches were played. Very little interest, however, was evinced by the ladies or those holding the higher positions on the men’s ladder. The undermentioned players were selected to represent the province in the Christie Cup match: Misses Brewster, Griffin, McMullan, McKenzie, Simpson, Rundle and Mrs. Haase; Messrs. Ellis, Nicholson, Richards and Webster. Messrs. F. D. Ballantyne and C. Strombom represented North Taranaki. The association was granted the use of the courts for the annual North v. South match. The rates on the elub property have considerably increased. Under the Rating Act provision i» made for the payment of only half rates by sporting bodies, and clubs in other towns have been able to secure this concession. The season proved to be exceptionally dry and the facilities for watering were totally inadequate. Owing to the fact that additional labour was required on the courts for the Taranaki championships, the elub approached the association for a grant and were successful in obtaining £25. Levels have been taken on the courts, and all net posts and bases adjusted during the winter.

The season proved a most suceesslul and enjoyable one. Many economies were effected, and had it not been for the drop in the subscriptions the financial position would have shown considerable improvement. This will be remedied, as a large number of applications for membership have Been received for the forthcoming season. As a result of careful attention by Mr. W. J. Bennett the grounds are looking well, and the committee anticipate that members will find the courts in first-elass order for opening day. A notice of motion for the annual meeting is as follows: That rule 10 (a and b) be amended to read: “Every applicant for membership shall be proposed by one and seconded by another financial member of the club, such proposal to be forwarded to the secretary in writing and signed by the applicant. The election will be in the hands of the committee, a clear majority of threefourths of whose votes shall qualify an applicant for admission.”