ASSOCIATION TENNIS COURTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16875, 27 October 1922, Page 2

ASSOCIATION TENNIS COURTS.

* PRELIMINARY STEPS TAKEN. At a meeting of tennis players held In*: night to consider the Question of establishing association courts in Christchurch, .i committee was appointed to act with the Maich Committee of tlie ranterbnry U*» Tennis Association ami otto.!n cr the necessary money. tt v.ns nl-o dcritlorl to recommend the association 10 ask each affiliated club to collect a cer.ain sum of money according to its membership. Mr W. N. who presided, said that there whs no doubt that association courts ! were badly needed in Christchurch for j playing tournament matches, interprovincial matches. Wilding Shield matches and international matches. The club grounds in Christchurch v.ere = ' overcrow.,- ! that it. was not fair to expect clubs ro ! -ive their courts for such matches. The | Wellington Association had n scheme to ; put down about forty association court- ! and had collected about £590 towards thi* object. Tie thought the Canterbury Association should set out to raise funds nut that the money as raised should be banked in the names of trustees for the association. In selectin'? a ground for association courts they should look to the future. -•> that future generations could extend th.» courts. At least six acres of ground would be required for the necessary asphalt and grass courts. A pavilion would be needed, with dressing-rooms, tea-rooms and other conveniences. The pavilion would have to be built so that it could be extended and so that it could accommodate spec. side and the asphalt courts op the north side. The number of grass courts would have to be sufficient, for interprovincial and Wilding Shield matches. Two or threetimes more asphalt, thnix grass courts would be required. There were about 3000 tennis players connected with the Canterbury Association, which wag the largest in New Zealand. Auckland being next with, about 2700. If each player collected £2 there would he £6OOO straight away. The problem of securing grounds was n difficult one. and he. thought a small committee should be set up to deal with this problem

The ground choeert would have to have the j proper aspect, he high and dry and near a tram. He estimated that the courts ■without the purchase price of the land would cost £4OOO, and it must be remembered that the income from association courts would be small. Therefore he thought they should collect as much money courts. Mr Seay suggested various ways of raising money, including a small levy on club members. Country members might ask what, benefit the association courts would he to them, but it should be possible to hold annual toirrnaments for country members on the association courts as Mr F. J. Murray said be did not think the association should wait until all the money required was raised before starting nu the courts. Otherwise he considered the. rourt= would never be. established. They should start in a small way and raise money on mortgage. Mr T?. Browning said the first thing to do was to get the necessary land. He thought they should set out to obtain, say, £4OO as a nucleus for a, fund. Onrp they bail raised the smaller sum the larger sum i would come. Afler some further discussion it was decided that, the meeting should approve of the principle of the association securing the necessary ground for association courts.

iifi of opinion that each affiliated cluU should be asked by the association to collect a- certain sum according to its memThe motion was carried unanimously. Mr Murray suggested that a " Teunis Day " should be held, on which each club should hold a fete or sale of work. Ho thought quite a lot of money cotxld ho raised by tins means. Mr Browning ssi I that it would not be wise to ask clubs to hoit! fete.- and also ask them for a direr* contribution as suggested by Mr Seed's motion. One would militate against thtother. For the same reason he did not think it was wise to talk about a lew just now. The chairman said that his idea that the levy should be raised for the maintenance of the courts after they were, established. Mr H. Thompson suggested that the apsociation should give a shield to -.he club collecting the largest amount per metnMr W yon A. Stevens suggested that the members of the club collecting the most, money per member should lie given fre-> rj®. rab< f rship of the association courts for. .'Jr L. J. Taylor said he thought a small committee should be set up to go into th*> ■question of selecting a site for the association courts. They would then have somethin w definite to work for. It was derided, on the motion of Mr Browning, that Messrs E. G. Seed. L. T Taylor. F. J. Murray. J. H. Kirk. G. Berry. II Thomson. E. J. Tayler and Major R. \ Rot-.- should be a committee to act with the Match Committee of the association and go into the questions of securing grounds and of raising the necessarv funds.