LAWN TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 253, 24 September 1929, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

PALMERSTON NORTH CLUB'. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Palmerston North Lawn Tennis Club was held last evening, Mr H. E. Gibbons presiding. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs 13. Teunent and L. Gardiner. Inter alia, tire annual report stated as follows, the figures in parentheses being those of the previous season: —“Weather conditions were very favourable throughout the season and this, combined with daylight saving, enabled members to enjoy a good deal more play than has been tire case in past seasons. The nominal membership of the club is: Active, 174 (184); country, 27 (213); junior, 8 (18); honorary, 58 (53); life members, 12 (12) — a grand total of 27!) (290). Of these eleven are unfinancial. At the annual open tournament held in conjunction with the second annual tourney of the Manawatu Lawn Tennis Association, the following were tire winners in the championship events: Men’s singles, C. Malfroy; doubles, E. Griffiths and T. Rhodes-Williams; ladies’ singles, Miss I). Nicholls; doubles, Mrs Adams and Miss M. Myers; mixed doubles, M. L. Lampe and Miss M. Myers. A new departure from the usual programme was initiated on this occasion, the club adding to the programme two additional events, the Manawatu local championship singles for men and ladies. These two events were confined to players belonging to affiliated clubs in the association, and met with rather disappointing support from the local players. It is questionable whether it is worth including these two events again. Last season the club championship was commenced earlier than usual and every member of the club was entered. This proved an undoubted success and aroused a tremendous amount of interest and enthusiasm in the club. The club’s champions for the season were Mr J. T. McDonald and Miss N. Astle. Tne excess of income over expenditure for the past year is not as satisfying as in the previous two years, showing a balance only of £5 Is Id. Last year the ladies handed over an .amount of £26, the proceeds of an effort to purchase a caliphont, which was included in our 1928 profit. This amount and the drop in membership fees praetic-: ally accounts for our low balance this year. Membership fees show a fluctuation for the past four years—from £409 in 1926, £441 in 1927, £465 in 1928, and £429 in 1929. The expenditure has been more steady, and over the above years was as follows: —1926, £463; 1927, £457; 1928, £450; 1929, £446. The point to bo noted in the comparison of these two sets of figures is that our membership fees are never sufficient to cover the expenditure, and we must continue to be dependent upon our tournament and special efforts to meet any deficit and show progress. The thanks of the committee are again extended to all the ladies of the club who assisted with the afternoon tea and reception arrangements. For acting in an honorary capacity the club gratefully acknowledges the services of Mr C. T. Salmon (ground superintendent), Mr 11. H. Spencer (auditor), and the delegates to the Manawatu Lawn Tennis Association.” In moving the adopition of the report and balance-sheet, the chairman stated that there had been a profit of £5 for the year. Also, it would be

noticed that there was ono item of £l3 for interest which would not bo recurring. However, the small credit could be accounted for in some measure by the amount of work done on the courts. , r , .. It appeared to Mr 11. A. Seifert that the club’s position was not as satisfactory as it might have been and that, had it not been for tne tourney, the club would have been behind with its funds. With its very fine courts and their close proximity to the town, there was no reason wny the club should not have a larger membership at an increased fee. Mr C. T. Salmon was opposed to any increase in the membership fee, but was of the opinion that the expenditure should be materially reduced. The' ' members could show a little public spirit to effect certain repairs and thus save the cost of labour. The actual work was done by members to a far greater extent a feiv yeaTs ago than was the position to-day. The chairman remarked that very little was paid in outside wages. Mr Salmon contended that members could do more work during the winter months to effect improvements and repairs. , Mr L. Andrews did not think that there would bo any enthusiasm for working bees and. lie thought that the membership fee could well bo raised, perhaps as high as £3 3s. Mr Seifert supported Mr Andrews s views. , . Mr It. C. Donald expressed disappointment with the report, hut he did not think the expenditure could be reduced. . The club was living “too near the edge,” without a sufficient margin between income and expenditure, alio subscriptions should meet all the general expenses and the only alternative was to raise the fee. Mr J. Grant stated that, if the subscriptions were increased by ss, a further £SO would be available each year. Possibly, however, a few members would be lost by such a procedure. The general expenses were less than last year and the trouble appeared to be that the club had not the membership it should possess. , Mr Salmon suggested that a general meeting be held on the opening day, when the whole question could be fuLly discussed arid a definite arrangement made. , , ~ . Mr Seifert contended that wages were the principal item of expenditure. tie thought that a caretaker should he able to do all the required work in eight months of the year. Possibly, -an arrangement could be made for the caretaker to bo employed by the Golf Club for the other four months of the year. Several members, however, considered that such a move would not be in the best interests of the club. Mr J. T. McDonald stated that the amount saved by such a course would be very small and ho thought that -a strong committeee could raise funds by special functions. He was not in favour of an increased membership fee, but would favour a special levy. Mr A. W. Thompson did not think that any of the members would hesitate about paving a levy. . On Mr Gibbons’s suggestion it was decided to make a levy of 5s on male members and 2s 6d on lady and country members, the amount raised to be devoted towards tho fund for a new pavilion. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers resulted: — Patron, Mr H. N. Watson; president, Mr H. E. Gibbons; vice-presidents, Messrs A. W. Thompson, H. R. Cooper, L. Gardner, W. L. Fitzherbert, A. M. Ongley, Dr E. C. Barnett and Mrs G. E. Haggitt; club captain, Mr C. C. Yates; committee, Messrs J. Grant, L.

Andrews, H. A. Seifert, L. D. Lovelock, A. E. Blaekbourn and J. T. McDonald; ground superintendent, Mr C. T. Salmon; selectors, Messrs J. T. McDonald, H. N. Watson and C. C. Yates; treasurer, Mr R. C. Donald; secretary, Mr W. S. Fox; auditor, Mr R. H. Spencer; delegates to tho M.L.T. Association, Messrs Thompson, Yates and Fox. GENERAL. The secretary and treasurer wore granted the usual honoraria. It was recommended to the incoming committee that October 19 be fixed for the opening day. Votes of thanks were accorded the outgoing committee and officers, the ladies’ committee, the ground superintendent (Mr C. T. Salmon), the guarantors, the club delegates, the secretary (Mr W. S. Fox), the treasurer (Mr R. C. Donald), the auditor (Mr R. H. Spencer) and the Press,