LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 22454, 26 September 1936, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

NOTABLE JUBILEE YEAR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SEASON At the annual meeting of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association the president (Mr W. R. Sinclair) occupied the chair. PAST SEASON REVIEWED. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the Chairman said that the association could congratulate itself on a notable jubilee year. _ There had been many functions, the visit of the incomparable Cochet and his party, and a number of visits from country seemed peculiarly fitting that in the jubilee year these teams should have come to Dunedin. The various functions had been blessed by good weather and good humour, and in every way they had been successful. That had been largely due to the executive of the association, which had been a splendid team, and he would like to thank the members for the help which he had received from them.' During the year the association had done its best to encourage a higher standard of lawn tennis among the juniors. Subsidised_ by the New Zealand Association, it had continued its coaching scheme. Mainly through the agency of the coach (Mr T. Brookes) good work had been done, though the interest among the juniors had not been as great as it should have been. The president urged clubs to nominate juniors who were worthy of coaching and would persist in their practice. Financially, the association had fared a good deal better than in the previous year, and it had a small credit balance. He hoped that the clubs which had experienced financial difficulties during the year had now recovered from their troubles.

Continuing, Mr Sinclair said lie would like to say a friendly word to the Lawn Tennis Union. _ Both bodies had the same objects in view and were friendly with each other, and as chairman he would like to wish the union well. The association did not obtain many ground members last year, but a definite “ drive ” would be made at a more favourable period this season. It was important to note that the New Zealand championship meeting would be held at Timaru this season. Now that this tournament had been brought as far south as could be expected Otago players should help as much as possible to make it a success. He trusted that leading players would enter and that they _ would make an effort to obtain practice on grass. It had been suggested to him that the men should help Otago’s best women players to obtain good, hard practice. The motion was seconded by Mr A. M'Millan, who congratulated the_ association on the success of its activities during the year. Though the membership showed a slight decrease, there were now 24 clubs affiliated with the association, compared with 23 in the previous year. He had noticed that the membership of the New Zealand Association had dropped from 32,000 last year,to 30,300. It seemed strange that the number should be waning, but he thought that with the larger amount of leisure that was being created there would soon be an increase. He thought it desirable that visits from overseas players should be encouraged, and in this respect it was interesting to note that on these occasions Otago showed better returns than some of the northern centres. The question of maintaining a colts’ team would be further considered, but he did not think it likely that the team would, again be played. The association now had 16 cou#ts at Logan Park, and it was desirable that they should be kept in good order. _ Cochet had said that the court on which he had played had an excellent surface. Mr T. Begg recalled that the New Zealand championships had been held on the Carisbrook Ground 24 years ago, and suggested that a similar arrangement should again be possible. The motion was carried. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr W. R. Sinclair; vice-presidents—Messrs R. Phillipps, E. D. Duthie, A. M'Millan, and Dr J. Fulton; honorary vice-presidents —Messrs S. N. Brown, R. S. Black, J L. Salmond, D. Tannock, F. J. Campbell. J. Rhodes, J. Rodgers, E. Moore, J. Taylor, L. P. Cleghorn, J. H. Meek, P. H. Campbell, J. J. Marlow, F. W. Mitchell, J. Hogg, J. Farquharson, T. Begg, O. Cox, J. S. Sinclair, and J. J. Tregear; committee—Messrs T. Grimsdale, R, A. Morrison,. E. G. Ruhen, H. S. Ross, S. Falconer, E. S. Swete, G. H. Jolly, C. Muir, and R. S. Jack; honorary solicitor, Mr J S. Sinclair; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. S. Wilson; auditors, Messrs William Brown and Co.; delegates to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association—Messrs C. G. White, H. Graves, K. Webling, and Dr Slater. GENERAL. It was decided to open the season on October 3.—Subsequently the committee resolved that matches should be commenced on October 10, and that entries should close on Tuesday next, the names of A Grade players only to be submitted. There was strong support for a suggestion that some restrictions should be adopted to prevent A Grade players changing from one chib to another, and it was unanimously decided, on the motion of Mr C. J. Rawlinson, to recommend to the incoming committee that it should consider the introduction of a transfer rule for senior players. An instruction was given to the incoming committee that it should take steps to have the association affiliated with the Otago Sports Protection Association. A proposal that a team representative of B Grade clubs should be played in the Intermediate Grade was defeated. Mr Phillipps was congratulated on the manner in which the financial operations of the United Club had been conducted during the year. It was decided to write to Mr J. S. Sinclair thanking him for the donation of a cup, which was awarded to the winner of the Otago championship. A recommendation was made to the incoming committee that it should favourably consider retaining a colts' team in the competition. LONG RECORD OF SERVICE. A motion expressing appreciation of the services of Mr S. N. Brown, who

did not seek re-election to the committee, was carried. The mover of the motion (Mr G. I. Black) stated that Mr Brown had been a member of the committee for 30 years, and had established a, fine record of service both as an administrator and as an Otago representative. Mr M'Millan seconded the motion. He stated that Mr Brown had done a tremendous amount *to raise the standard of the game in Dunedin, and had always been willing to assist young players. Among players and administrators no one was held in higher esteem than Mr Brown.