LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 23680, 13 September 1940, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

ASSOCIATIONS ANNUAL MEETING WAR CONDITIONS LIMIT A GRADE ,». ■■ ■ *' The annual meeting of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association was held last night. In the absence on active service of. the president, Captain John Fulton, the chair was occupied by Mr A. M‘MilJan. “ I am sorry, that our meeting should have been held under such a heavy warcloud,” said .Mr M'Millan, in moving the adoption of the annual report. “ Today, in the , cause of freedom, Britain is standing alone, ; but I : am confident that righteousness will prevail, and when we meet again next year,, our boys who are away will be back with us.” “ It is very galling to this,association that we meet with rebuffs all the time,” he said, referring to the.promised visit of an Australian team which was cancelled .last year at short notice. Mr M'Millan claimed that a Timani delegate was the cause, of the cancellation. The Australian team had been persuaded that in Dunedin it woald meet with nothing but cold and stormy weather. It had been taken to Mount Cook for the week-end, and then a last-min-

ute fixture was substituted for the proposed Dunedin visit. The speaker pointed out that players and public had given strong support to any such visits, and it was a severe disappointment to the association that the fixture had been abandoned in such a manner. Mr M'Millan made a strong plea for the support of all members. “ This is going to-be a difficult year,” he said, “ and although a player’s first duty is to his club, we confidently expect him to strongly support the association. We who are left must take our tennis seriously this year.” Mr .S. N, Brown seconded the motion, which was adopted. The suggestion was made by Mr S. Falconer that the association should keep firmly in mind the desirability of providing a grass court for exhibition purposes. Some overseas players bad expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the necessity of playing on asphalt. To some extent this had been instrumental in preventing them from playing oftener in Dunedin. This was an important factor so far as revenue was concerned, because overseas visitors had always drawn splendid gates. The following were elected office-bear-ers for the ensuing year;—President, Mr A. M'Millan; vice-presidents— Messrs E. D. Duthie, R. Phillips, T. Grimsdale, and A. T, Jensen; lion, solicitor, Mr .1. S. Sinclair; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. S. Wilson; committee

—Messrs E. Swete, W. Sherriff, E. G. Ruhen, G. H. Jolly, G. I. Black, R. A. Morrison, F. L. C. Scrivener, S. Falconer, and A. Chisholm; auditors, Messrs J. S. M'lnnes and Sons; lion, architect, Mr J. Muir. The date of the general official opening, was fixed for to-morrow. A motion proposed by Mr Swete:— “ That the A grade matches be held only in a mixed grade this year ” initiated a. lengthy discussion on the condition of the sport in war time. Mr Jolly seconded the motion, saying that besides the dearth of men, the increase in general expenses, the scarcity of balls and the high cost of balls and rackets all favoured the change. An amendment that the association ask the clubs for entries was proposed by Mr Ruhen. This was supported by Air Scrivener, who said that some clubs might not be able to produce mixed entries, hut could put in a ladies’ A team. The amendment was lost, and the motion was carried. A recommendation to the incoming committee that a ladies’ B grade he instituted was carried It was decided to send a letter of congratulation to Mr S. G. Al'Dougall on his appointment to the presidency of the Now Zealand Association. COSY DELL CLUB The annual meeting of the above club was held in the Vedie Cafe. The retiring president, Air S. F. Greenslade, expressed his pleasure at the excellent attendance, which was the largest for several years. In view of the fact that 14 members were now serving with His Alajesty’s forces, it was very gratifying, he said, to see that players were so enthusiastic; and that

they realised the importance of keeping the game alive so that these members would find an active club.on their return. Considerable additions and alterations had been made during the past year to the pavilion, and the courts had been top-dressed, being at present in excellent playing order. The following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mr Stuart Falconer; treasurer, Miss R. Jenkinsou; secretary, Mr J. C. Clarke; club captain, Mr A, Cameron; committee—Miss Juno Leith, Miss Beth Brailoy, Mrs J. C. Clarke, Messrs A. T. Jenson, R. Simons, and D. A. Dick; delegate to the Otago Lawn Tennis Association, Mr E. 0. S. Falconer. Opening day was fixed for September 21, when a Yankee tournament will be arranged. Two teams will be entered in the association’s competition matches, and club championships and handicaps will be arranged for an early date.