TURUA TENNIS CLUB.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4606, 26 September 1923, Page 1

TURUA TENNIS CLUB.

decision to wind up. The twenty-first meeting of the Turua Tennis Club was held in the Turua Buildings on Monday evening. The president, Mr D. G. McMillan, presided over an attendance of about thirty members. In submitting the annual report Mr McMillan said that considering the up uill fight the club had had in the past the position was satisfactory. The future was expected to be better, or at least equality satisfactory. The courts had been sold. Whether this was a right move or not remained to be seen, The sections were too valuable to be used for tennis, and the courts were in a very bad state of repair and It would cost as much .o renovate them as would make new courts. In his opinion it was a right move to go elsewhere, where eight courts could be made if required. He urged the members to pull together so that the dlub would rightly take its place as the leading club on the Plains. The balance-sheet showed that receipts totalled £B6 6s, of which subscriptions made £5B 7s 6d and socials had contributed £lB 3s. On the expenditure side rates totalled £6 17s 6d, interest £.19 13s, and repairs and renewafls to plant £25 15s 9d. The overdraft had been reduced by £4 Is sd, and the cash in hand was £6 10s. The statement of 'assets and liabilities showed that the bank overdraft was £263 12s sd, and the total liabilities £306 Is. By the sale of the section £275 had been realised, and a debit balance of £ll 3s Id remained. Considerable discussion arose as to a previous resolution regarding the payment for labour by member's who could not do work on the court. Finalb' it was decided that a levy be made on male members liable for sufficient to cover their share of the debt for labour on the clay courts, and that the amount be added to the balance-sheet under the heading of sundry debtors. This would reduce the deficit to £2 3s Id. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Considerable discussion arose as to whether officers should then be elected in view of the lack of policy, as the club was without grounds. Finally it was decided that, the present officers should vacate office, the policy should be decided, and then officers for the ensuing year should be elected. Mr P. R> Henry was elected chairman pro tem. Mr S. W. Bagnall said that in his opinion the guarantors had done right in selling the courts. They had been severely criticised, but members would find that the proposed section would be more preferable. Mr Robinson said that the guarantors had acted contrary tp a resolution of the club. Mr J, L. Brownlee contended that the deal was a very good business preposition, and in his opinion had hot been exactly contrary to resolutions but In the best interests of the club. A lively argument ensued until the chairman called the meeting to order. He asked that bygones be bygones, and that the future of the club be discussed. Mr Brownlee said that what had been done had been in the best interests of the club. He moved that this meeting endorse the action of the committee in selling the courts with a view to moving to another site. Mr D. G. McMillan seconded, Mr G. Walker? moved as an amendment that this meeting consign that the guarantors in selling the site considered they were acting in the best interests of the club. Seconded by Mr R. M. Stephens and carried. Mr Walker then urged that arrangements be made tp get an overdraft from the bank to purchase new grounds. Mr Brownlee said that a point had been holding up negotiations for the new overdraft. The guarantors felt that they should have some say in the management of the club. He suggested that a compromise be made. The executive could comprise nominees by the club and by the guarantors. Mr Henry said that it was only reasonable that the guarantors should have a say in the management of the club. Mr Walker said that guarantors should certainfly have a say on the financial questions, but should *io.t have the major vote in deciding other matters. Mr McMillan said that the guarantors would not desire to run the club besides seeing that they were safeguarded. Several guarantors present endorsed Mr McMillan’s remarks. Mr S. D. Stephens moved that all guarantors be consulted and have a vote on all matters of a financial nature. Mr Brownlee said that mountains had been made out of molehills. An unwarranted tone of suspicion had been raised. Mr Walker said that the action of the guarantors in selling the courts had raised mistrust. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder, and Mr McMillan moved that a committee of nine be elected, comprising members of the club guarantors to be ex-officio members. Mr Brownlee seconded. Mr Robinson moved as an amendment that on a committee of nine members three be.nominees of guarantors. Mr S. D. Stephens seconded. Mr Henry /warned members to con-

sider the question carefully, as the future was at stake. Mr Walker moved as a further amendment that on a committee of nine three be nominees of the guarantors, and that ail financial tions decided by the committee be submitted to the guarantors for, their approval. Mr C. Scott seconded, after- being assured that the mover intended that trivial matters would not necessarily be referred to the guarantors. Mr McMillan spoke against the amendment, contending that it was the motion, and was only splitting hairs. On Mr Robinson’s amendment being put to the meeting it was carried by 11 votes to 9. Mr Walkers, amendment was defeated, only the mover and seconder supporting.

Mr D. G. McMillan and Mr S. W. Bagnall said that they were sorry that this had been decided, Under the conditions they would not become new guarantors, or members of the club. Mr P. R. Henry concurred. Regarding the liability on the old courts, Mr Henry ‘ pointed out that the assets on the ground amounted to £l5. Mr Brownlee said that these should be considered the property of the guarantors. Mr Henry said that the guarantors would hand back the baflance to a new club if one was formed. After discussion on the appointment of officers for the new club Mr S. W. Bagnall moved, and Mr Robinson seconded, that the Turua Tennis Club be voluntarily wound up.—Carried.