TENNIS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5350, 12 November 1928, Page 2

TENNIS.

HAURAKI PLAINS ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING. The Hauraki Plains Tennis Association held its sixth annual meeting at Ngatea bn Friday afternoon, Mr A. HMcClecn (Waitakarura), presiding ove. delegates from the Ngatea, Hopai, Tulun, and Patetonga clubs. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was read as follows :— “Financial.—lt is to be regretted that, from the financial viewpoint, the year has not beep so successful as ini the past, as the financial statement discloses a debit balance of £4' 10s 2d, due to a falling-off in receipts from all sources, while the expenditure remained practically the same.

“Mepibership.—Eight clubs were affiliated, with apprqximately 200 members, as against nine clubs, with 220 members, last year“Competitions.—The various interclub competitions, which were conducted on the knock-out system, resulted as follows : A Grade. Laidlaw Cup, Turua Club. B Grade: Hayward shield, Turua Club.

“Williams Memorial Shield. —The eliminating knock-out roun|d for this trophy proved very popular, every club entering a team. The challenge ing team was provided by the Patetonga Club. The holders, Turua Club, successfully defended the shield. “Handicap Tournament. —Entries in this event showed a small falling off as compared with last year, the figures being 83. as against 89. The rec suits were folio,ws; Ladies’ Singles, winner Miss Duffy, Patetonga, runnerup Miss M. Clotwbrthy, Turua; Ladies’ Doubles, winjners Mrs and Miss Clotwor.t'hy, runners-up Misses Duffy; Men’s Singles, winner M. O’Connor, Mangawhero, runner-up W. E. Murphy, Hopai; Men’s Doubles, winnlers McKay and Candy, Kopuarahi, run-ners-up Paton apd Morgan, Waitakaruru.

“Combined Doubles.—New gj’ound was broken by the introduction of the combined doubles, which proved very popular, th© entries being satisfactory, and some fine contests were; witnessed. The winners were Mrs Bertelsen and A. E. Ludlow, Ngatea, arid the r.unners-up Miss Ghatfield and S. Coppins, Ngatea. “Championships.—Entries in this section also showed a, decrease, being 30, as against 43 the previous season. This is partly accounted for by the deletion of the ladies’ doubles. The results were: Ladies’ Singles, Gazette Cup and miniature, winner Mis'-Duffy, runner-up Mrs Bertelsen. Men’s Singles, Ford Cup and min|iature, winnief S. Coppins, runner-up V. O’Connor; Mten’s Doubles, winners Coppins Brcs., runners-up, McMillrin and Murphy. “Auckland Match,—This fixture eventuated early in; the scasop, arid While it resulted in a substantial win for Auckland, the local representatives made quite; a creditable showing.

“Annual Brill. —This function was again held at Turua, the unfavourable weather experienced causing a fall-ing-off in doortakings to such an; extent that a nett loss of £2 Ifr 2d was shown, as against a profit cjE £9 17s 5d last year.” The balance-sheet showed receipts to be: Affixation feps, £l2; tournament fees, £l9 Is; ball £lB Is 6d; outstanding entry fe|es, £3; balance on October 27, 1927, £l3 13s 6d. The expenditure was set out as affiliation to Auckland Association £4 18s ; annual ball, £2O 2s 8d; Auckland match, £7 6s; hire of courts for tournaments, £8; balls, £3 2s 6d; trophies, £lB ; court (hire 1927, (Turua Club), £3; small items, £5 17s ; making a total expenditure of £7O 6s 2d and leaving a debit balance of £4 10s 2d.

In moving .the adoption of the report and the president said that the success of the season should not be judged in terms of pounds, shillings, and pence. However, the prospects wejre bright for the coming season, and while it was necessary to give atteritfon to the financial position!, it was gratifying to know th.rit tennis was cheaper, on the Plains than in any other association! With a view to improving the present financial posit on it was decided that the affiliation fee must be paid before teams could be entered for the inter-club competitions. OFFICERS. The following officers werse; elected: President, Mr A. H. McClean); vicepresident, Mr A. R. Vowles ; secretary gnd treasurer, .Mr E. A. Mahoney; executive committee; the president, vice-president, secretary, and the Turua delegate. A vote of thanks was accorded' the retiring secretary, Mt A. R. Vowles, for his past services. AFFILIATION FEES. In view of the financial position the president brought up the question of increasing the affiliation fee. This fee was fixed many yefrirs ago, whep the clubs were not in as flourishing a condition as at present. • Mr Mahoney moved that the affiliation fee be increased to £2.

Mr Vowles suggested a charge; according to the number of members. Mr McClean favoured! a Upiform fee and a capitation charge. Mr Vowles pointed out that th© fee was fixed when the tournaments were played on any of the club courts and players provided their own balls. The association ha,d since centralised its competitions at Ngatea, paid for court hire, and provided balls. The association; had to pay 6d a member as affiliation fee; to the Auckland Association. This 6d entitled a member to a fortnight’s play on the Stanley Street courts (Auckland), and entitled the association to matches with Auckland representatives. It was agreed that .the; affiliation fee be £1 10s, plus a capitation fee of 6d a member, for the Aucklaqfd Association. INTER-CLUB COMPETITIONS. The system of playing, the interclub competitions was discussed at length. Mr Mahoney advocated one complete; round, while Mr McClean supported

hepnq and home matches within t l *® zones. Messrs E. Alexander (Turua) and A R. Vqwles (Hopai) supported the zcA system, which was eventually adopted. it was agreed that one zone comprise the Turua, Kopuarahi, Hopai, and Waitakaruru dubs, and thet other zone the Kerepeehi, Ngatea, Kaihere, and Patetonga clubs, and that two full rounds be placed. In rega-d to the Kaihere club, which was too weak to enter an A e«m and was therefore debarred fltun entering a B team alone, it wns agreed to make an exception and r®" grade the players. The draw resulted as follows: — A Grade.—November 17.— Kerepeehi at Patetonga, Hopai at Kopuarahi, Turua at Waitakaruru, Ngatea a November 24 : Ngatea at Kerepeehi, Hopai at Turua, Kopuarahi st Waitakaruru, Patetonga a bye. Decent 5 ber t: PAtetonga at Ngatea, Tur.ua at Kopuarahi, Waitakaruru at Hopai, Kerepeehi a bye. B Grade.—November 17.—Patetonga at Kerepeehi, Waitakaruru at Turua, Kaihere and Ngatea a bye. November 24 : Kaihere at Patetonga, Turua at Ngatea, Kerepeehi and Waitakaruru a bye. December. 1: Kerepeehi at Kaihere, Ngatea at Waitakaruru, Turua and Patqtonga a, bye. TIME OF PnAYING. it ws decided that all ’ contests should commence .qot later than nepn, and that any player not on the courts and ready to play by 1-30 p.m. must he scratched, a,nd a forfeit in the match or matches must be awarded | to the opposing team. UNFINANCIAL MEMBERS. The Ngatea. Club gave notification of two unfinancial members, and: in view of the fact that one player might desire to jo*n another club, the association was askeji to take action under its roles.

It was agreed to act accordingly, which means the advisipg of all affiliated clubs.