70 years of Raetihi tennis recalled

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 360, 30 October 1990, Page 14

70 years of Raetihi tennis recalled

BY

FAJTH

WISE

The Raetihi Tennis Club is celebrating its 70th plus jubilee over Labour Weekend. Minute books date from 1920 but it is very obvious that the club was functioning strongly prior to this date as there were already two courts operating in 1920 with tenders being called for the third court that year. The Tennis Courts were situated in Duncan Street adjoining the Bowling Club. It must have been a very very expensive club to join as the subscriptions in 1920 were 25/- for gentlemen and 10/- and 6 pence for ladies and honorary members. Comparing the cash equivalent today it must have cost, in some cases, several weeks wages. The Committee in 1920 consisted of AJ. Laloli (President), R. Sheldon, F. Hulbert, R. Sigley (Vice President), Secretary/Treasurer J. Pettet, Gentlemen's Committee Messrs McKay, Ritchie, Bryers, Fendell and Urwin. Ladies Committee Mesdames Tocker, Siddle, Pedersen and Harris. Tenders were called in 1920 for the third court and the price that was accepted was £45. Costs were: Labour £12, horse and cart £3, tarring labour £15, 2 posts £1, 3 barrels of tar £8 and sand £6. 1922 - a big event - the committee had considerable discussion as to whether they should purchase a watering can. (No price given). 1923 The Raetihi School invited the Tennis Club to the opening of the school's courts. Mrs Kuecke who had a tearooms in Seddon Street tendered to supply afternoon tea to the club

for 9d per head. The tender was declined. A match committee was formed, as well as a handicap committee and championship committee, this being in addition to the general committee. A junior section was started with ages having to be over 17 years and the subscription was 30/- for males and 15/for girls. Presumably the senior subs had been raised by this time as well. 1927 A volley board was erected at the end of No. 3 court and two nets were purchased at a cost of £2 10s. 1928 Mr Punch, the proprietor of the picture theatre was approached to see if he would run a benefit picture for the club and the movie selected was called "The Dark Angel", cost of admittance was 2/6 for men and 2/- for ladies. Progress - the telephone was installed at the clubhouse. The club visited Pipiriki and played matches with a return visit to take place. Any member who was slow in paying their subscription was charged an extra 5/- and failing this payment he or she had their name handed to the club's solicitor to take legal action. 1928 was a very active year with the club regularly visiting Pipiriki, Taihape, Ohakune, Ohakune Junction, Owhango, Taumarunui and other places. It must have been hard travelling those days on sports trips as not many members would have had cars and the roads would have been very rough, no tar seal or painted lines. 1929 It was decided to pay the secretary two guineas honorarium, all

of a sudden everyone wanted to be secretary. The committee met with the bowling club to arrange to buy shares in art union tickets. Ashwell's, who had a big jewellery shop in Seddon Street where the Foodmaster shop now is, donated a clock for the member who found the most members and the most amount of revenue for the club. Mr Ritchie won this clock and it was believed that he, in the course of his occupation as solicitor and accountant, used to put immense pressure on his clients to join the tennis club. 1930 To celebrate opening day this year a 'Flannel Ball' was held, presumably the men had to wear their white flannels to the ball. Any member who resigned during the year and tendered their resignation, had their financial record perused by the committee and if any monies were owing at all the resignation was not accepted until they paid up. If their resignation was not accepted this meant that they were liable for the next year's subscription as well. Another benefit movie was screened for club funds and Mr Thompson who was the new owner of the picture theatre, agreed to show the movie "Naughty Baby" and the club was charged £6 by Mr Thompson for the screening. The club became an incorporate society. 1931 At the October meeting the accounts totalling £11 7s.7d were unable to be paid due to lack of funds so they were left until the new committee took over. Mr Ritchie retired as President and was made a Life Member. 1932 Wire netting

around the three courts was renewed and the netting cost £l.ls.3d a roll! The fall in membership meant that the £20 that was to have been paid off the loan which the club had taken out could not be paid and as Mr Ritchie was the guarantor of this loan he suggested that the £20 be raised by debentures, 4 at £5 each and that as soon as funds came to hand the four members were to be paid back. Messrs Ritchie, Drury, Davies and Scarf each took out a £5 debenture to assist the club. 1935 A water urn was purchased for £3. 15s and I believe that this particular um is the one that was used right up until 1969 when it was given to the Raetihi swimming club after the tennis club got a zip installed in its new pavilion and as far as I know it is still going. The committee decided to give up paying the secretary and offer them a free subscription instead. 1936 Local builders, Sandford and Brown had done some work on the clubhouse and investigation was to be made into their account as "Drumsticks" appeared on the account and everyone wanted to know what the drumsticks were. 1937 The Modern Bag Company in Auckland donated a silver cup to the club in recognition of £10 worth of tennis balls being purchased from them. This cup is still held by the Raetihi Tennis Club and up to 15 years ago was still played for regularly by the Raetihi and Ohakune Clubs. Another trophy still held by the Raetihi Tennis Club is the Butler

Shield, a magnificent Shield which was contested for strongly between Raetihi, Ohakune and Ohakune Junction teams. Unfortunately the minute books for the period 1937 to 1958 are unable to be found. 1959 A local minister of Religion complained to the club that he was losing his flock to junior coaching on Sunday mornings. The club reverted to Saturday moming coaching. 1960 Horror of horrors! a tennis club member was reprimanded for playing tennis on the bowling greens. Monthly dances, raffles and housie were held in an endeavour to raise funds for new courts. Continued next week.