SHANNON TENNIS CLUB.

Shannon News, 3 October 1924, Page 3

SHANNON TENNIS CLUB.

THE ANNUAL MEEJTIN.G. The annual .meeting of the Shannon Tennis Club was (held in the Council Chambers on Vijednestlay evening, Mr J, X. Bovis, the president, presiding over a fair attendance •of members. T(he balance s'heet which wife read was received and adopted. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. In presenting the annual report oi the- 3hannQn Tennis Club (incorporated) the president (Mr J. T. Bovis) said he wished to congratulate toe members on sustaining the progress 01 the club. The membership to date shows (B 5 financial members and with prospects of an even larger membership this coming season, he felt sure I he could predict a very successful year to. follow. During the year only a few Interclub matches were played owing to the fact that we had not the social conveniences necessary tor entertaining visitors and we were rather late in the season in opening our courts. Mrs Lauryig's trophy for the first season's players created much keen competition and resulted in Mrs Hosking winning the ladies' singles*, and Master W. Roach the men's singles. It is to be hoped -that something of the same nature will, "be carried out again this _year .as it is mainly.by the en. co/u'ragem'ent qf the young players that we can expect to keep up our strength in the future. We were not able to get a team to Bulls tio play for the Newman, Cup, bu't as Bulls owes us a visit this \

meeting can consider inviting them - over, perhaps on Labour Day and asking that they Taring the cup for play.

A .splendid innovation far improving the play and interesting the young players was the scheme adopted last year of picking sides so that every playing member in the club got a game. Three qf, these tourneys were (held and created much enthusiasm.

A matter w.hich has 'been gaining my attention of late is the question of a "Yankee competition" between Shannon, Levin, Ohau, Manakau, tytoutoa, Foxton and Tokomaru clubs. I see nq 'reason why 'representatives from these clubs could not meet and discuss the matter. It would create good feeling between the clubs, anu should improve the play of all and travelling would not be such an expensive and arduous undertaking. During the year the club became incorporated and a mortgage of £l5O at .10 per cent, was raised for two years to enable us to pay off the amiqunt due QH the grounds to the Shannon Borough Council, and pay off Jhe .debt jlue to the contractor for laying down the courts. The rate of inthough rather (heavy, is. the best &nat w as offering to the club at t)he time.

The club has now no outstanding accounts -and has a credit balance ol £25, We haye paid out £7 10s, our

snare qf the golu nugget for the art union and I think we can reasonably estimate a, further £25 from the' gold nugget art union; so you can see we, as a club, are in a very secure position financially. » During the winter the club combined with the Bowling and Groquet Clubs in a carnival, the nett result being £lsl 7s 6d, of which £75 12s 9d was <qur share. The artuinion I mentioned previously is also part of that combined* effort and the results will be shared between the two clubs. Now that the fine, weather "is approaching once more there is no .reason why the season should not be opened at once, and i would suggest next Wednesday •<k a suitalble day. With the money we will have inf hand to) start our season we should be a'ble to erect a much needed pavilion. Mr "Burns and myself paid a visit tq the courts a short tame agq and we were' aslqunded Jq find that the courts had been veiry severely knocked about during the winter. We communicated with the contractor who came dqwn and did a little bit ol

patching up in the worst places, but it. wLJJ, cost at least £4O to put the courts into proper order again. 1 would like to impress upqn the mem-

bers thai the courts are their own property, and ask that players always wear tennis shoe's, and do what .they can to protect their property. We are having a sign prohibiting nonmembers from playing, painted, and I recommend that the incoming committee see that the rule is abided by. The time has arrived when the office of president should be a yearly office. Tha> is. one vice-president only is appointed tor the season and next season he steps into the office of president. By this means each member has a chance of attaining the highest position in the club, and I believe that this scheme would be the meyns

of making all the members realise .their responsibilities. M present Mere seems to 3be a'bout three or four men and the same number of ladies who really realise that the club must have finance to continue, and all the other members think tihey have nothing to do but play and grumble when things are riot just to hand to play with. I .. want tQ-<rrigh.t to' appeal to all the * playing mem'bers to rally round anil assist in -every way possible to make the coming season prosperous, and not only in finance, but in sociability and in improved tennis as well. The best thanks of the club are due s. to Mrs P.ope for so generously supplying boiling water all through the to Mr s Lauirvig for taking Xdharge of the tea, sugar, milk, oups, etc., and conveying them to the grounds each afternoon tea day; to Mrs Smith for supplying milk; and to * Mrs Bardie for storing the remalnder of the crockery, and Mr Moody, the club's solicitor. In conclusion I wish to thank my committee for the harmoniqufc way they have, worked witlh. me during the '> past year: and last but by no means 1 least must we tender our hearty i -thanks to our secretary, Mr Burns. ' This season has been a much more trying one financially, than mOst oi you can realise and all through the winter when he should have been resting from tennis, Mr Burns has been - working harder than most of us arranging the financial details and 1 can assure you, it has been no. joke. With creditors threatening to prose-

cute on one side and red tape preventing you from putting your hands on money which has toe en lent tq you on the other, que does not occupy an enviable position. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were>- elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr J. Curran; president, Mr J. T. Bovis; vice-president, Mr E. T- Moody; secretary and treasurer. Mr J. V. Burns; committee: (Management) Mesdanies Wlubley and Cronquest, Miss Gibson and Messrs G. Mitchell, W. Quarrie and Thwaites; cluib captain, Mtr W. Quarrie; ground committee, Mrs Whibley, Mr Moody and Mr Quarrie; auditor, Mr Jas. Murray. The following new. members were elected:—Mesdames Cronquest, Brann, Farnell and Misses Gibson and RSmall, and Messrs W. Roberts, Gillespie and Farnell. NEW. PAVILION.

The President said that a pavilion was necessary and he moved thq,t a committee be set up to arrangements for the erection of a building, with power to act. The following committee were appointed: Mrs Conquest and Messrs Mitchell and Quarrie and the secretary and president. It was decided that the opening day be Wednesday next, October Bth, and that members of neighbouring clubs be invited to. attend. In respect to the Yankee tournament the president said his idea was that at the opening of the season each outside club "be invited to send along a representative to discuss the suggestion. Such a. tournament, he said, would create good feeling between the clubs and should/improve the play of all.—lt was decided to approach the surrounding clubfe. It was resolved to forward a challenge to the Bulls Club for the Newman Gup, sudh match to be^played at Shannon on Labour Day. t»e local ehJb win they .wiU f -undertake to take the cup to Bulls to play a return match. , ' ■ j A vote of thanks, to the chair terminated the meeting.