LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1920, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. 1 ANNUAL MEETING, The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Tennis and Croquet Club was held on Saturday evening whqp there was as fcttauhn# of about thirty members. Dr. LeathMn gm sided. A, CLUB PROSPECTS. The annual report expressed the thanks at the committee to ttose ladles who proridrt afternoon tea during the season. Mlja D. Simpson acted as honorary secretary to tk* Ladles' Tennis Committee, and Mi*. Hafelw to the Croquet Committee. The club's overdraft stood at £441 19* 34, as against. £79 3s lid last year. The Increase was largely accounted for by lmprov*. ments to the club grounds carried out during the winter months, tte laying down of tw» new lawns, the renewal of the pavilion and the erection of a dividing fence being the mala Items. The membership was: Tennis, men, 80; ladles 43; croquet, 23; honorary SO. In addressing meavbers, the president ri< ferred to the large amount of work done on the, club's property and said that wife the Increase In the number of courts to air th» committee hopod to have a championship meeting held at New Plymouth, as had been done some years ago. The courts were a fine asset to the club and to the town, and ttei* Were splendid prospects ahead, providing they could finance their undertakings satisfactorily. As showing the heavy expenditure which had been Incurred, ha pointed out that to addition to the overdraft of £441, there were outstanding accounts totalling £196; this Included the cost of tte removal of the pavQloa. Itt consequence of the need for Improving thff finances, It was proposed to Increase the-SUIK scrlption. The price of labor had increased very considerably, and this year's rates also showed an advance, being £l4 over the previous period. In order to help to meet these rising expenses an effort should be made in the direction of inducing new members to Join, and there should be a good many Itsllable from the newcomers to the town. List year's actual working stowed a loas of £6O. Au amount of £2BB 13s had been paid oat hi improvements, and, as stated, there was * balance still to he met. The report and balance-sheet wur» subsequently adopted without discussion. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. The. election of officers resulted: President, Dr. Leathom (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. J. C. Nicholson (ro-olected); secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. B. Webster; auditor, Mr. H. \V. lilrkby (re-elected) committee: Messrs. H. Rockell, A. R. Ryder, N. Bilharry, E. B. Da vies, and Dr. Home; ladles' crnnmlttse, Mesdsmes Rortel, Morrison, Nicholson, and Penn; Misses Brewster, Thompson, Rollo, Kerr, and Simpson (secretary).

INCREASE OP SUBSCRIPTIONS. In accordance with notice of motion, a resolution was carried Increasing the fees .11 fololws: Entrance fee, for men, Ids; Itd'ca, ss; annual subscription, men £4; ladle) fiJ, reducible by 10a in each euse if paid on or before December 31, or within one month after ejection; non-plAying ill ember*, no en* trance fee, annual subscription £1 (reduclh't by ss) ; ploying members elected after Feb. X In each year to pay entrance fee and fralf subscription. in speaking to the above resolution, Mr. Nicholson said that from a business point of view it vras absolutely necessary thai an increase be made. He contended that the committee would have been Justified In taking the step previously as during the last Ave years the cost» of maintenance had (out up considerably. He said that when varlcus matters wore taken Into consideration It would be seen that members would be getting gpod value for their money, even under the new rates. He pointed out tint the old rule dated bad: to 1907, there being no alteration In the subscription, with one alight ■ exception since that year.

general. In reply to a member, the «ecwt»»y said that providing the weather conditloni were favorable the opening day would probafr.y be Saturday next. It was elicited during discussion that IM Club had already applied to the Ne>» iealand lawn Tennis Association to allot the annual chantionshlp fixture for tie New Plymouth courts. A vote of thanks was accorded the ladle* for the eftlcleut manner In which they had carried out their duties. The outgoing committee, president, secretary. and Press were also accorded a rota of thanks. The inching committee was recommended to institute a "Udder."