TENNIS AND CROQUET.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 October 1921, Page 3

TENNIS AND CROQUET.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH CLUB. PAST SEASON REVIEWED. The annual meeting of the New Plymouth Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club was held last night, when there was an attendance of above sixty. Dr. H. B. Leatham presided. The report on the past season stated: The thanks of the committee are again due to the ladies who kindly provided afternoon tea during the year. The club’s overdraft this year appears as £620 Is, as against £441 19s 3d. Improvements (£173 ss), together with the loss sustained by the tournament (£25 8s 2d) more than make up for the increased amount of the overdraft, so that we may claim a successful season, as far as the working of the club is concerned. The question of adopting some scheme to provide for the reduction of our overdraft has been discussed by the committee, and they feel that with the active support of the members a substantial reduction in this liability can be made each year. Competitions resulted as follows :— Croquet: Championship singles, Mrs. Harrison; runnerup, Miss Norman; handicap doubles, Mesdames Harrison and Rockel; handicap singles, Mrs. Harrison. Tennis: Ladies' championship, singles. Miss Rundle; handicap doubles, Misses Winfield and Rockel; combined handicap doubles, Miss Brewster and J. C.- Nicholson; men’s championship .singles, C. B. Webster; men’s handicap singles, E. Griffiths; men’s handicap doubles, Messrs. Griffiths and Davies. The membership for -the past season was: Tennis, men 56, ladies 44; croquet, 26; honorary, 40. The courts are in excellent order for the coming season, having been heavily top-dressed, and returfed where necessary. The two new courts will be available for play this season.

In reviewing the position of the club, the secretary (Mr. C. B. Webster) stated that although the overdraft had increased at the bank to the extent of £l7B above what it was in the previous year, this amount was more than covered by improvements. Included in expenses incurred were such items as the removal of the pavilion (£158) and the renewal of nets (£2l 15s). The tournament involved a loss of £25. On actual working, however, the club would show a profit of from £2O to £3O. The chairman moved the adoption of the report, the motion being seconded by Ml’. E. Griffiths and carried without discussion. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year: President, Dr. Home; vicepresident, Mr. J. C. Nicholson; secretary and treasurer, Mr. C. B. Webster; auditor, Mr. H. Kirkby; committee, Messrs. A. R. Ryder, K. Archer, N. Balharry, L. Etherington, C. H. Wynyard and A. H. Grant. A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. A motion was proposed by Miss Thomson recommending that the meeting consider according office girls' .the same privileges as those received by men on Saturdays before general rPlay, or that they be given the use of two courts before general play commencetF on Saturday. The motion provoked some discussion. One male member wanted to know "exactly what an office girl is, and how many there are.” As the rules of. the club stipulate that the matter of hours of play shall be decided by the committee, it was pointed out that the meeting had no jurisdiction on the matter, and the mover was advised to alter the motion In the form of a recommendation to the committee. This was agreed to, but Miss Thomson pointed out that though the matter was brought forward previously, very little consideration had been received from the committee. The motion was then carried in its amended GENERAL. The chairman reported that the ladder matches, which were reintroduced towards the end of last season, had been vary successfully conducted by Messrs. Grant and Etherington, and the competition would be continued in the coming season. The secretary reported that already ten new members had £een proposed for election, and the prospects were that quite a number would be added to the membership. A vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies’ committee for their work in connection with catering arrangements. It was decided that Thursday be set apart as ladies’ day. For the consideration of the committee Mrs. Ryder proposed that a match committee, consisting of three ladies and three men, be set vp, of which one lady and one man should represent the players outside the A teamalso that this committee be empowered to distribute balls for matches. A resolution was passed placing on record the members’ high appreciation of the services rendered to the club by Dr. Leatham, who has retired from the position after holding office for a number of years.