Squash grant shocks

By Janice Marriott

"The Squash Club grant of £273 passed by Executive on the Chairman's casting vote is iniquitous" House Committee Chairman Paul Peretz told Salient.

A grant of £2 per head is extravagant. Added to this actual Squash Club figures show last year's attendances at meetings varied from one-third to nine-tenths of full membership. The grant would be subsidising active members approximately £3 per head, which is exorbitant, he said.

Vice-President Hugh Rennie, who also opposed the grant, explained why the other sports clubs have equal amounts granted to them. He told Salient sports club grants could exceed £1 per member only if (a) the grant-ing of a larger sum was for the purchase of capital equipment which would be available in future years, or (b) the sport was a team sport which required high ground fees and or affiliation fees. In this case the Student Association must meet these costs in order that students can play such sports as soccer and hockey.

"However, for the Squash Club, the grant is almost entirely for court hire for this year. Those who use the Squash Club are getting really cheap squash because the Student Association is paying their fees for them. The fact that the money was going to a profit-making concern, John Reid's Squash Centre, was also a reason against the grant," he said.

The grant has been a bone of contention between Executive and Sports Committee for two years.

At the end of 1964, after money had been granted to: the Squash Club, it was found the cost of court hire had been £50 below the figure claimed by the club from Executive. Executive also learned that at least six of the nights for which the club had claimed would be in 1965.

Last year's Executive refused to pay the grant of £188 and the money was only passed by being split in half in two Executive meetings, described as a "devious dodge" by Mr. Rennie.

The opposition by some on Executive to paying large sums for the day to day expenses of an individual sport such as squash has carried on over some years. It largely occurs, according to Mr. Rennie, because this university's Sports Committee has never had any incentive to accumulate money for capital development. "Our income has been dissipated in the running costs of the sports." he said.

Geoff Rashbrooke, who supported the grant, told Salient "it was stupid to haul the matter up. Sports Committee treated the Squash Club as it would have treated any other club's grant."

"The money for club grants comes from the Student Association fee of £6 10 - paid by each student. Of this, £2/10/-is used for general expenditure, which includes office costs, NZUSA levies, tournament subsidies and club grants. About 15- of this is normally spent on club grants. Almost all of this goes to the sports clubs. Last year sports clubs received £2200 and cultural clubs £500. The reasons for this difference are the Cultural clubs use the Student Union Building and don't have to pay for facilities.

"The result is that where a sports club gets more than 15/- a member, other students are making up the difference. The Squash Club grant means a subsidy of approximately £1/5/- per head from other student fees." he said.

John Anderson. President of the Squash Club, told Salient: "Those who oppose the grant are not being far-sighted. By the end of this year the membership will be about 230 and thus the subsidy will be only £1 per head. The squash membership is now 140; over 450 students play squash at John Reid's," he said.

Until the university has the facilities it must pay costs for sports. He pointed out an aim of the club is to establish squash courts, the estimated cost for three courts and club-room being £15.000. "If the courts are built near the Gymnasium the costs will decrease because there will be no need for shower facilities. When the club is established it will run at a profit. The income from four courts used five hours a day for a year would be £800. With the addition of the subscription of members, £500, the total in-|come will be £1300, and the net profit £1000.

"If squash courts were built they would foster student sport, be a profit-making asset of the Student Association, and give any student the opportunity to play for the university.

"The cost for students to play squash at John Reid's is astronomical so it would be more profitable both for the student and for the university to build their own courts.

"Membership has to be established for squash courts to be built." he said. "This is necessary to show the interest that the students have in the sport and will make sure that the courts will be used.

"The grant does not go to the social fund." Mr. Anderson said. "The club raises its own money for its social functions. Its tours and tournament costs."

Mr. Anderson pointed out the successful history of the club. Pounded in 1962. it was beaten until 1964 but has won its tournament matches ever since. In 1968 the women were runners-up. Two men from the Victoria Club were in the NZU team.