Appeal

What is wrong with VUC basketball? At Tournament 1946 we not only lost every game, but our team was reported to be "not up to standard." Our Senior A team has received the same criticism in Wellington papers and our other two teams are open to similar indictment. We do not condemn individual members of the club; all we ask is: "What is being done about this ebb-tide?"

The club meets for practice in the Gym. on Mondays, 6.30-7.30 p.m. The floor-space is inadequate, the single goal-post sways frequently; the attendance is so poor that we rarely get two teams, enough for a satisfactory practice. Naturally we are handicapped because lectures must be attended between 6.30-7.30, but if club membership were increased this difficulty could be overcome.

On Saturdays we have been able to field our teams, but what good are players who rarely practice as a team and who include one or two emergencies in every game? We are aware that there are members of the club who are enthusiastic; we recognise that in the club there is talent; we know that some teams have come very near to success. But where is club spirit, consistent performance, and even the smallest achievement? Not only is successive failure likely to lead to an exodus of keen players to other clubs, but it is unfair to our coach, who has been most helpful and considerate in the face of all disinterest.

We would like to see some active measures taken now, this year, to ensure that next year's club will show improvement. We would like to see club members show their interest by maintaining enthusiasm until the end of the season. We would certainly like to see some attempt made to find new material for an improved Tournament team in 1947. We could easily carry twice our meagre membership of 27 next year, but that depends on the propagandist activities of club members and on some action from the club committee.