Wartime Shortage of Players and Administrators: Government Helps Out

As the membership numbers in table tennis clubs dropped, the Government stepped in by setting up an office to encourage participation in sport and to assist with the setting up and management of clubs and organised events. It was named the Physical Welfare Branch and operated within the Department of Internal Affairs. Many sports, including table tennis, made use of the service which continued for several years after the war.

Interclub continued with reduced numbers in many centres but several associations, Canterbury among them, lapsed into recess for the remainder of the war. Conscription of young males into the military was introduced this year and this had a marked effect on participation.

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Chairman Pleasantly Surprised, and Optimistic

Reporting on the 1941 season at this year’s AGM, NZTTA Chairman Arthur Marshall expressed relief that the season had been no worse financially and in general terms than 1940. He had expected a considerable deterioration after two years of war. He looked forward to a rapid return to normality when the war finally concluded.

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Two On-Going Debates Continue

Yet again there was debate over a 1940 decision to allow no more than two district association officials to also serve on the national body. The Wellington association lobbied for the reversal of this policy but failed.

Some of the more active associations objected to having to pay affiliation fees according to the number of interclub teams with no upper limit. Their views prevailed and a maximum of three guineas was agreed to.

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Wartime Ball Situation Now Serious

It was learned this year that table tennis ball manufacture in Great Britain had ceased altogether. Previously supplies had been leaving England for New Zealand under import license but NZ importers had been finding licenses more and more difficult to obtain. Negotiations through a long chain of administrative bodies, beginning with NZTTA Secretary Norm Ballinger, through the NZ Ministry of Supply, the British Government, the British Board of Trade and finally, ball manufacturers in London – resulted in a reasonable supply of good quality balls again being obtained. But it took two years and they were received only after this country’s needs for the year from August 1944 had been assessed and set out in detail.

Many other countries, including the United States, were also experiencing a serious shortage of balls.

Through the lean period NZTTA controlled all distribution throughout the country and by careful management, and help from some private individuals who had wisely stockpiled supplies, continuity of play was not unduly affected at competitive level. But the shortage had a devastating effect on play in homes, workplaces and some smaller clubs.

It wasn’t until 1948 that supplies of all table tennis equipment returned to normal.

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American Marines Rest in NZ – and Play Table Tennis

The enormous influx of well-paid United States Marine Corps servicemen into New Zealand for rest and recreation, beginning this year and continuing throughout the remainder of the war, was a windfall for the Wellington and Hutt Valley associations. Wellington harbour was blanketed with troop transport ships bringing in Marines for a well-earned break from the horrifying engagements they were experiencing in the Pacific with their new enemy, Japan. For their stay in New Zealand they were mainly accommodated at a huge camp near Paekakariki but travelled regularly into Wellington and Hutt Valley for entertainment. The table tennis players among them formed teams and participated in the interclub competitions of both associations.

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