LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 36, 10 February 1917, Page 17

LAWN TENNIS.

War to the knife has broken out between the national tennis authorities and the officials holding eway over the game on the Pacific Coaet, says an American writer. There is now every reaeon to believe that tennis ia to be disturbed by a revolution, with probably the severance of the West from the control of the Eastern leaders. In a spirited rejoinder to the proposal of the national body, Bent all over the country, regarding the employment of prominent players in sporting goods houses, Dr. Sumner Hardy and hie Brother officials of the Pacific Statee Lawn Tennis Association, take the position that the vocation of a player ia no subject for legislative action by tennis authorities, and that a player hae the "inherent right to make his living as he can, provided he does not receive direct financial profit from tennis. The letter is a declaration of war against the proposition fathered by the executive committee of the national tennis body Ifchat the westerners, like Maurice E. McLoughlin, should be barred from amateur competition. The San Francisco officials: go further. They declared that a tennis club has the right to make money out of sport, provided the making of money will enable it to accomplish ite ends as a tennis club. The letter sent to every club player in America indicates that a battle to a finish will be fought at the annual meeting. The tenor of the Californian communication suggests that if the Westerners are beaten in the battle against the East there is likely to be a split in the ranks of the national organisation, with the Pacific Coast men ac the eeceders. Ten days ago at the meeting of the executive committee of the national Ibody delegates were significantly absent from the West and South. The Californian officials even submit a, new definition of amateurism. Theire is: "An amateur tennis player is one who does not receive any direct financial benefit from hie association with the game." The new national definition ia: "An amateur tennis player ia one who plays tennii solely for the pleasure and 'physical benefit* ha daxlvM tharairmn." I