TENNIS TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 253, 26 October 1933, Page 18

TENNIS TOUR.

COST AND GATE CHARGES.

STATEMENTS CHALLENGED. When asked for his views concerning the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association's justification of arrangements and charges for matches in which the British and Autralian players are playing, Mr. Percy Harrison, president of the Auckland Association —• "In regard to the estimate of £1500 as the cost of the tour, this is the first time that any figure has been brought to the notice of my association. This large commitment is given as the cause of the high prices suggested,- and yet the parent body in Wellington appears to have entirely neglected financial considerations in giving Hamilton a Saturday match and Auckland a Wednesday match, when the two days could easily have been interchanged. "The statement that the Australian Association has written expressing surprise at the smallness pf its share of the Crawford-McGrath game's in Auckland recently is hard to understand. The gate in question was the largest of any similar exhibition match by players _ passing through this city, and Australia's share was wholly governed by' the fact that on this occasion the Australian Association agreed to take a smaller share of the gate than previously, after negotiations with the N.Z.L.T.A. "The statement that the proposed charges are lower than would operate anywhere else iu the world must be seriously challenged. On the occasion of the American visit to Australia last year, the prices for the early matches were 2/ to the ground, with reserves from 5/ upward, While at the Test match in Sydney last January the prices were 2/ to the ground, with reserves from 4/ upward—prices plus tax. — .Moreover, these matches were serious encounters between world players of equal standing, with titles depending on the result, and this must produce tennia of a different standard to that seen in matches in New Zealand. Besides, admission to the outer cipurte at Wimbledon can be obtained at .prices lees than those fixed for the present tour. "The Auckland Association's chief complaint is that they have not been consulted as to the best_ way to obtain the largest gate, and this they feel would definitely be obtained by fixing lower prices, as the very much greater crowd would more than compensate for the difference in admission charges."