LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17058, 1 February 1921, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

— : THE RULES OF THE GAME. SHELVING OF DRASTIC PROPOSALS. (FROM, OCR pWN CORRESPONDS!?!,) . „• LOHpOfT, December 16. ! For days .there was keen' excitement 'in lawn tennis circles, for it was. freely rumoured that new, rule®.and regulations whrcli would upheave the game from, top to bottom would be proposed at the annual general meeting of the Lawn Tennis Association, which was held oh Monday, at tho Cannon street Hotel, under tho presidency' o! T,ord Deaborough. Tho proceedings lasted for over five hours. 'He two resolutions of importance were: The proposal to alter the foot-fault law and the proposal to hand over the right to alter, the laws of the 1 game to the International Federation. Both met with an unfavourable reception, and, although they were not Bpecificially rejected, they were, after lengthy discussion, shelved at any rate pro tem. In each case amendments were carried to tho original resolutions by which they were "referred back,!' the effect of which will be that nothing more will be heard of them until the: next annual general meeting of the Lawn Tennisi Association comes round. The proposed new law to alter that relating to foot-faults provided that .if the .server elected to take a step forward in the act of serving he m-aiy do so, but that, if, he did ho must replace the foot with which he took, that step on tho ground behind the, imse.-line before either foijt is piqued, within the court; in other' words, he' must complete the first step of his rail outside tho limits of the court instead of being able to it inffido the court, provided he did not swing the advancing foot over the base-lino before hitting the ball. It is the "swing over" which is the commonest kind of foot-fault, and also the hardest to detect except in the most glaring instances. Hence the main objection to the existing law, that it is difficult to administer. Its introducer, Mr •H.' H. ' Monekton, thought it would prove more easy to administer than the existing law, but (according to one who was present) the meeting did. not ■ seem at • all Eiuie that this desirable object would be attained. Tha principal objection l to the new. law was that it differ® materially from that now in force in 'America. 'lt was in vain .for Mr Monekton to prophesy that if the American® saw that the new taw was working well and was being used by everybody but themselves they would be nearly sure to adopt it. The meeting had its doubts, and when Commandex G.° W. Hillyard said, that he regarded any 6ort of estrangement from America as a thing to be most carefully avoided, he was loudly cheered. It was fairly obvious that tho opposition was strong, and eventuallp tlie new law's, utter extinction was saved, by an amendment to the effect that the foitfauK law be left unaltered • for the . present, and that the other nations of the world be consulted as to whether it can be improved before the next annual general meeting, when the matter is to be brought forward again. After discussion it was decided that the service law should not be altered until «very lawn-tennis country had been consulted and had given its consent to a» common law. With the proposal that the right to alter the laws should be handed over to the International Federation the delegates; were even less in sympathy, and once more it was tho realisation of the danger of running counter to the Americans, who are not members of the Federation,' wliicli was the chief .sctor in turning the 6cale against it. Mr Wallia Mysers emphasised this in a telling speech, and an amendment proposed by bim that the matter bo referred back to the Council was eagerly accepted by a large vote. It was'decided that the should confer with the America Asrociution and endeavour to remove any outstanding difference, with a view to a complete and harmonious agreement. Another resolution was an attempt to accomplish the elusive feat of defining an amateur. This was also washed out. On tho same lines was a resolution that no player should allow his name to appear on any racquet. This met with a certain amount of success and was p-iased, subject to it being proved that ths player has received money for use of his name or the equivalent of money.

A resolution, ■which was carried, was one which enacts that if a player wishes to preserve liis status aa an amateur he must not, after the expiration of the present year, permit the use of hi 3 name or initials to advertise or promote the sale of lawn tennis poods in consideration of money or a monetary equivalent; but another which sought to debar persons having an interest (e.g., as manufacturers or manufacturera' agents) ,in the Eale of lawn tennis implements from competing in open tournaments was defeated. In a proposal, which savoured more of a. recommendation than a resolution, the Council were instructed to take steps to ascertain whether it would be feasible to institute an official handicap tor pJuyers competing in tournaments. \ As regards the Association itself, the report and statement of accounts 6howed that the financial position is now an extremely favourable one, the excess of income for "the year over, expenditure being just over £ISOO. This doe 3 not include profits arising from tne Davis Cup competition, which are shown iir a separate and equally Ea.tisi?otoiy account.'