LAWS TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22919, 16 January 1940, Page 8

LAWS TENNIS

AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS TO VISIT CHRISTCHURCH “GREATEST ATTRACTION SINCE F, J. PERRY” The Australian tennis players, J. Bromwich, J. H. Crawford, and Misses N. Wynne, T. Coyne, and M. Hardcastle will visit Christchurch on either February 13 or 14, after the conclusion of the New Zealand Centennial Lawn Tennis Championships, and will play in exhibition matches at Wilding Paris on either or perhaps both of those days, according to a decision reached at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association last evening. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association had invited the Canterbury Association to arrange exhibition games, if it so desired, and the offer was welcomed, the chairman (Mr J. Mercer) expressing the opinion that the Australians would be the biggest attraction to the tennis public since the visit of F. J. Perry some years ago. Mr Mercer also commented on the changed dates for the New Zealand championships, which will now be held from February 5 to February 12. Considerable publicity had been given to complaints about the change, he “said, but although realising the difficulty of getting leave which was experienced by leading players, he considered that on the whole, the opportunity of seeing such famous players in action greatly outweighed the slight inconvenience caused to some players. Wilding Shield It was announced at the meeting that the following players had been selected to practise for Canterbury, in view of the coming Wilding Shield challenge by Wellington: A. D. Brown, C. Angas, H. A. Barnett, A. R. Cant, R. G. Pattinson, and C. F. Penfold. The committee received a letter from the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Umpires Association, complaining of the action of B. E. Souter, in refusing to umpire a match in the recent Canterbury championships, when there were no other umpires available. Members agreed that it was difficult to get any senior players to umpire, and it was decided to send a letter to the player concerned, asking him for an explanation. , , A profit of £sl had been made from the Canterbury championships, as against £B7 last year. Members expressed the opinion that this sum was quite satisfactory in view of the fact that the tournament had been spoilt by two days’ rain. The South Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association wrote suggesting that their annual fixture with Canterbury should be played at Easter, as this arrangement would allow the Timaru players ] to compete in the Canterbury Easter tennis championships. Mr Mercer said he thought the fixture could probably be arranged, and the matter was referred to the selection committee. It was decided to propose the names of Messrs J. Mercer and G. L. Berry as referees for the forthcoming Wilding Shield challenge match on Febuary 26 and 27.