PAYMENT OF SALARY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29662, 4 November 1961, Page 14

PAYMENT OF SALARY

Evidence By Hopman

(NJS. Press Assn.—Copyright) SYDNEY, November 2.

Harry Hopman. Australia’s Davis Cup captain-manager, said today that a company had paid him a salary at the rate of £3OOO a year while he was on a tennis tour abroad.

He told the Supreme Court that the tour was in 1956-57 with the Australian tennis stars. Rod Laver and Bob Mark. The salary was paid by Fortune Pty, Ltd. Hopman is seeking libel damages from Mirror Newspapers, Ltd, in Sydney. He has alleged that the newspaper published a rumour that he had received £3OOO for coaching players in South Africa, in 1958, knowing it to be untrue. Hopman claims this reflected on his amateur status. The publishers are contesting Hopman’s action. The hearing is in its seventh day. Hopman said he had had correspondence with Fortune Pty, Ltd, regarding the tour with Laver and Mark. The tour of America, Britain and Europe was to have been in 'association with Arthur Drysdale, of Tasmanian Lotteries.

In a letter he had written to Fortune Pty, Ltd, he assessed Laver’s aod Mark’s expenses at £1656 each, and his own at £3620. They were for living, travelling and incidental items from May, 1956, to September. Hooman agreed with counsel for Mirror Newspapers, Ltd, that the expenses were to be in addition to a salary, at the rate of £BOOO a year, to be paid monthly into his bank account He agreed he had claimed in his evidence, and in his pleas, that be was an amateur tennis player. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.