Holding A Pistol’ Allegation Denied

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30619, 9 December 1964, Page 23

Holding A Pistol’ Allegation Denied

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 8. The Auckland tennis players, Mrs E, Mitchell and Miss E. Terry, today denied an allegation that they were “holding a pistol at the head of national tennis administrators.”

Mrs Mitchell and Miss Terry received invitations from the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association on November 27 to compete in the Wellington championships on December 12-13 and 19-20. In view of the short notice and the fact that they did not want to spend the intervening period in Wellington, Mrs Mitchell and Miss Terry requested the association to consider reimbursing them for their air fares to Wellington and back. At a meeting of the N.Z.L.T.A. in Wellington last night, Mr S. Painter said the request by the Auckland players was “virtually holding the pistol at our heads.” Mrs Mitchell said today

that she was shocked by the reaction in Wellington. “It makes me sound as if I was bribing the association,” said Mrs Mitchell. “At no time did I bribe them or say I would compete only if they paid my air fare.” Miss Terry said that in view of the fact she had been asked to play in Wellington, and because of the short notice she had asked the association if it would reimburse her for the air flight. She said she would delay any decision to compete until she had received an official reply from Wellington.