Top Tennis Players To Get Expenses

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31170, 21 September 1966, Page 19

Top Tennis Players To Get Expenses

“The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON.

In a revolutionary step, the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association will pay expenses for the first time to ranked, seeded and selected players competing on the 1966-67 major New Zealand circuit.

“The cost of providing expenses for New Zealand players to play the circuit will amount to about £450,” said Mr S. Painter, acting chairman of the association.

"When the cost of bringing two overseas men and two overseas women to New Zealand for the nationals is added to this, the cost rises to about £1000."

I The first tournament Is the . Wellington championships, ifrom December 26-31, followed by the North Island at Lower Hutt from January 2-7 or the South Island at Nelson from January 1-5, and the New Zealand championships in Wellington from January 9 to 15.

“We are offering financial assistance to New Zealand senior players to encourage them to play on the major circuit,” said Mr Painter.

“Previously, we had made but a token gesture to some ranked players to attend the New Zealand championships. “The expenses will, we hope, act as an incentive to senior players to continue to play the major circuit each year."

The expenses will be paid j to:

Ranked or seeded players tn the national singles living outside Wellington, £2O each. Ranked or seeded players living in Wellington, £5 each for those who play in the North Island titles, £8 each for those who play in the South Island titles as part of the circuit.

For a further selected group of players from outside Wellington, £lO each.

In addition, lunches will be provided for players during the full circuit and billeting, if required, will be arranged in all centres for players coming from outside. Mr Painter added that the list of selected players would be compiled by the national selectors. It will be announced next week. The move by the New Zealand association, yet another in its efforts to develop the tennis set-up in this country, jshould result in a greater depth of entry of players in the major tournaments.