N.Z.L.T.A.'s ULTIMATUM TO C.L.T.A. Dispute over Australian tennis stars for Chch

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32777, 30 November 1971, Page 30

N.Z.L.T.A.'s ULTIMATUM TO C.L.T.A. Dispute over Australian tennis stars for Chch

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

The Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, which is staging a special women’s tournament in Christchurch beginning tomorrow, has 24 hours to obtain a clearance from Australia for the release of three players.

Unless the Australian trio, Mrs J. Dalton, Miss K. Melville, and Miss L. Hunt, obtain permission to play from the Lawn Tennis Association of Australia, their entries for the Christchurch tournament will not be accepted.

This was decided at an executive meeting of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association last night.

One of the players, Mrs Dalton, is already in New Zealand, and the other two are expected today. The meeting last night considered all the correspondence it had received from noth the L.T.A.A. and the International Lawn Tennis Federation on the matter, and this was conveyed to Canterbury along with the instruction that it ensured the three players seek the necessary permission to play. Canterbury had earlier applied on behalf of the three players, but the application has to be made personally.

The L.T.A.A. said that none of the three had applied for permission to compete in Christchurch, and unless they did, they would be de-

dared “not in good standing” with the Australian national body. A telegram received from the I.L.T.F. indicated that if the players were declared "not in good Ne’

standing” by Australia, New Zealand was not to accept their entries. One of the N.Z.L.TA. delegates, Mr M. C. Healey, spoke out very strongly against falling in line with the Australian request “I don’t think Australia has played its part at all in this matter, and I frankly go along with defying their rule,” he said. The three Australians had all signed a contract which bound them to remain in Australia from December 1 to February 6.

Another executive member Mr P. Webb, suggested that if New Zealand defied a likely ban on the three players, it could face possible expulsion from the I.L.T.F. "I don’t see how we can defy the I.L.T.F. .no matter

how irritating it may be,” he said.

Mr Healey said he did not believe Australia would place a ban on the players, and moved a motion that no further action be taken. However, that was defeated, and another motion requiring Canterbury to urge the three players concerned to obtain the necessary permission from Australia was passed. The meeting also passed a motion advising Auckland that if the players retain the same status and are declared "not in good standing” by the Australian association, then similarly they cannot play in the Benson and Hedges Open in Auckland beginning next Monday. They can, however, play if they turn contract professional. Cup zone A decision on which Davis Cup zone New Zealand should enter next year was deferred till a later meeting.

But as the date for entry into the Eastern Zone closes today, it now remains for the executive to decide on either staying in the American Zone, or alternatively, playing in the European Zone.

At a request from the Australian association, the deputy-chairman (Mr I. D. Wells), will represent the N.Z.L.T.A. at the Australian annual meeting at Kooyong on January 4.

“We have an obligation to the public to carry on and carry on we will,” said the chairman of the management committee of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association (Mr R. B. Brown) last evening when the Wellington report was referred to him.

“The players have obviously decided not to obtain permission from the L.T.A.A., and who are we to dictate when it is their livelihood that is at stake?” Mr Brown said.

“The C.L.T.A. wrote to the L.T.A.A. and only yesterday received a reply which indicated that they would not allow our association to obtain permission for the players. There seems little else the C.L.T.A. can do, and the tournament will go ahead as scheduled.” “So far as the C.L.T.A. is concerned, we would want to know when the 24 hours starts and when the New Zealand association is likely to get in contact with us.” Not heard Mr Brown said that he had not heard from the N.Z.L.T.A. last night. "It seems farcical that the New Zealand association arranged for one of these players to play an exhibition match in Wellington and she would not have been in this part of the world had it not been for Canterbury and Auckland. After having used her in this exhibition, it makes the decision that we should not,” he said. Mr Brown said that Misses Melville and Hunt were definitely arriving in Christchurch today and Mrs Dalton would arrive from Auckland with Miss Durr tomorrow.