Committee has last word

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 34

Committee has last word

The Sumner tennis club plans to appeal against the sponsion of one week imposed on its leading player, Graeme Liddell, for swearing in a senior competition match at Wilding Park. The suspension was an» nffunced after a meeting of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s disciplinary committee at the park on Saturday. Liddell was permitted to play in the afternoon’s matches, and the suspension will apply to the next competition day, which is November 18. Liddell was “booked” for a remark passed in the third set of his match against Ralph Webster (United) on the first dav of the competition on October 28. The word used by Liddell has been uttered many times by players in moments of exasperation

at the park. However, the Sumner player’s remark was heard by a C.L.T.A. administrator, and a complaint was lodged. Ryan McCutcheon. Sumner’s senior captain, said he was “surprised and disappointed” at the committee’s decision. He represented Sumner at the hearing, and said the committee appeared to have had its mind made up be* forehand. McCutcheon said the club’s appeal to the management committee of the association would draw attention to three points, in particular. These were that there had been no reaction from the opposing club or the umpire, who was from the United team; that the remark was barely audible; and that, to be consistent, the association should have officials watching each of the 24 grass courts on which competition matches in

several grades were played each Saturday. The system, he said, was that the duty officer each week was responsible for the compilation Of results and other administrative duties as well as keeping an eye on players’ behaviour. He claimed it was unfair that a player could be reported for misbehaviour simply because the duty officer happened to be watching at the time.

The chairman of the C.L.T.A. management, committee (Mr Colin Hunt) said that complaints about misbehaviour had to be lodged in writing before thev would be considered. The disciplinary committee. formed four years ago, Had the power to implement its decisions. Referring to the word used by Liddell. Mr Hunt said it would be unrealistic to define swearing in grades ranging from com*

paratively inoffensive to downright revolting. “It is either bad language or it is not.” he said. However, McCutcheon drew attention to changes in attitude to idiomatic utterances. “I wonder if ‘hell’ is still classified as bad language,” he said. Mr Hunt said that the disciplinary committee was of a mind to dispense with fining as a penalty for swearing. But McCutcheon thought this method would be fairer. “If one member of a four-person team misbehaves, why should the whole side have to suffer?” he said. Sumner’s appeal against the suspension will be heard by the management committee next Monday evening.

Liddell was playing his first competition match in Christchurch at the time of the incident.