LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 131, 27 February 1929, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

(By

"Forehand.")

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL MEETING

IMPORTANT MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED

On Friday the Council of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association will hold one of its most important meetings. Of course, all council meetings are important (or they should be so), but this one bids fair to be extra special. Matters of great moment will be brought forward for discussion, and, may we hope, for favourable decision. Those who flatter themselves that they are the salt of the earth in a tennis sense will, on Friday, have in their hands the putting forward of the clock appreciably, or the setting of it back. As tennis in this country has so long been in a groove so far as administration is concerned one is not so sanguine that any better' result will be achieved at this council meeting. Many of the members are business men, and some are even learned in the law. They are men who should consider favourably all proposals to instill new enthusiasm into tennis players throughout the Dominion, both mature players and junior players. Used to making bold decisions in their own line of business, they should be prepared to do the same for tennis. But that is what these gentlemen of the council do not do. They temporise with difficulties, shelve responsibilities, refer things back to their associations, refuse to move because they are bound by instructions given them before arguments are heard in favour of any important change, and like each other too well to become antagonistic on mere matters of tennis policy.. As I once before tried to explain, the method of their appointment precludes any possibility of big things being done by the council on which board there are such distinguished ornaments. Did they conduct their own businesses by committee they perhaps would have little more, if any, success than the results of their efforts on behalf of tennis display. The outstanding matters coming up for discussion. I dare not say decision, will be Mr. W. J. Melody’s scheme of encouraging junior tennis in New Zealand, and the alteration of the date for holding the New Zealand championship tournament. N.Z. Championships Date.

In so far as the alteration of the date for the New Zealand championships is concerned, the various associations have been circularised and asked to carefully consider the principal points. I think it is obvious to everyone that holding the national tournament (the principal event of the tennis season) as the first tournament of the season is quite absurd. Of course, say the Die Hards, it has always been so. What was good enough for us is good enough for present and future generations. The Christmas and New Year dates fit in admirably with the festive season, and competitors may get the maximum of pleasure at that time. To hold the New Zealand tournament first gives a good kick-off to the remainder of the season. Let things be, and, I suppose, the council will obligingly let things be. Delegates will attend the council meeting armed with Instructions from their associations as to the most suitable date for the tournament. Perhaps the associations, as in the case of the Wellington Association, will favour dates much later than the present one. But all the associations may not agree on the same date. Here is the Die Hards’ opportunity. The associations are considering only their own selfish ends. Their combined wisdom only results In confusion. Let us keep the present date. What the management committee of the New Zealand Association ought to have done was, with the available information at its disposal (or even after consultation with the various associations), have determined upon one special date, and then asked the council delegates to approve or reject. The management committee’s recommendations are all too hazy. Instead of conciliating divergent interests they merely serve to complicate matters. They are not a sure and certain guide, and they do very little managing. Junior Tennis.

At last management committee meeting a report on junior tennis was presented by a sub-committee consisting of Messrs. G. N. Goldie. G. Gore, and M. E. Denniston. The report was adopted by the Management Committee and affiliated associations were to be written to and asked for Information regarding junior organisation. and where there were none such to find out what steps were being taken to form junior organisations. In the opinion of the committee the prime responsibility for the active control of and assistance To junior tennis lay with tlie affiliated associations. It desired to make quite plain that it was not the function of the parent body to interfere in what were association activities. It was agreed that the. New Zealand Association should approach the Director of Education and the Secondary School Headmasters’ Association, and endeavour to persuade them to agree to tennis being recognised as a school game on the curriculum to a greater extent than at present. The Individual members of the committee, it was stated, had not only recently, but for some time past, given the question raised much thoughtful consideration. Since its appointment it had sought for and received advice and suggestions from outside sources which had been of help in drawing up the report, ns had also an article on junior lawn tennis published in the "Dominion” by Mr. W. J. Melody on Thursday, September’ 6. Lack of Interest.

The committee was ’of the opinion that admittedly in the past, in the large majority of districts, the fostering of junior tennis had been a complete failure owing to the lack of interest and enthusiasm amongst associations. Senior players had

apparently not had an interest, and so had not been able to impart the enthusiasm essential to Initiate and carry out any scheme. There were, as was known, one or two notable exceptions where, owing to the energy on the part of settsacrificing enthusiasts, junior tennis naa been, and was being, made a great success This was considered as indicative that properly handled junior tennis could be made an unqualified success, and so become a national tennis asset. . . The committee was of the opinion that every affiliated association having the interest of the game at heart, should have some form of school association, membership in which should be open to all children under 18 years of age. Affiliation to these associations should be either free or on a nominal basis, but no capitation fee to the N.Z.L.T.A. should be chargeable, nor should their membership count in the voting power of their parent association. Also the committee recommended that the New Zealand Association should refuse to sanction any programme for a tournament that did not Include at least two junior events. All championship tournaments should Include at least four junior events under IS, viz., boys, singles and girls’ singles, and boys doubles and girls’ doubles. Each affiliated association should hold an annual inn* lor championship in its own district. Where associations had districts extending over a large area, provision should be made for junior championship tournaments in the several localities, the winners to meet at some central town. Each association should endeavour to persuade its junior champions to be present at the national meeting, and, where expedient, the New Zealand Association should assist financially in this direction. When it was proved to the New Zealand Association that a junior association was satisfactorily established and fulfilling its object, on such junior association making application a grant towards trophies should be made, and it was recommended that application be made to the Herbert Smith Trust Fund for a pound for pound contribution to such trophies. Delegating Authority.

Now It will be noticed that the work of the N.Z.L.T.A. is reduced to a minimum, and the responsibility for the advancement of junior tennis in New Zealand Is expressly delegated to the various associations. Of course, it is understood that the major work must be the association’s, but they will not do It without the driving force of a live New Zealand Association. Too much, I think, is based on the efficacy of. tournaments. They are only a small part of each association’s season. There must be a continuity, especially in instruction. To give youths and children rackets and old balls and let them step out on to a court without restraint is merely to perpetuate, in the majority of cases, glaring faults. It is a pity that the New Zealand Association cannot do as they do in golf, engaging travelling coaches at a salary, and any fees they get to go to the New Zealand Association. Local associations should be prepared to contribute to such coach while he Is engaged within their territory. Also the New Zealand Association should have published clear, simple, and precise instructions, or errors to be avoided In the playing of strokes, the correct way to play them, and an emphasising of the rules most commonly violated. The mere making of a report foisting the work on local associations and leaving it at that is not enough. Lack of Interest.

If the’enthusiasm displayed by present members of the council in attending school tourneys is an Indication then it is almost negligible. Beyond one or two council members, attendance at these school tourneys has been nil. Their enthusiasm has not run past pious resolutions at the council table. For ought they cared there might just as well have been no tournament at all. Enthusiasm is infectious. but I have no knowledge of councillors infecting anybody with it yet. But. perhaps. It is not altogether their fault. They are busy men and they can 111-afford the time from business to go and see children hitting a ball over the net In mainly a very uninteresting fashion. Unsatisfactory Appointments.

If the N.Z.L.T.A. will see that the great scheme of Mr. W. J. Melody’s is put into intensive operation there may be some hope of the advancement of junior tennis in New Zealand. The N.Z.L.T.A. must be the driving force. As at present constituted. I do not think the parent association will fulfill that function. As I . previously stated, I would like to see the council composed of the chairmen of the various associations instead of the present unsatisfactory method of appointment. These chairmen would have the requirements of their own districts at their finger tips, and thev would be in a position to appreciate the' difficulties of the others. They would be able to proceed on the basis of firsthand knowledge, and be able to frame their decisions with a due regard to the consideration of all. Decisions, too. would be made on the merits of discussion, not the result, as at present, of hard and fast Instructions Issued beforehand.

Certain it is the importance of junior tennis cannot he overestimated. The future of tennis in this country will depend on the efficacy and carrying out of proposals to lead the young ones in the ways of controlled enthusiasm. Publicity.

There Is one other matter. It would' be an excellent thing if the meetings of the management committee of the N.Z.L.T.A. were thrown open to the Press. There Is too much secrecy about the doings at present. and ft Is hardly right for weeks or months to elapse before the public are initiated into what has been considered and done. Other sports bodies admit the Press to their management committee meetings. What advantage to the interests of the game is it that tennis should be the exception?