NEW ZEALAND TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 133, 1 March 1929, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND TENNIS

CHAMPIONSHIP DATES ALTERED NOT EARLIER THAN MIDJANUARY

A SALUTARY REFORM An important decision was come to at last night’s quarterly meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association when it was agreed to alter the New Zealand championship tournament dates from their present Christmas ones to not earlier than mid-Janu-ary in each year, the dates to be fixed by the Management Committee. Mr. W. J. Melody (Wanganui) moved that “henceforth the New Zealand championship meeting be held' not earlier than mid-January in each year, on dates to be fixed by the Management Committee.” He pointed out that the weather was usually better in' January, and added that a date In January would not clash with raco meetings. Letters on the subject were read from various associations, some being in favour of the motion and others opposing it. The chairman (Mr. J. L. Peacock), describing the motion as a hardy perennial, expressed himself as being in favour of it and said that it was well worth a trial, even if only for one year. He was supported by Mr. N. Foden, who also considered that if the championships were held in January, the competitors would be in better formIn his opinion there would be every likelihood of just as good a gate if not a better one, than would be taken at Christmas time. The motion was opposed by Mr. Henderson (Taranaki), who thought that beyond the fact that the players might be in better form, every other argument was in favour of the Christmas date.

Mr. W. T. Harbison (Wellington) moved an amendment to the effect that the meeting be held not earlier than February 1. This was by Mr. F. Grady (Hawke’s Bay), who desired that the date be not later than the end of January. Mr. Harbison’s amendment was put to the meeting and lost. Mr. M. E. Denniston moved another amendment-that the next meeting be held not earlier than January 7, 1030. If that were a success, he said, it would be a guide for future committees. Mr. H. M. Boddington (Wairarapa) said he considered that Mr. Denniston’s amendment was merely splitting straws, and thought that the end of January would be better for condition purpose. Mr. G. N. Goldie (West Coast) said that the players made a tournament, and it would be better to consult them. To alter a date from the last week in December to January 7, and then expect a player to be in better form within a few days would be absurd. If they wished to have the players properly tuned up, then February would be a better time. One. also had to consider the conditions ruling in the place where the meetinr was to be held. Mr. Denniston’s amendment was npt to the vote and lost, after which Mr. Melody’s original motion was carried, JUNIOR TENNIS MR. W. J. MELODY’S SCHEME TO BE TRIED c At last night’s quarterly meeting of the Council: of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, Mr. J. C. Peacock presiding, considerable time was devoted to discussing an article by Mr. W. J. Melody on “Junior Lawn Tennis” which appeared in “The Dominion" on Thursday, September 6, 1928, copies of which were circulated. The scheme concerned itself with the question of how to raise the standard of junior lawn tennis in New Zealand. It stated that skilled coaching was a necessity and suggested that the juniors could be assisted in improving their game by being afforded an opportunity of competing in suitable events under tournament conditions. In connection with the scheme a report was submitted by the Management Committee. (This renort appeared in last Wednesday’s tennis notes in “The Dominion.”) The scheme as outlined in The Dominion" was upheld by Mr. N. Foden (Poverty Bay and East Coast), who considered that its adoption would mean the beginning of a new era so far as junior tennis was concerned, and moved “That Mr. Melody’s national scheme for junior tennis be put int» operation this y The various clauses of the. scheme were discussed in committee, and it was finally decided to adopt Mr. Foden’s motion, with slight amendments. The question of constitution will be discussed nt a later date.