THE DAVIS CUP

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

THE DAVIS CUP

WHY NEW ZEALAND DEFAULTED i MR. J. C. PEACOCK EXPLAINS Remarking that since his return from abroad he had heard some adverse criticism concerning New Zealand’s action in defaulting in the second round against Czecho-Slovakia in the Davis Cup last year, Mr. J. C. Peacock, president of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, gave an account last night at the quarterly meeting of the Council of the N.Z. L. of the reasons which prompted this action. It was only fair to the players and to the association, said Mr. Peacock, to explain that it was no fault on the part of the players that they were unable to compete in the second match. In the first place, he had no idea when he left New Zealand that New Zealand intended competing for the Davis Cup. He then dwelt upon the question of expenses, and stated that the New Zealand Association limited expenses to rail and boat fares only. When New Zealand decided to enter a team he wrote to members, and informed them of the conditions and asked them if they would be available. They replied in the affirmative, but Mr. R. R. T. Young stated definitely that he could go to Portugal, but owing to his studies, would not be available if needed for a second match. Then Mr. F. M. B. Fisher had to back out, and that left only Mr. Youug, Mr. E, D. Andrews, and himself, for the match against Portugal. He, himself, had been unwell, with the result that the only players were Young and Andrews.

After the Portugal match, a new situation arose. Czecho-Slovakia had the right to say Avhere they would play the next match. They were also coming to England to play at Wimbledon, so, continued the speaker, ha asked Mr. Woodward, New Zealand’s representative in England, .to write and ask if it could be arranged that tho second match could be played in England. There was considerable delay in getting a reply, and when it did coine, it was found that the Czeeho-Slo-vakians insisted on having the match played at Prague. “Owing to the lateness of this reply, it meant that by the time the team would, arrive at. Prague, they would only have about one day to practice.

Dlr. Peacock then stated that he immediately got Into touch with Mr. Andrews, and explained the conditions regarding expenses, to whirii the latter replied that he could not pay the expenses. Mr. Peacock, himself, was still unwell, having caught a chill in France, and Young had definitely stated that he could not spare the time to go. Owing to Czecho-Slo-vakia’s delay in replying it made practice there out of the question, and at least three or four days were needed. The outcome of it all was that Czeeho-Slovakia had to be told that New Zealand could not send a team, and that New Zealand would have to default.

While on the question of expenses, Mr. Peacock said that negotiations were in hand to endeavour to increase the number of playing zones, thus reducing travelling to a minimum. Davies Cup matches, he said, did not always create a great deal of public interest, and it was only wealthy associations such as England, France and America that could afford to send teams abroad. So far as New Zealand was concerned, he doubted whether it would be justified in going to the expense of sending a team away. The only chance was to have players available near the places where the matches were to be played. In conclusion he paid a tribute to the way in which Mr. Woodward made such good efforts to try and make conditions satisfactory for New Zealanders in the various places where matches w r ere to be played. After Mr. Peacock had concluded. Professor F. P. Wilson’s motion that delegates should express their confidence in the president’s leadership was carried by acclamation.