CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 285, 29 August 1935, Page 13

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS

N.Z. Association Debates Important Proposals CHANGES DECIDED ON Important proposals were brought before delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association last night by Mr. H. N. Watson on behalf of the Manawatu association.

The proposals had relation to the abolition of intermediate championships at the New Zealand championships tournament; the reinstatement of the New Zealand Plate in the New Zealand championships for players eliminated in the first and second rounds of the singles events; the fixing of the New Zealand championships tournament to commence on Boxing Day in each year; and the imposition of a £5 fine for affiliated associations failing to forward necessary information to the secretary of the N.Z.L.T.A. for inclusion in the annual report. The first and second proposals were carried, the third was lost, and the fourth was ruled out of order.

Moving his motion relating to the abolition of intermediate championships, Mr. Watson said he was greatly opposed to such championships. In his opinion the New Zealand juniors were not inferior to juniors anywhere else in the world. The management committee, however, seemed to think that they suffered from an inferiority complex and required to be pampered. The intermediate championships last year were a farce. The boys' event was won by a boy who, later, won the Champion of Champions tournament in Wellington. Opinions he had received from champions and ex-champions were nearly all against intermediate championships. The younger players could always get the necessary high standard play required if they would develop into champions, by playing in the senior events and in the plate which ought to be reintroduced.

Mr. N. A. Foden considered that Mr. Watson’s arguments were born out in the present intermediate champions. . They were well able to play in the senior events. Mr. J. C. Peacock supported the motion. The history of the game throughout the world had shown that the young players could hold their own in any company. The intermediate championship was an unnecessary event and of no use to the young players themselves. Mr. H. M. Boddington supported Mr. Watson’s motion. He mentioned that the Wairarapa association was instrumental in pressure being brought to bear on cartain outstanding New Zealand junior players to “pull out” from the junior events and confine their play to the senior events.

Mr. A. G. Henderson said he opposed Mr. Watson’s motion on the ground that Mr. Watson was looking at the question frojn one angle- only. The junior championship of New South Wales, for players under 21, was the means of bringing out more players than any other factor. New Zealand could not run a separate junior tournament as New South Wales did. To get over that difficulty the intermediat event was introduced into the New Zealand tournament in order to give the young players a chance to play. The Auckland association, said a delegate, opposed the motion on the grounds that interest was centred more on the phenomenal junior player at the expense of the ordinary general standard. Mr. 0. G. White drew attention to the number of intermediate players who had courage to play in the senior events. There were a number of players, however, who should have an opportunity of competing in their own events. In his opinion the Plate event was a “wash-out.” The motion was carried.

Following automatically on the abolition of the intermediate championships the reinstatement of the New Zealand Plate in the New Zealand championships tournament was carried unanimously. The Tournament Dates. Mr. Watson did not have the same success with his motion to have the New Zealand championships tournament fixed to commence on Boxing Day in each year. Moving his motion Mr. Watson said he had always been of the opinion that the Christmas dates were the best Opinions of champions and ex-champions supported that view. In his opinion players get into their best form by that date. He was opposed to holding the tournament date off until the best players from overseas came along and took away the prizes. The argument that players could not get into form would not hold. The Christ-mas-New Year period was the best on all grounds. Players had no difficulty in getting into form, and the time was the most convenient, and the prospects of the gate best. Mr. Thompson seconded the motion. Mr. G. A. Pownall opposed the motion. The applications last year for tournament dates before Christmas were nil. To play the New Zealand championships before Christmas was absurd. Instead of making local championships a preparation for the New Zealand championships, Mr. Watson would ruin those local championships. Mr. Mercer said Canterbury wa® definitely in favour of Christmas dates so far as it was concerned, but had no objection to other centre® having their own dates. Mr. Walker said North Otago was definitely against the motion. So far as Auckland was concerned, racing dates played a big part. There was no doubt players were not wound up by Christmas. Mr. MncDuff said that the Wellington association was of the opinion that no hard and fast rule could be laid down The question of dates was one for each association to deal with as local circumstances dictated. Mr. J. C. Peacock supported Mr. MaeDuff and thought the dates ought to be left to the associations themselves. Mr. A. G. Henderson said he was op posed to the motion and in favour of leaving the dates to the wishes of the various associations. Also opportunity should oe given to overseas players to come and compete. The motion was lost. Visits to Australia. Complaint was made by Mr. 3. L. Mae Duff at wbat be described as the “psual procrastinating way” of the management committee in giving effect to the delegates’ resolutions. He considered that there had been undue delay in making known the committee’s intentions regarding sending a team to Australia. Mr. A. G. Henderson (chairman of the management committee) said that they were in communication with Australia, but as the best time to send a team was in February or March next year, there was no need for immediate hurry. Mr. H. W. Watson did not think it was desirable to send a team to Australia, ft could do no good to New Zealand tennis, for our players would not make much of a showing. It would not benefit clubs, but only a few Individuals. It would be better to get players from Australia and send them round New Zealand.

Mr. Mercer (Canterbury) moved a motion recommending that the management consider subsidising a team of men and women players going to Australia. Mr. Mercer said that tennis would never improve in New Zealand unless the best players were sent on visits to Australia.

Professor Wilson agreed with Mr Watson that it was no use sending our players to Australia, and that good might be done by bringing players from Australia.

It was mentioned that applications would be forthcoming to the New Zealand association by players, who Intended visiting Australia next tennis season, for subsidies.