CONDITION OF TENNIS COURTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 21, 19 October 1938, Page 6

CONDITION OF TENNIS COURTS

Disagreement With N.Z. Association Letter Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, October 18. “Tommy rot” was the comment of the chairman of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s ground committee, Mr. G. L. Berry, when, at a meeting of the association’s management committee, this evening, a letter from the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was read. Part of the letter, which aroused the committee’s indignation, dealt with the condition of the association’s stadium courts at Wilding Park which, it was suggested, played at a different “pace” from the outside courts. The letter set out conditions for the use pf the courts in the Canterbury championship tournament, which will precede the New Zealand championships by a few days. The relevant paragraph read: “Regarding your courts Nos. 1 and 2, I was instructed to advise you that it was remarked by my committee that these courts consist of different grass to that of the outside courts and the grass is usually kept lodger, with the result that players have noticed a Considerable difference in the speed. I was instructed to ask you whether your committee would consider different treatment to the centre courts in order that they may be brought up to the same speed as the outside courts.” “Their information is quite contrary to fact,” said Mr. Berry. "The grass is exactly the same as on the outside courts and it is given exactly similar treatment.”

Mr. R. Browning said that it might be inferred from the comment that the grass was kept longer than on the outside courts and that the committee thought the centre courts were slower. The actual fact was that, if anything, the centre courts were faster than the outside courts. Senior players would support that view unanimously.

Mr. T. W. Patterson said that both F. J. Perry and Henri Cochet had commented favourably on the courts. Mr. Berry: Cochet said it was too fast for him. He wag mistiming his shots. They don't know what they are talking about. Mr. Berry added that the centre courts could not be kept more closely mown than they were already. It was decided to acquaint the New Zealand association with the correct facts concerning the composition and treatment of the courts.

APPOINTMENT OF SELECTORS By Telegraph—Press AesoclaUoa. CHRISTCHURCH, October 18. Canterbury has been granted the South Island championship meeting this season by the New Zealand Lawn Tennig Association. The tournament will be held at Easter, probably on hard courts.

The New Zealand association advised the Canterbury association at a management committee meeting to-night that the Canterbury proposal that selectors should be appointed to choose New Zealand teams, an ofiice that is performed usually by the management committee of the New Zealand association, would be discussed at a meeting of the council of the association. It was decided to give notice of'motion that three selectors lie appointed. It was decided that ranking list matches this year should not be recognised unless played under the control of an umpire. The preparation of a ranking list was left to selectors.