Lawn Tennis.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 63, 11 September 1909, Page 14

Lawn Tennis.

IB* Htjka.]

The proposals that were submitted to

Australia by New Zealand with regard to the Davis Cup competition have not been received favourably on the other aide. Victoria was prepared to accept them, but the majority of the other States demanded that New Zealand should remain as it was — a State affiliated to the Australasian Association. New Zealand declines to sink her right to be classified as the half portion of the nation "Australasia," and claims that the rule plainly roads that "Australia with New Zealand" forms the nation "Australasia." Had the rule intended that New South Wales was to be ranked with New Zealand, it would have said so, and there is no doubt that the framer of the rules' meant that the two countries — New Zealand and Australia — should form the nation, each having equal rights. Players in Wellington are out in all j earnestness now for the season. Annual meetings of fJubs are boiny held and opening days fixed. Brougham Hill opens' on ■ the 18th inst.* and if the annual report forecasts the future, it will be the club's last opening day on its present site. "Who are you playing for this year?" is an oft-heard question just now. Hawkins, of Petone, plays for Welhngton, as does Blair, of Victoria. Miss Penny, who played for Petone last year, will oe assisting Newtown; and J. Lindsay, a senior of Brougham Hill,- has also joined the Newtown Club, and has been eleoted to the committee. Mrs. Hawkins leaves Petone and plays for the Hutt. Petone will be well represented by a number of young and enthusiastic players, and the members have themselves shown some interest by the removing of the stop netting at the back of the courts, thereby giving more room behind the base line. It was needed badly. Miss Webb, late of Brougham Hill, has also joined Newtown, and others have been mentioned ; ' therefore one can expect that the nrst club to find, a home on the town belt will be well to the front this year. The enterprise shown by the club's officials and members deserves a reward. No new grounds have yet been secured by the Wellington Association either for itself or for its clubs. Naturally the Day's Bay courts will have to lie again obtained, and the association is indeed fortunate in being able to secure such an area, as without it this season, interclub matches would go almost entirely to the wall. If the Bay courts cannot be secured, and inter-club matches are played, then the majority of club members will have to stand and look on at a favoured few playing in the matches each Saturday. Until more grounds are obtained in or around the city, any now available should be retained for interclub matches. It does not matter in the least what has been done or should have been done; it would be' poor policy to cut off the only outlet now available for the overflow of players. Forcing 'tactios should have been adopted by olubs on the association at the end of last season, but if they have been content to remain dormant all winter, they should not now throw over the only spare playing ground they have, even if it' should be by way of protest. - At any rate, it is not good policy to ba orying out for more grounds if they can conveniently do without the Day's Bay courts. The sport will suffer— at -any rate, players or intending players will suffer — through the deorease of playing area^. If that is bo ? the proposal to bar Day's Bay oourts is surely selfish and unwise. Those who do not wish to go are not compelled to, and even if tne money expended for rent is looked upon by some as wasted, it is the means of giving enjoyment, exercise, and practice to others. That should be sufficient answer, unless some other move underlies the opposition to Day's Bay.

Associations^ affiliated to the New Zealand Association will all be sending in their returns of number of clubs and players this month. Canterbury is first on the list_ to furnish its return, which shows an increase on last year. The

figures are as follows: — Last yearj 19 clubb and 1192 members; this year's' return is 24 clubs and 1523 players, which is an increase of fivo clubs and 331 players. Wellington's return should also show an inofease. Last year the association had 36 clubs and 1862 members ; this year the tally should be about 41 olubs and 2099 players — an increase of 5 clubs and 237 players. A correspondent writes strongly urging the need, in the interests of the sport, of more tennis grounds being provided in or around the city. He says:— "lf Wellington could only gel more grounds another ten or twenty clubs could be formed with quite 500 extra players. The position is oritical, and unlesß those who have the power to grant areas- give some consideration to the sport of \ tennis, it will surely go hack. A sport that caters for both sexes, young and old, and allowß players to make the games strenuous or easy according to their desires, should have tho support of the public generally, and deserves more consideration than it has received. Were grounds dotted here and there on space areas in each district, or on portions of the Town Belt, they would not only be a benefit to those reBiding in the locality, but would improve the appearance of The belt, and be a means of .attracting the publio to an area that ia now simply waste ground. Tennis players have in the past rented' or bought their own grounds, but the demand is now above the supply, and besides many wishing to play cannot afford the money demanded for rent and taxes* far le?8 the cost of laying down courts. The sport is purely an amateur one, and should be given a little assistance. It caters for players, and it ia a case of maximum of players, minimum of spectators — not, like some other sports, maximum of spectators, minimum of players. It is not purely a show or spectacle, but a sport which gives beneficial exercise to any who take it up. The City Council ooald save it, and no doubt would were a full report upon the matter placed before it in writing."