LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 48, 24 February 1917, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

(By "Huka.")

j ' EASTER TENNIS. Numerous enquiries are efoqt as to ■what will be doijig in the tennis circles at Easter, and it is to be hoped that some information, will be forthcoming before the end of this month as to_ what 6hapo and form the tournament will be. If a. tournament cannot bo undertaken by the association, there is one club at any rate that is prepared to cater for allcomers by inviting entries for an open tournament.' Players can rest assured that something definite Trill be placed before -them within the next week or so. • SCHOOL TENNIS. Now is the time, both for local associations as well as for the New Zeahmd Association, to. give some attention to publio school tennis. Surely in tennis circles there are enthusiasts as in. other sports, and ono cannot help noticing- that the swimming authorities have catered for the publio school swimmers by arranging for New Zealand championships to be competed for-at Wellington this yeaj. Now, why have they done so? For the simple -reason that they know that it is the young- swimmer of to-day that makes the champion swimmer o£ to-morrow, and there is no better way. to hiring the young one out than by competition. The New Zealand' La.wn Tennis Association has little before it at present as far as its adult players are concerned, therefore why not see what it can do for the fostering of the game in the publio schools throughout New Zealand? It would pay the association over end over again. if it would only treat the subject seriously, and endeavour to have publio school associations formed in all the provinces of New Zealand. A COACH. Yes; a coach is what the public schools want. The New Zealand Association should be able to engage one to travel to all the large towns and give instruction to the young players of the publio schools. It may look a big- subject to taokle, but it has been solved inAmerica, and many a. professional makes a good salary by simply travelling -round from club to club. Improve the young player while he or she is young-, and -the game will rise higher in the estimation of the general public. Once bn.ving secured the interest of the general pubho then funds will be forthcoming to secure more coaches, until, instead of New Zealand being able to only say "well, we have had -one Davis Cup player," it will be "our Davis Cup players rank, with the best in the world." The coach idea lias been talked out by New Zealand delegates, but it must and will crop up again, and if delegates are worth their salt they will see that < the youngsters of the rising I generation got the same chance to improve_ their, game that Continental and American young players have had. 1 PERSONAL. ; Joe Blair, tho' Melbourne player, was on the ThoTndpn courts last Saturday, and had some games with Swanston, Peacock, end Salmond. Blair played for Thorndon and Wellington, Clubs when in Wellington, and is just as keen as ever on tho game. The genial Joe, who was. always a general favourite both with "the players and the tennis public, is only on a flying visit, but methinks he has a soft spot somewhere for Now Zealand, and we may cc© him settling down in our midst.again. ere long. '