LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 100, 24 October 1925, Page 18

LAWN TENNIS

BY ' HUKA.' MAORI PLAYERS

KAPA! THE BALL

AUSTRALIAN VISITORS TO

WELLINGTON

The United .Slates Lawn Tennis Aasociation seemingly does not do things by halves when running a. championship meeting. The oflicial programme, issued by that body in connection with the women's singles and doubles for 1925, has come into the writer's hands, and it is the finest tennis programme yet seen. The size is ten by eight, and exclusive of the cover contains 64 pages of interesting matter. There are certainly 20 pages of advertisements, but even they are of considerable interest, especially to tennis players. The "program," as it is called, contains many fine pictures of the leading American and English lady players in action, and the descriptive matter concerning the many championship contenders is most fully and interestingly written. Tho matches between the American and English ladies in the international contests for the Wightman Cup are fully described, and the full scores are given. There is,also a story of Mrs. May Sutton Bundy's tennis experiences I up to the'year 1912 and the story of her early life and of her three visits to England is also told. The pictures of Miss Dorothea K. Douglass, now Mrs. Lambert Chambers, .and Miss May G. Sutton, now Mrs. May Sutton Bundy, are rwe finds, as they are spirited action pictures of the final at Wimbledon in 1905. The Wimbledon gallery is also interesting, and the ladies are, sartorially, almost bewildering. Champions of the past also get a numbeV of pages, and there are many pages containing instructive and interesting tennis information. One little par headed "A Smear of A raseline" is good in itself. A Honolulu player says: "To prevent perspiration getting into the eyes a smear of vaseline across tho forehead isiofneacious." Tho whole get-up of the programme reflects great credit on those concerned, and, strange to say, there is no mention of its selling price. Seemingly it is given away to those who attend tho championships, and no doubt the advertisements more' than pay for the publication. It is printed on art paper aud has a very attractive cover. Tanei ano he poi. The above Maori heading means, "Here is a ball," and the average Maori tamaiti (child), will, just like the average pakeha youngster, on being shown a poi (ball), be it a football, tennis ball, or any other ball, 'immediately say "Ho mai te s poi ki au," or give. me the ball, aud it will be kicked, thrown from one to the* other, or generally played with, for the simple reason that the Maoris, according lo tradition, .were passionately fond of all ball games. The Maori of to-day is just as fond of the ball game as ever, and New Zealand has had some famous players in the Rugby game, and still has. What about tennis? There have been a number of good Maori tennis players, well known to the writer, but owing to some unknown reason they have never come to the front in competition with the pakeha in New Zealand championships. Eapaea, P. IT. Tomoaua (To Aute College), Kururangi (Taranaki), the Rev. M. Katene (Hawkes Bay), Miss Tlpone, and Miss A. M'Donald, were all good players. Rapaea gave a memorial cup, called the Hinerapa Cup, in commemoration of his wife, who was a very fine, player. Other trophies of great historic value, called tho Marumaru Cup, and the Derrick Gold Cup are also played for. In 1923 the Maori championships were to be played at Hastings, but the results of that or the 1924 gathering have not been made public. There is just a chance that some very fine Maori j tennis associations can be brought into being in the near future, and this matter will be brought to. a head by Rangi Royal, lion secretary of the Arawa Lawn lennis Club, in Rotorua, when his letter, which reads as follows, reaches the New Zealand Association: "It is proposed to form a Maori Lawn Tennis Association to control tennis among the Maori clubs .in the Bay of Plenty,, and I would, therefore, be obliged if you will advise me whether your association would accept affiliation of an association so formed and under what conditions. I am given to understand, that a similar.body with direct affiliation to your association was formed in the Hawkes Bay district last year. Thanking you in anticipation. Tho Hawkes Bay Maori Association was. advised to and intended to affiliate with the N.Z.L.T.A. in 1923, but so far has not made any application, .the timo is now opportune when the New Zealand body, can, with great advantage to' the sport, consider the whole question of Maori Associations, uot only by lending assistance in forming the numerous Maori clubs into associations,'but in encouraging and fostering the running of an annual Maori championship tournament, as well as by advising clubs and associations to have competitions amongst themselves, as well as against pakeha associations and clubs. Haero mai kite takaro i a matou (come and play with us) should be the slogan. The Maori knew all "about ball games and played them well, before the pakeha came to jSow Zealand. It will not be 100 much to expect, that some time in the near future ii New Zealand championship may bo won by a member of a Maori Club, if the" appeal of the Arawa Club is fostered and decided upon after considering very carefully Maori traditions as to local government, etc. A Talk on Lawn Tennis. Lectures on laiva tennis have become very popular in the United States and in England of late, and the Wellington Association has been fortunate in getting the consent of Mr. J. C. Peacock, president of the association, and a popular and wellknown New Zealand representative player, to give a talk on the game generally. J. C. Peacock has had most valuable experience in the game not only in New Zealand but on the Continent of Kurope, in England, and in Australia, and ho has the happy knack of handing on his information and experience to his hearers. The talk- will be given in the Conference Hall, Dominion Pannera'. Institute, FwitluM-ston street, on "Wednesday, nth November, at. S p.m. A general invitation is given to all tennis players, ladies as well as uion, ami to all those interested ih tho game, whether they are members of a club or not. 'Phis talk should appeal to young and

as it will be an opportunity of getting valuable advice on the game and the sport generally. The Management Committee of the association is to be congratulated upon its action in the matter, and it is to be hoped that tne first talk will be followed by others.

Aucklanders in Wellington. Quite a number of Auckland lady tennis players are present in Wellington at the golf tournament, and an attempt should be made by the Wellington association to arrange a match between them and Wellington lady players. Tho Aucklanders include Misses Marjoric Macfarlanc, Marion Macfarlane, and Muriel Payton, all well-known players. The Northerners could raise quite a strong team to m~et those of tho Einpirc City. Some of the players of both sides will be playing against the Australians, and the .match would help to tune them up. It may be possible to arrange for the contests to bo played on Labour Day, and once such matches are started there is no telling but what it may be the means of making the engagement an annual affair.

Visiting Australians

Tennis players and enthusiasts in the game will no doubt be eager to sec the Australian ladies and J. O. Anderson in action on Tuesday..Mrs. Harper (nee Sylvia Lance) and Miss Boyd both belong to Victoria clubs, and Misses Akhurst and St. George are members of clubs in New . South Wales. J. 0. Anderson, the Australian Davis Cup player, is a (-Sydney club member. The visitors arc all excellent players, and not only will the Australian ladies bo seen playing against New Zealand lady players, but they are almbst sure to meet .'in the semi-finals against one .another, and Australians should also fight out tho final. It is quite on the cards that Mrs. Harper will meet Miss Akhurst in one semi-final, and Misses Boyd and St. George should meet in the other. The final will probably see Mrs. Harper and Miss Boydr fighting it out. That alone is worth a big gallery, but th.en thei'e is the attraction of J. O. jAiiderson. The latter can demonstrate what speed means, and his lightning drives fairly '' frizzle" -across . the net. Anderson, standing well over six feet in height, has a service that hurtles into an opponent's court with darling speed. Whilst our champion, Ollivier, may not be able to • beat the Australian,: he is capablo of putting, up a very fine fight against him, and will force ".T.0."-to bring all his best strokes into action to achieve success. It must also be remembered that Mrs. Harper and Miss Boyd gave'the famous Suzanne Lehglen a really good run when they met in Paris, and they should show the onlookers next Tuesday just how a ball should be hit. Miss Akhurst, as , w.cll as Miss St. George, is a very fine player, and she would .have done much better abroad but for a bad accident shortly after arriving in' rEngland. The visiting players will be short of practice, of course, but such fine players will not take long to find their feet. The experience will be most valuable-to the New Zealand ladies, and- tho Now Zealand Management Committee is to be commended "upon its prompt action in arranging the match. The invitation tournament and the exhibition matches between Anderson and our players ■ should- only-- be; a forerunner; of big tennis to come. Tli'e spectators who are fortunate enough to witness Tuesday's display will be, in the future clamouring fo.r niore good things. With Miramar completed, there is no reason to doubt but that each season the '.Wellington public will have big tennis placed before them, and.it will possibly be only a_ matter of a little time befofo the' famous., Suzanne Lenglen will be drawing thousands to the Miramar courts. .

An Australian and a New Zealand player figured prominently at Bournemouth in Hampshire championships, held in August. F. M. B. Fisher reached the semi-final of the championship singles, after winning four rounds, but was beaten by. Chapman, 7-5, 6-1. Fisher and Wheatldy won tho doubles championship, beating, Stan Doust (late of Sydney) and C. G. Eames, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Stan Doust and Miss Betty Nuthall, after beating Badcliffe and Miss Manses in the semi-final, 6-2, 2-6, 12-10, .met AVheatley and Miss Clarke .in the final—the latter pair won, 6-3, 6-4. The winners beat Eames.. and Mrs. Beamish in the semi-final, 6-3, 9-7.

Lycett and Mrs. Lycett had a regular field day at Saxmundham. Lycett beat Austin, 6-3, 6-3, in the siu-V gles, and Mrs. Lycett followed suit by beating Miss Bennett in the final, 7-5, 8-6. Mrs. Lycett and Miss Bennett also won the final of the ladies', doubles, beating Mrs, Fletcher and Miss Stanford, 8-6, 7-5. Then to crown all, husband and wife—the Lycett pair—won the mixed doubles championship from 52 pairs, beating Miss ■Soiitham and Eoper Barrett in the ' final, 6-1, 6-2. Learning Lawn Tennis. Paradoxical though it appear, lawn tennis in England is this year amazingly flourishing—and at "a low ebb (states Ernest A. Bland, in "Our Empire"). It is so easy in discussing this game to confuse -tho democratic side of it with its! touniament and international aspects. From the standpoint of the general appeal of lawn tennis the game has reached a height which, even fifteen years ago, would have been regarded as impossible ; it is played everywhere by men and women, boys and girls, in tho most aristocratic of clubs and on the courts of. the public parks. And yet, side by.side with this remarkable boom is the obvious fact that, as a nation, we have completely lost our old time supremacy. In the days of the Dohcrly brothers "the world and his wife" carno to us to be. taught how to play lawn tennis. It would seem that the pupils have learned •■ too much for their mentors. Why!

The salient reason is that British players do not commence to play at au early age. Great Britain will begin to regain her lost ground when lawn tennis is encouraged at the public schools. For. tunately there is hope in that direction, for Harrow and other famous schools are laying down courts. There is not the slightest necessity for lawn tennis ever to challenge cricket; two great games can run in double harness without either suffering.

The outlook is by no means hopeless. It mily be difficult at the present time, to discern any budding Tildens in England, but assuredly we have some budding Lcnglens. The standard of excellence among British girl players is very high and we could put a, team of six on the courts who would not bo easily beaten by an' opposing .six from any other country in the world. Miss Joaii Reid-Thomas, Miss Joan Fry, Mrs. Lycett, Miss Colyer, and Miss Betty Nuthall Urc, players- who might achieve very great renown iv this world's game with* in the next few years. MiVs Joan Fry, Hie nineteen-year-old Staffordshire, girl, is the biggest "(ind" in British lawn tennis since the war. She has- the skill and I he physique—and, it may bo added, tlip temperament—to-achieve real distiuc* tififii ' '