LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 51, 28 August 1926, Page 23

LAWN TENNIS

"Mr Huka" \

N.Z. COUNCIL MEETING

TWO NEW ASSOCIATIONS

ELECTED

WELLINGTON'S STRONG MEN'S TEAM.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was held last week, and all the associations were well represented. Mr. M. E. Denniston was in the chair, and in his opening speech traversed the doings of last season. The Maori Lawn Tennis Association was elected, and the chairman welcomed its delegates, the Hon. A. T. Ngata and Kingi Tahiwi. The latter said that he, with others, when at Te Auto College, often talked of the day when their tennis clubs might be affiliated to the New Zealand Lawn ■Tennis Association, and "to-night our dream has come true." Both Mr. Ngata and Mr. Tahiwi assured thoir hearers that the affiliation would mean much to the Maori, and some day perhaps they wight help ' the sport in supplying some of the players for a Davis Cup team.

The Hawkes Bay Association nominated the Poverty Bay and East Coast Lawn Tennis Association for affiliation, and it was elected. This new association will cause Hawkes Bay to lose a fow of its outlying clubs, but the nominator considered that whilst his. association would be the loser to some extent, yet the election would be a benefit to the sport generally, as many clubs not now affiliated would join up with the now association. The Hon. A. T. Ngata supported tho election of the Poverty Bay Association, and rather startled tho meeting >by saying "this is my other association—my Pakeha association." Poverty Bay is the headquarters of Mr. Ngata's people, and he was able to'tell of a dozen or more small clubs, which were very active and willing to join up. with an assotion formed in their own district, but would not affiliate with Hawkes Bay Association as it was 100 far away.,

With those two new associations, the governing body has now 18 associations affiliated to it. There- is still room for more, and the Manawatu Clubs could with advantage form an association. At present clubs in that district are affiliated to the Wellington Association, but with headquarters so far 'away there is little to be gained, and the time is now ripe for some enthusiast in Pnlmerston North to start the ball rolling.. The Wellington Association is not likely to object, in fact, that association encouraged the Wanganui, 'and the Wairarapa clubs to form associations of their own, and the movemont has been a distinct success in both cases.

Nine candidates were nominated for the Management Committee of the New Zealand Association, the following being:elected:—Messrs. M, E. Denniston, P. White Parsons, W. D. Irons, Kingi Tahiwi, A. G-. Henderson, L. J. Berry, and 8. A. Longuet. All those elected were members of last year's management committee, except Tahiwi. MOTIONS DEALT WITH. The motion moved on behalf of the Auckland Association, '' That it be a recommendation to tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association that the selection of balls bo made by the various delegates, and that affiliated associations be given notice of the date on which if is proposed to make the selection, as this association considers the present method of selection unsatisfactory," found no favour with the delegates. In fact, Auckland supplied no cogent Toasons for a change. The Auckland delegates wrote to their association asking for arguments in favour of the motion, and the Auckland Association, at a meeting which was attended by eighteen delegates, decided to reply that it "considered the views of the different associations should bo considerod QJi the question, and that their opinions should certainly carry more weight than at present." The mover found every delegate against his association's motion, and one delegate who had nothing to say in its favour,, admitted that he had simply been instructed to vote for it, which he manfully did, although he could see no good in departing from the method in use. The very heavy vote against the motion should surely convince all associations that tho management Committee, elected by the affiliated associations, can be trusted to deal with all matters in an up-to-date and faithful manner. The vote cast was one of confidence, which the management has fully earned.

The Wellington Association moved that a national ranking list of New Zealand's leading players bo prepared. The general opinion was that the time was ripe for this to be done, and it was better to have an official ranking list than to have one published privately. Aa objection was raised that it was too difficult a job, and that whatever list was published would not please all associations. That may be true, but the list can be prepared without a great deal of trouble, provided the selectors simply pick the leading players on their merits, and not with the idea of pleasing . any association. Dominion teams composed of six players have to be picked, and that number can be doubled for a ranking list, . without much debate. The most carefully selected ranking list is bound to be objected to by some, owing to a favourite player being left out, but that is not a reason for dropping the proposal.

There was considerable discussion when the meeting arrived at ■',' General," and it was mostly about the clashing of tournament dates. In the ■writer's opinion it was a mistake for the associations concerned to be asked to talk on the subject before the Management Committee had discussed it. If any association has a grievance it should bring the matter before the council by notice of motion, and then the matter could be settled. The meeti ing was a most enthusiastic one, and it was quite clear that the game of lawn tennis is 'in a very flourishing condition in New Zealand. WILDING MEMORIAL SHIELD. The Wellington Association should be able to put a very strong men's team in tho field this coming season, and if a challenge is made for the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield there should be little doubt about the Wellington team being successful. As tho contest for the shield is really looked upon as the biggest men's, eveat of tho season by associations in New Zealand, players should, and no doubt do, take it as a great honour to be selected to play, whether in defending or challenging for the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield. '*

It will interest local players, and perhaps those of other centres, too, to know that the well-known Victorian player, A. Sandral, is now resident in the city. He, when showing his best form, is a player above the usual average, and should bo ablo to hold his own with the best in Now. Zealand. As with most Australian players of championship class, he is a, good doubles player, and in 1919, with C. N. Barnard as a partner, gayo Norman Brookes and A. W. Dunlop a very hard run in the final at Melbourne.

With all our top men in their best form it will be no easy task to pick a