LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 112, 8 November 1930, Page 22

LAWN TENNIS

By "HUKA" MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

SOME IMPORTANT MOTIONS

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

A general meeting of the council of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association will be hold in the Chamber of Commerce Room, Dominion. Buildings, on Thursday, 27th November, at 7.30 p.m. The business paper is a heavy ■one, there being she motions, all most important ones, to be dealt with, and it hardly seems possible for the whole of the business to be put through at one sitting. The first motion, concerns the holding of the quarterly meetings at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, in order to enable delegates from outside Wellington to attend the meetings without unreasonable loss of time. The second and third motions concern junior tennis. The fourth motion is that the levy to be paid by affiliated associations for the current season shall be threepence for every active member, but should either of the junior tennis proposals bo brought into action this season the levy shall be increased to fomrpenco per member. The fifth motion applies, to the Ainthony Wilding Memorial Challenge Shield and the Kathleen Nunneley Challenge Casket. It is proposed that competition for these valuable trophies be controlled and managed by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association. At present the holders of the trophies manage the- competition. It is proposed, to divide the associations up into groups as follows: —No. 1, North AiicMand, Thames Valley, and Waikatoi; No. 2, Auckland; No. 3, Taranaki, Wanganui, and Manawatu; No. 4, Poverty Bay and East Coast, Hawkes Bay, and Wairarapa; No. 5, Wellington; No. 6, Marlborough, Nelson, and West Coast; No. 7, Canterbury; No. 8, South, Canterbury, North Otago, Otago, and Southland; No. 9, Maori Association. The teams to be each composed of four players as at present, and that tlhe matches in both competitions bo played during one fixed week in each year. It is also proposed to transfer the sum of £50 to an account to bo known as the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield and Kathleen Nunncley Casket competitions account. All ne.t profits from the competition to be paid intto this account, and 'that transport exrpenses of visiting teams be guaranteed, by the association and paid out of this' account. When the account will permit, it is also proposed that an allowance for accommodation expenses bo madto to visiting teams. The reason for the proposed alteration is that so few challenges are issued for the men's edmpetiifcion, and so far no competition has takten. place for the Kathleen Nunnelcfy Challenge Casket. The sKSth motion eoneems the affiliation of non-territorial bodies to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association. Afc the present time there is an application by the New Zealand Catholic Ass»c!iation for affiliation. If the motion is; carried it is proposed that associations affiliating shall pSy double the ordinary capitation, which will be divided equally between the New Zealand Association and the respective local associations. A glancie at the order paper indicates that -the meeting'will be a somewhat strenaj.ous one, as it cannot be expected thati delegates will all"be of one mind on array of the six motions. It is also evidentt that the Management Committee- has given careful consideration to the matters that are to be discussed, and delegiutes will require to have some very solid reasons to put before the meetinjg, if in opposition to the proposals. National C(hampionsJiips. Entry forms are now available for the forty-first annual championship meeting of the New Zealand Association. The tournament is to be held this year on the Canterbury Association's grass courts at Wilding Park, Christchurdh, on 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th, and 31st 'December. Entries close on Monday, 15th December, with D.. Murray Kean,■ Secretary of the association, at 219, Laimbton quay, Wellington. The usual five events for seniors, and five events for) juniors, are on the programme. fThe plate event has been dropped, frnd instead an intermediate open singles has taken its place. In this event* matches are the best of three advemtage sets, open to youths under the age of 21 years at the time of closing of entries, 15th December. The first prize is a trophy to the value of three guineas,' and the second prize is a trophy to the value of one guinea. The cntranic© fee is five shillings. It appears th.at a youth under 18 years of age- can mow enter for three singles events at tike next New Zealand championship meeting, but by so doing may ruin his chances in the boys' singles championship of New Zealand. The courts at Wilding Park are reported to be in spflendid condition this year, and given iSne weather will be found to play fast and true, and that is what competitors at the national meeting expect. The president of the New Zealand Association this year is Mr. A. G. Wallace, p. famous Taranaki player, and he is bonnid to be a starter in his usual three events at the meeting. From accounts to hand the entries promise to lie good in quality as well as quantity. A Popular ijouma-ment. The seventh annual South Wairarapa championship meeting and handicap tournarrient will be held at Martinborough ooi 26th, 27th, 29th, and 30th Deeemibcr. This popular tournament attracts Wellington players year after year, and those who intend competing" this season will be pleased to learn that tha Martinborough Club has now eight grsiss courts available for play, which is- two more than last year. For further particulars intending competitors are requested to get in touch with G. C.'Willis, the popular secretary of the Martinborough Club. Fritz Mercjur, who is sixth ranking player in tit© United States, has been suspended for an infringement of the amateur rule, and has been declared ineligible to compete in tournaments and mafcehes under the auspices of the United, States Lawn Tennis Association.' pTho chairman of the committee of the Michigan tournament has also been suspended on account of his acceptance of Mereur's conditions of play. It is just about time that players, who iniay be inclined to play fast and loos© "with the amateur rule, were given a slvake up, and it is also a warning to tournament officials, who are disposed t«> agree to any sort of conditions laid; down by some champion players Who are looked upon as "gate" attractions at tournaments. Such a slate itf affairs is so far unknown in Neip Zealand, and, for the sport's sake, phould never be allowed to creep in. L