LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 126, 30 May 1931, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS

COMPETITION CONTROL

LENGTHY DISCUSSION

A general meeting of the council of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association took palce last night in the Chamber of Commerce Room, Mr. M. E. Denniston being voted to the chair. There was a practically full attendance of delegates. At the outset of the meeting there was somewhat of a "breeze," Mr. W. B. Watson objecting to the minutes of the previous meeting, which stated that he "spoke disparagingly of" the value of the Junior National Championships. Mr. W. J. Melody, in supporting. Mr. Watson, referred to the "so called National Championships," which caused the chairman to rule him out of order. But when Mr. Melody declared that the chairman was hostile and threatened to leave the meeting, better counsels prevailed, and the "breeze" which was rapidly ..brewing into a "storm" died down. It was agreed to alter the minutes, Mr. Watson saying he would be satisfied with "strongly criticised" instead of "spoke disparagingly of." It was-stated in the quarterly report, which was adopted, that 25th to 30th January were the dates fixed for the New Zealand championships to be held in Auckland next year. No answer has as .yet been received from Australia with regard to the proposed visits to New Zealand of a Japanese lawn tennis team and of a team captained by W. T. Tilden. Considerable discussion took place on the proposed new regulations governing the Anthony Wilding Memorial Challenge Shield and the Kathleen Nunneley Casket competitions. The chief bone of contention was the promotion and-conduct of the competitions. It was finally decided to leave this in the hands of the Management Committee of the association with power to delegate the management of any or all matches to a district affiliated association or committee. For the purpose of the competitions affiliated associations are to be divided into nine groups. A proposal to seed the strongest entrants was defeated. The effect of these new regulations is to abolish the present challenge system, the Management Committee inviting and receiving entries for the competitions and arranging matches and.their location. The matches will be played under the existing regulations.