TENNIS TROUBLE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1933, Page 11

TENNIS TROUBLE

"HASTY CONCLUSIONS"

THE KELSON -MATCH

MR. FODEN EXPLAINS

A statement regarding the trouble over the tennis match at Iselson last weekend -was made to "The Post" today by Mr. JT. A. Fode.n, a member of the Management Committee of the New Zealand L.T.A. The trouble "arose on Monday evening at a meeting of the local association in which it was found that a match had been arranged against Nelson on the same day as a. play-off between the Thorndoii and Brougham Hill Clubs in the final of the interclub first division competition. Three Thorndon players were concerned in the match against Nelson, and their absence from Wellington would deplete Thorndon's strength. Accordingly it Was resolved by the W.L.T.A. that the interclub match should be played as set down, and that a protest should' be sent to the N.Z.L.T.A. on the subject. The blame for arranging the outside match, according to Mr. J. L. Mac Duff, a delegate, was attachable to Mr. Foden, although he later said that he did not think any one individual could be penalised. "HASTY CONCLUSIONS." "It is evident," said Mr. Foden, "that the Wellington Association jumped to hasty conclusions when it first considered the question pt the visit of the team of leading players to Nelson. No member of the team had any idea that the play-off of the interclub match was to take place on March 18 until after the arrangements to go to Nelson had been finalised. Mr. C. G. Swinburne, the chairman, stated that a protest should be sent to the N.Z.L.T.A.' 'that Mr. Eoden, a member of its committee, was arranging matches With outside clubs (sic) without obtaining permission from the Wellington Association.' One member commented, 'The point is, they did not ask permission,' and Mr. Ma'eDuq stated (although esteeming Mr. Mac Duff as I do, I hope your report is in error'on this) that 'the man to blame is Mr Foden.' "When speaking on the telephone to Mr. Swinburne while the meeting-was being held, he indicated to mo that my statements were being taken down for publication in the Press-. In order that there might be no niisnnderstanding as to -what was said, and in order, if possible, to help to get over the difficulty, I asked if I might make a statement at the meeting. Iv the meantime, apparently to check up on mv telephone statement, Mr. Murray Kean (secretary of the N.Z.L.T.A.) 'was telephoned, and he confirmed the fact that permission had been given by the New Zealand Management Committee for the team to go to Nelson. "ENTIRELY IN ORDER." "Messrs. Swinburne, Burns (secretary ! ■ci the W.L.T.A.), and Mac Duff are three of Wellington's delegates on the council of the N.Z.L.T.A. At the meet-! ing of the council on February 28, Mr. Burns asked the chairman if it was necessary for the consent of the local association to be obtained in the case of teams visiting the minor associations 2xi pursuance of the policy approved by the New- Zealand Management ComThe chairman stated quite definitely that the consent of the local association -was not necessary. No protest was then made, or has any protest ever been, made since- to the' New Zealand Committee or to mo personally. "Now the crux of (he matter is this: my action ' was-' entireiV-^ri order;' neither the members of the team (Messrs. Malfroy, Wilson, and Ferkina) nor myself knew at the time the negotiations -were completed with Nelson that the 'Cup Tie' -was to be played ' on M^rch' 18, and yet the Wellington Association; although it could have altered the date, decided to adhere to its decision. "A MATTER OF COURTESY." "I admitted at the meeting that as a matter of courtesy, had I adverted to the question, I would have communicated with the secretary, but having only finalised the arrangements on Monday morning—and not a month ago as Mr. Burns stated—no great space was afforded in which to attend to what, was, after all, a matter of form, although I believe in attending to such details if people's feelings are likely to be hurt, by the omission. "In fact at the meeting, I applied as a matter of courtesy for such permission. Ido not recollect receiving a reply, but perhaps I may get one before the team, sails on. Friday. "Af the conclusion of my statement to the meeting I offered to have the procedure made more convenient by providing that the players who were chosen should notify their respective clubs and that the local association should be advised of such visits. I pointed out that if the 'consent' of the local association had to be obtained it would be necessary to have a proviso that such consent shall not be unreasonably or arbitrarily withheld.' PENALISING PLAYERS. "In conclusion, I feel that it is only fail to say -that the decision of the W.L.T.A. means that the Thorndon Club, as a club, and the three Thorndon players in the team, are beino- penalised because the Wellington Association considers that tho method adopted, not by the Thorndon Club, or by the three players, but by the New Zealand, committee itself, is not the proper one. "The Wellington Association's concluding decisions clearly suggest that even though the committee thinks the -procedure is capable of improvement the Thorndon Club and the members of the team are not to blame." ASSOCIATION'S STAND. Mr. H. N. Burns, secretary of the "Wellington Association,, stated this afternoon that the association intended to pursue its original policy of insisting that the match be played. "The New Zealand Association or Mr. Foden, whichever is concerned, had arrangements in train some considerable time ago," ne said, "even although the arrangements may not definitely have been completed. If the Wellington Association had been advised directly "arrangements were in train, no doubt it would have altered its programme to allow the players to take part in the jSelson.visit. As no permission was applied for, the interclub majeh was definitely set down for March IS. If the match is now postponed at the request of the Thorndon Club, the.Seatoun r University, and Brougham Hill Clubs would be entitled to complain on the grounds that, on previous occasions when their players have been absent, their interclub matches have not been similarly postponed. 1%. is not the. intention of the Wellington Association to penalise either clubs or players, but when, in ignorance of other arrangements, an interclub match has been set down for play it is unreasonable to suppose that the match should be postponed because of a decision of another body to ask players to travel out of Wellington, especially as it is apparently possible that no notification tony be given to the Wellington Association even up to the last moment." MATCH TO BE PLAYED. Tho Thorndon Club definitely intends to field a team against Brougham Hill on Saturday and a meeting of the Management Committee of the Thorndon Club is to be held tonight to decide what action shall be taken.