UMPIRES WANTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1938, Page 5

UMPIRES WANTED

APPEAL TO CLUBS

"Our progress has been slow, but we are now coming along well," said Mr. L T. Donovan, of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Umpires' Association, speaking at the annual meeting of tennis club captains, secretaries, and delegates, held last night. The Wellington Umpires' Association is now in its second year, and has a membership of 75. "We were not the first Umpires' Association in New Zealand," Mr. Donovan said. "Auckland had an association three or four years ago, and we look to it as the parent body. The Christchurch Association was formed, and the three bodies have now formed the New Zealand Umpires' AssociaMr. Donovan appealed for the assist ance of clubs. It was the association's ultimate object to take over all matches under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association and other matches, but until they had full support they could not do all they wanted to. He asked that each club representative should get at least two keen and energetic men of his club to 30m. They would be able to act as the club's authority on umpiring matters. If two members of each club would join the association he thought tennis in Wellington would improve tremendously. Examinations were now in progress and consisted of about twenty oral and five written questions and a field test, which would probably be held in connection with ranking. Those who passed the test would be issued with a badge by the New Zealand Umpires' Association, and, although he did not want to emphasise the .point, there were certain privileges granted to the wearers of this. A bar, was granted with the badge to those who gained 95 per cent, in the tests. In the recent examinations the highest marks were 88 per cent. _ The chairman, Mr. A. M. Pinkertpn, endorsed Mr. Donovan's remarks.. The formation of the Umpires' Association was a very fine thing, and from the point of view of the Tennis Association was a great boon, he said. He urged those present to try to get members to join. "I hope to see a member of every club affiliated to the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association a member of the Umpires' Association by the end of the season," said Mr. W. W. Stirling. If anyone thought he was. not quite up to standard for an examination the association would coach him on the rules. While the rules of the game would have to be known, it would not -nean tedious study.