OTAGO LAWN TENNIS.

Evening Star, Issue 21054, 17 March 1932, Page 8

OTAGO LAWN TENNIS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —Your readers must by now be growing rather weary of the efforts of the “ letter-writing syndicate ” to discredit the tennis Selection Committee. It has all been very amusing to the unbiased onlooker, but the nigger has persisted in poking his head out of the woodpile and grinning inversely at the axe being ground to give him his liberty ! And, after all, what do the veiled charges, imputations, and suggestions of unfairness made by the writers amount to? Merely that some of Otago’s “ promising young players ” —whose names they are careful not to mention —should be given a chance of trying themselves out in intcrprovincial matches. Who are these “young” players who are being treated so scurvily, and what is their record for the season? Perhaps some member of the “ syndicate ” will oblige—if ho can! Many of those who have watched the progress of tennis in Otago during iecent years would silently applaud the body blow which your correspondent A. Nicolson landed on the midriff of the disgruntled section when he nominated a team comprising Cox, Moody, Bray, and -Tregear as a quartet capable of giving battle successfully to any four of the younger school of players. It would not be difficult to extend Mr Nicolson’s list of “ veterans,” and the betting would still be in their favour. So much for our “young players” of to-day. Let us turn for a moment to the other side of the picture. The latest member of the “ syndicate ” to take up the attack, writing under the name of “Top Spin,” launches an attack against the “ first player ” in the Otago team. Assuming that the reference is to S. G. M'Dougall, let us see how much substance there is in the allegation that his position is a “ glaring injustice ” to others. It would be interesting to know in the first place on what grounds he is classed (by inference) as one of the “ older players ” age, or length of seryice to his province? The plain fact is that, with one possible reservation, he more consistently defeats all the other leading players of Dunedin than anyone esle. His record on behalf of Otago is equally convincing, and should merit the appreciation of all fair-minded people, instead of slighting criticism inspired by self-interest or the interest of one’s friend. To mention an instance in which he not only distinguished himself but helped to'put Otago tennis on the map, one has only to recall the magnificent exhibition of all-court play he gave when he defeated two players who rank high in Australia—Donohoe and Teague. The turn of the younger players will come, but not until they have done something approaching M'DoueaH’s performances. I did not intend this letter to be a defence of M'Dougall, but rather to suggest that a better spirit of sportsmanship and loyalty to the association should prevail. Carping criticism in which the 'personal factor is only too apparent will not help, and if there is general discontent (which I do not believe exists) there is a proper -way of securing a remedy, and it is greatly preferable to the methods adopted by some of your recent correspondents. Such methods only tend to bring the game into public disrepute—a thing that everyone would deplore.—l am, p fp Sthaight Service. March 16.