QUEST OF DAVIS CUP

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 20 April 1935, Page 13

QUEST OF DAVIS CUP

AUSTRALIAN PLAYERS’ REQUEST SHARE OF PROFITS WANTED. SETS PEOPLE THINKING.

Hair must have stood up on adminj istrative heads when Australia’s Davis Clip team manager (D. P. Turnbull) ! asked that the members of the team ■ shoiild be given a share in the profits of the tour. One of the most forward proposals made for a long time, it was summarily dismissed, byt it will set a lot of people writes Stuart Perkins in the Sydney Sun. j Under the ruling conditions, the suggestion could not be entertained. Any 1 set remuneration or bonuses made to the | players would immediately cause loss lof status. They would be professionals, with their competition in the Davis Cup out of the question. What with fiims-for-players movements winning the support of influential countries, and rather complicated revisions to the foot-fault rule under consideration, however, this is the season for tennis changes. And if a suggestion that players should be able to add film-making to their already open .field of occupation without loss of amateur status should 'get substantial though insufficient backing at an international conference, it is not out of the bounds of possibility that some such proposal may bo made in the near future.

When conditions are not favourable, it would hardly have been introduced, but big tennis of recent years, particularly Davis Cup tennis, has proved particularly remunerative for the controlling and interested bodies. A glance at the balance-sheet of the English Lawn Tennis Association will prove just how much the Wimbledon championships and Cup matches are worth, and it may yet be debated whether the players who attract the finance should not bo permitted to participate in the profits.

RECOMPENSE FOR LOSSES. Davis Cup tours entail for the player! a prolonged strain, and, for those wha make consecutive trips, and remain id the forefront of home tournaments as well, an almost never-ending round oi travel. They gain greatly by travel and experience, but are, too, denied much in the way of home life. Evidently it is Turnbull’s idea that the players should be recompensed for their losses in the latter regard, and share in the benefits which their drawing power creates. It is not known whether Turnbull was alone in his dpsire. But that would hardly bo so. Considered solely from the financial aspect it is not likely that, any member of the Cup team would lose by their absence abroad. Each is employed by sporting goods firms. It is known that one receives his full salary while he is away, and the others would almost evtainly receive the same consideration. But perhaps, it is the bonus paid to the Australian XI. cricketers in England that lijfoks so good to the tennis players. The cricketers receive a bonus of £6OO, a weekly out-of-pocket expense allowance of 30s, and retain their, amateur status. The comparison is interesting.

So far as expenses arc concerned, the Davis Cup players would appear to be liberally treated. They" receive £1 a day on land, and half that while on board boat, tor their personal expenses, while expenses, such as stringing, are provided for separately.

A COSTLY LESSON. And, during recent years that allowance has been pruned considerably. Ten years ago the tennis representatives received £2 2s a day for their own use, but after the excessive expenditure on the Cup trip, -which tvas limited to a visit to America, the Tennis Association started an economy campaign.

On the tour referred to, the expenses reached the colossal sum of £4400, representing the cost of de luxe travel and first-class living everywhere. As the takings amounted to only £3300, it proved a'n expensive venture.

From 1925 to 1928 Australia did not challenge in the Cup series, and when it did once again, in the latter year, the players went under different financial terms. The land allowance remained at £2, but the boat portioa-was cut by half. Then after that, their pruning knife was again brought into action, and the present amount fixed. Taking a line on the terms offered the L.T.A. of Australia for a six weeks’ tour by our players at the conclusion of the Davis Cup this year, South Africa .pays its players £3 2s a ■day. At least, that is the allowance) which will be received by our representatives while they are in South Africa this year. The Union, in addition to paying that amount, and the expenses for the trip, will .forward £IOOO to the Australian Association, so it is evidently willing to pay for the privilege of entertaining our players.