Tennis Control

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 276, 22 November 1935, Page 4

Tennis Control

SPLIT IN N.Z, BODY SAID TO BE POSSIBLE. A declaration that unless the major associations eutivated a more . understanding attitude toward tho minor associations there might bo a spit in the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was made to the meeting of the council in Wellington on Wednesday night by Mr G-. A. Pownall (Wanganui). His remarks arose when the council was discussing the allocation of pioiits from tours by overseas teams, when an appeal by some of the minor association representatives for a portion of the money was opposed in the discussion by representatives of Wellington and Canterbury. Mr Pownall said he was sorry to see the attitude of the stronger associations toward the smaller ones. the smaller associations had great difficuties, financial and otherwise, and needed and deserved help. “Let mo warn this meeting that if this selfish attitude goes much further there'is a distinct prospect of an- opposition association being formed in New Zealand,” he said. “If the major associations persist in this dog-in-the-manger attitude there is a very real danger that some of • the associations will pull away, form an association of their own and arrange tours of their own. I move up and down the country more than some of you who stay in the cities and hear wliat is being talked in the different districts, and can tell you that this is a very real danger.” •Mr C, G. White (Wellington) remarked that he was perturbed at this statement. There was no cause for such a development, which should be fought against. Some speakers deprecated tho reference to major and minor associations, and any attempt to set small associations against tho large ones. It was pointed out, too, that there was no such thing as “tho big four” as referring to the main centres, as the largest as sociations were Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Waikato, tho fifth being Otago. PROFITS PROM TOURS. Lengthy discussion on the basis of the allocation of profits or losses from tours by overseas teams, resulted in a| decision that no definite basis shoud be fixed. A recommendation along theso lines was made by the management committee. Strong pleas that some proportion of the profits of tours should be given to minor associations ■ were made by the representatives of the 'smaller nssoeia-j tions, who said the'country associations had heavy expenses in maintaining grounds and promoting with- much less chanco of- recovering from gate takings than the major associations. Wellington and Canterbury opposed" this appeal, contending that the' major associations had to keep' up large grounds with ample stands, like those at Miramar and Wilding Park, without which there would probably be perhaps no visits by overseas teams or players to New Zealand. ■ ■ ' f A recommendation to tho management committee that in .allocating profits a proportion not 'exceeding 15. per cent, should be devoted to minor associations was. lost by 16,275 votes to 12,452, the proposal being opposed by Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato. Three-quarters of tho Wellington vote went against the motion and one-fourth for.

Professor F. P. Wilson, tho president, remarked, however, that no doubt tho management committee would bear in mind the spirit of the discussion. In a report on the wholo subject by tho management committee, there was tho remark:—“Tho management committee has in mind that it seems reasonable, from proceeds of a successful tour, that tho associations which have not had tho privilego of staging a match, may obtain some 'financial benefit.”