LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Auckland Lawn Tennis Association decided at its last meeting to appoint a subcommittee to report to me Octooer meeting as to what tournaments and inter-club mat ones. ii any, it is desirable to hold during tlie coining season The general teeiing expressed at the meeting was against carrying out the usual programme, but, on the other hand, various delegates were of opinion that it would be injudicious to drop the interclub competitions altogether. * There is no doubt that most players will be satisfied to get what exercise they can out of the game during the coming season in a quiet ana private manner. Nevertheless. despondency is not going to do tennisor anything else any good, and the playing of competitive tennis .by those who are waiting to go to ths front, and those who cannot go, but have their duties to perform at home, will, at least assist in keeping up the spirits ot players. There are several forms of competitive tennis that might take the place of inter-cl jb competitions. Red Cross afternoons have been suggested, and no doubt this idea will be carefully considered by the sub-committee. It is proposed that each club should set aside its lawns for, say. one Saturday afternoon, and a tournament be held in which members of the various clubs would take part and the proceeds from entrance money go to the Red Cross Fund. Another suggestion has been made which has much to recommend it. and which would be a means of bringing the members of the clubs in touch with one another in an unofficial and non-public manner. The proposal is that the association should organise a system of invitations among clubs in the following manner:—Each club should invite ten players from another dub to play on its lawns for the afternoon. No matches would be played as between the clubs, but the visitors would take part in the matches along with the members of the club. Whether the annual handicap tournament should be held is a matter for consideration, and as it 18 held during the festive season there does not seem to be any reason why it should not go on as usual. Feeling is gefieral against the holding of the championship tournament. So many players of high standing have gone to the front that the entry would not be representative. Moreover, Keith Dutnie. the holder of the championship, is m training for the front, and it seems only right that he should retain the title until he is able to return hone and defend it. This procedure has been followed m several other British countries, and no doubt, the same course will be adopted here. It .is now only about six weeks to the opening of the season, and already interest is being taken in tennis matters, for the last meeting of the association was well attended and every delegate took a keen interest in any matter affecting his club.