TENNIS LEVIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19216, 4 January 1926, Page 5

TENNIS LEVIES.

Sir, —Just before Christmas thcro appeared a telegram from Chratchureh describing a discussion by tho Canterbury Lawn Tennis' Association on a proposal tho New Zealand Association bad made to collect from all affiliated playars a levy of Is a year for the encouragement of "big tennis." It was shelved by tho Canterbury Association, and thcro it ended. I have been waiting for someone with an abler pen to comment on this proposal, but none has. Yafc it is surely time something was said alxmt the failuro of tho New Zealand Association to _ try to cater ,fbr tho great mass of mediocre players, upon whose pockets it has designs. There is much talk of coaching, but nothing is done. The association might learn a little from the New Zealand Golf Council about the value of itinerant professional coa.ches, but it learns nothing. It may wish to encourage "big tennis," but it shows few signs of desiring to eater for and encounvKo the gi-oat mass of ordinary players., who are tho backbone of the game. It "seeds tho draw" wiicn it holds competitions, and thus announces Ks adherence to a system which embodies at onoo tho most complete sacrifice of tho true sporting spirit of the game to tho gate, and the definite introduction of a privileged class of player. Let the Now Zealand Association meditate these words, written by William T. Tilden, who ought to know:—"l do not think it is the star who keeps the game alive. It is that great class of players who play at clubs the world over, who can novor rise above tho dead level of mediocrity ... In short, 'the Dubs' (with a capital D), who make fenniji what it is, and to whom tennis owes its life, since they are its support, and out from them have come our champions," If the association recognised tho existence of these people in other ways than by trying to provido "big tennis" for them to look at—at a price thero might be some justice in proposing to tax them. As it is tho proposal deserves the cold water Canterbury threw on it. Hknk'S DPB.