TENNIS ASSOCIATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 16

TENNIS ASSOCIATIONS.

JUSTIFYING EXISTENCE.

WORLD-WIDE ORGANISATION.

CLUB POWER FOR IMPROVEMENT,

13V L.W.S.

I havo found in many tennis clubs, particularly among tho rank ami file, that thoro is a great deal of misconception as to tlie activities of tennis associations —a vague impression that a tennis association is a receptacle for fees levied at a certain rate per member upon tennis clubs, for no apparent benefit. I have been asked what our Auckland Tenuis Association does to justify its existence, and, for the lenofit of those unacquainted with the internal working of tho association, I would attempt some enlightenment. Tennis is one cf tho world's most popular games and players throughout the world have attained a high degree of perfection. No heights are reached '"by sudden flight," and it is not conceivable that tho excellence attained by such players as have been seen in Auckland recently, Messrs. Austin, Gregory, Collins and Higgs, is the result simply of tennis experience gained bv Jones playing Smith, and Crown v Robinson ou a home-made court, in tho back garden. Tho Lawn Tennis Association —a British body which controls and dominates tennis throughout the world—was funned many years ago by a cumbinatiou of enthusiasts, and clubs v?ra enrolled throughout Great Britain as affiliated members, with, in short, the sole object of improving tennis in its various branches. New Zealand Body. Tennis in New i'ealand is controlled by I tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Associaj tion, and this body is affiliated with the ! Lawn Tennis Association previously meuj tioned. The New Zealand Association lias appointed its London representative, who attends meetings of the Lawn Tennis Association and exercises New Zealand's vole in accordance with instructions given him by tho New Zealand Association. The New Zealand Association consists of affiliated associations throughout the Dominion, tho Auckland Association being one of its largest members. In turn, affiliatad clubs throughout this province form tho Auckland Association, each club having a definite number of representatives according to its respective membership. So it is shown that every member of an affiliated club, even in this remote country, is linked up with a great worldwide organisation; lie is a power in tho tennis world—a supporter of an important body for tho improvement of the game. If John Brown, a D grade player belonging to a club consisting of one pumice court in tho wilds of tho Urewera Coud try, is possessed of an idea in connection with tennis, this may be transmitted through smooth channels until it is ventilated in London, at tho meetings of tho Lawn Tennis Association. Benefits to Game. Tennis associations confer many benefits on tho game in general, and on clubs in particular .Such benefits are too mime* ous to detail, and may bo seen bv anv ono who follows the tennis notes in the daily papers, but it may bo said with, J think, a fair degree of truth, that our local body has done much fur tennis in the province; in fact, without the association, the game as played would certainly never have attained its present standard. The efforts during the last score of years of such men as A. Goldo, IT. It. C'ooke, 11. G. Thomson, (J. L. Taylor, F. .T. Ohlson, K. \V. Griffiths, 1. E. Hickson, and many others too numerous to mention, have umpiestioa ably borne fruit.

To the player who id in doubt regarding tennis associations, T would say that such bodies stand for tennis. A club, no matter how small, is an association of players, a power for tho improvement of tennis. It commences by instituting a club ladder, followed by a club championship. Its controlling body, the association with which it is affiliated, then knits all the clubs together by conducting an inter-club competition in several grades, and further bv introducing provincial tournaments. The Dominion organisation in turn holds Dominion tournaments, and finally, step by step, we mould tho great game until we arrive at tennis which is tho wonder of all beholders—Wimbledon tennis!