LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS.

THE AUCKLAND LADDER.

WELLINGTON'S LOAN QUESTION

LOCAL ASSOCIATION MATTERS.

Tho positions of players on the association ladder at the close of last season were as follows:

Men.—Seniors: E. L. Bartleet, 1; E. W. Griffiths, 2; V. R, Johns, 3; A. C. Stedman, 4; N. G. Sturt, 5; A. S. Lamb, 6; M. M. Morrison, 7; 11. Enhvistle, 8; V. N. Hubble, 9; IT. C. Rowlands, 10; H, L. Robson, 11; H. Brinsden, 12; W. G. Watkins, 13; A. K. Turner, 14; G. Martin, 15; A. E. McKeown, 16. Ladies. —Miss M. Macfarlane, 1; Miss J. E. Ramsay, 2; Mrs. Shroff, 3; Miss M. Miller, 4; Mrs. Scott-Watson, 5; Miss E. Miller, 6; Miss D. Newton, 7; Miss Marion Macfarlane. 8; Mrs. Napier, 9; Miss J. B. Mueller, 10; Miss M. Richardson, 11; Miss M. Potter, 12; Miss E. Fearnley, 13; Miss N. M. Whitelaw, 14; Mrs. Warren, 15; Mrs. F. Sturt, 16. Men's Doubles. —Bartleet and Robson, 1; Johns and Johns, 2; Griffiths and Brinsden, 3; Turner and Hubble, 4; Rowlands and Morrison, 5; Lamb aud Ilorne, 6; Entwistle and Martin, 7; Potter and MeKeowu, 8; Harrison and Harrison, 9; J. S. Andrews and Barfoot, 10. Ladies' Doubles.—Misses Macfarlane, 1; Mrs. Napier and Miss Ramsay, 2; Misses Miller, 3; Mrs. Herrick ar.d Miss Frankham, 4; Misses Whitelaw and Mueller, 5; Misses Potter and Fearnley, 6; Mesdaines Warren and Worsop, 7;. Misses Bryant, 8; Misses Asser and Sturt, 9; Misses D. Newton and R. Taylor, 10. Junior Men. —C. G. Bowden, 1; J. L. Gregory, 2; M. Wilson, 3; R. >T. Carter, 4; G. V. Adams, 5; W. D. Forbes, 6; S. A. Carter, 7; K. P. Rolhville, 8; A. S. Cooper, 9; C. G. Marshall, 10. At the next meeting of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association a committee is to be set up to control tho ladder, and doubtless the above positions will be revised and places found for new applicacants. A slight increase in interest was apparent last year. With proper management the ladder can do much good for Auckland tennis, but the executive should be careful not to lay too much, stress on tho importance of ladder matches. Actually a club championship, which is often the best of five sets, is of more importance. For the selection of teams ladder matches can take their place along with the more important contests as an indication of a player's form. It is, of course, essential that the leading players should give their support. If they do not the ladder'becomes a farce. Doubtless there will be many changes on the ladder, as some of the juniors will have passed the age limit, and the withdrawal of some names and the addition of others is certain.

A Suggested Improvement. The association, with a view to popularising this competition, would do well to consider doubling the number of players on the men's singles ladder and presenting a. prize for the player who wins the most matches. The increase in the number of players from 16 to 32 would give many more a chance of competitive play, and would thus increase interest in what lias been in the past rather a dull competition. There should be no attempt to force players on to the ladder. There are some who simply have not got the time for the playing of challenge matches as well as club events. Their rights should be recoguised. To make a position on tho ladder necessary before a player can be considered for representative matches is wrong. The ladder competition should stand on its merits, and coercion is neither necessary nor desirable.

The 40th annual New Zealand championship meeting is to be held at Wellington from January 27 to February 1. The national championships have not been held in Wellington since 1919, which was the first meeting after the war. The lending of money to the Wellington Association by the parent body is meeting with adverse criticism from some quarters. Provided, however, that the security is in order, it would appear to be in the interests of tennis in the Dominion, iand it is a pity if parochialism is to creep in. At the same time a precedent has been established, and any of the other major associations choose to apply their applications will have to be considered on their merits, and having regard to the securities offered.

Question of Hard Courts. Several matters of interest will come up at the next association meeting. More facts should be available for the delegates regarding the Domain tennis courts. Clearly the solution of many of the association's court difficulties appears to be in the construction of hard courts, which, take less upkeep, and are available when rain prevents play on grass. When one reads that 20 hard courts were busy at Wilding Park with the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's junior A and suburban inter-club competitions, it shows what is possible. If there is any prospect of making courts in the Domain pay their way then Mr. Hickson's scheme should have the support of all delegates. Ladder and selection committees are to be appointed, and particularly in the latter'case care should be exercised. The selector or selectors should be thoroughly conversant with tennis form in Auckland at the present timo. Mr. J. Kukutai's motion thai rule 6 of the inter-club competition be altered to read: "All matches in B, <!> and D. grades shall be decided by the best of three straight sets," is a matter for players in those grades. If they desire the change then they should have it. It is recognised that two courts only are to be provided for inter-club matches, and if these grades can get through with the longer matches, well and good. The emergency committee's proposal for an increase in inter-club entry fees should havo the full support of the meeting.