AMATEUR TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21144, 30 March 1932, Page 7

AMATEUR TENNIS.

QUESTION OF FREE BOARD. CONTROLLING BODY'S WARNING. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON'. Feb. 22. It is reported that, steps have been taken to stop the practice whereby prominent amateur tennis players accept free board and lodging from hotel proprietors. Rule 30 (c) in the regulations of the Lawn Tennis Association provides that a player engaged in any tournament, match or competition may accept from the management of any hotel or boarding house a reduction of not more than 40 per cent, of the usual charges, provided that this reduction is offered to' all other competitors playing in the same tournament or competition. It is common knowledge that at soma tournaments star players have been given free accommodation and food as an inducement to visit the town in which the tournament is held. The secretary of the Lawn Tennis Association, Mr. H. Anthony Sabelli, has now written as follows to the honorary secretaries of open tournaments:— "My council has been informed that the * committees of certain tournaments in cases allow players to avoid the payment of their entrance fees and that in other cases players have been put up at hotels free of charge or on terms which . ore very much below the reduction of 40 per cent, allowed under rule 30 (c). "I am instructed to point ou£ that the offer of acceptance of these inducements is contrary to the rules and regulations of the association, and that tournament committees and players lay themselves open to penalties which my council are determined to inflict if any cases come to their knowledge after this warning."