LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19980, 23 December 1926, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW SOUTH WALES TEAM’S TOUR. CIVIC RECEPTION IN AUCKLAND. (Special to Uailv Times.) AUCKLAND, December 22. The friendship forged between New Zealand and New South Wales as the result of the interchange of lawn tennis tours was the keynote of speeches made at the civic reception to the New South Wales lawn tennis playerg who arrived on Tuesday to make a five weeks’ tour in the Dominion. In extending a cordial welcome to the visitors the Mayor (Mr Baildon) said it was generally regretted that F. Kalms was unable at the last moment to make the trip. Lawn tenuis might not be the leading sport in New Zealand, but it held a very high place in the community. Mr Baildon recalled that New Zealand and New South Wales lawn tennis teams had met on six previous occasions. New South Wales had won in 1920. 1922 and 1926, and New Zealand in 1896, 1904. and 1923. Honours were thus even and keen interest would centre on the outcome of the test match to be played during the present tour. In conclusion the Mayor recalled the days when Norman Brookes, of Australia. and the late Anthony Wilding, of Now Zealand, had wrested the Davis Cup from Great Britain. The welcome was endorsed by Mr E. W. Griffiths (president of the New Zealand and the Auckland Lawn Tennis Associa ; . tions. Expression of thanks were returned by Mr Prank Peach (captain of the team, and president of the Now South Wales Association). and bv Mr E. B. M’Kav (manager of the team.) Mr Peach referred to the happy relations which had always prevailed between New Zealand and New South Wales in lawn tennis affairs. He also paid a tribute to the showing of the Now Zealand team which visited Sydney last April. The New South Wales team was a band of keen enthusiasts who were thoroughly amateur in every way. Thev were hopeful that they might beat New Zealand in the test match, but if defeated they would be glad to congratulate the winners. “We have been through some very strenuous periods in New South Wales recently,” added Mr Peach, “and we do not know quite what will happen in the next few months. J. O. Anderson, the State’s No. 1 player, has turned to professionalism and it is usssijile that New South Wales will lose other players.” Mr M’Kav described the present team as immeasurably stronger than the one which visited New Zealand three years ago. Both on the field and off he thought the visitors would create a favourable Lawn tennis was more than just a game, Mr M’Kay said. It had served to create a feeling of business friendship between New Zealand and Australia. In closin'’-. Mr M'TCav expressed the desire that E. L. Bartleet. of Auckland, should he prevailed upon to visit Now South Wales with the next team. Most of New Zealand’s leading players had been seen in Sydney and lawn tennis enthusiasts there were particularly anxious to seo Bartleet.