LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21544, 16 January 1932, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The visit of the 1 Australian ladies' lawn tennis team has provided the real opportunity for some years to test the capabilities of representative players in New Zealand. North Otago was offered a match, but the expense was too great, and the required guarantee was beyond the limits of the local .association’s purse. Otago, however, accepted the match, which takes place this week. The Otago team to meet the visitors has been published, and is composed solely of Otago players, but that does not alter the fact that invitations to play wore issued by the Otago Association to Misses Melvin and Guest, of the Southland Association, according to notes in the Daily Times. Does this mean that the Otago Association has not the class of players to form a team from its own ranks and that it lias to call in the assistance of representatives of Southland, or is it the desire of the Otago Executive to place the best possible team in the 'field? If

the latter, then why is Misa D. Miller, of Oamaru, the Otago and North Otago Singles champion, overlooked? She fully demonstrated her capabilities at the Otago championships at Dunedin in New Year, 1931, and in the South Island tournament, held at Dunedin last Easter, she was runner-up in the Singles championship. At the recent North Otago championships she again annexed the local Singles. The selection of G. Sumpter, of Oamaru, to play in the Wilding Shield match is another instance of inconsistency. Sumpter has not been in the front line of lawn tennis during the past two seasons, and his selection appears to be based on his reputation, gained in former years, when his play admittedly was high-elaes. His form this season has been mediocre. At the North Otago championships he was beaten in the semi-final, and in the South Island tournament at Timaru was never in the deciding rounds. His form in the Doubles was also poor. In Oamaru he failed to take part in the association’s ladder competition. Summed up, he ranks about third in North Otago lawn tennis, and yet he ie selected. Why? Either the Otago Association is illadvised concerning lawn tennis and tennis players in North Otago or the Dunedin officials responsible are extremely lax in their duty to the sport. The chief_ grievance in North Otago, however, is the omission of an invitation to Miss_ Miller, the Otago champion, to play against the Australian team. —I am, etc., Oamaru, January 13. Deuce. [The invitation to Misses Melvin and Guest was extended at a time when the programme provided for a match in Dunedin between the visiting team and Olago and Southland. It lapsed when the programme was_ altered to include a match in Invercargill.— Ed. O.D.T.]