LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 58

LAWN TENNIS.

DAVIS CUP COMPETITION. WELLINGTON, April 30. The members of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Tennis Association have been appointed by the* Australasian Association as managers for the Davis Cup competition to be held in Wellington during the Christmas holidays. (From Our Own Correspondent.) • WELLINGTON, April 30. . As telegraphed some days ago, the Davis Cup contest this year will be held in Wellington, the reasons given by the New Zealand Association's. Management Committee to the Australasian Association as to where the contest should be played arc as follow: (1.) That on account of the geographical position of Wellington and transit facilities, and from the experience of sports bodies in New Zealand, the attendance of the public would be' much greater in Wellington than in any other place in New Zealand; (2) that a -suitable ground upon which to play the matches and on which to accommodate spectators can be obtained in the centre of Wellington at reasonable expense ; (3) that Wellington is the head-quarters of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association and the location of the Management Committee to which no doubt the arrangements for the competition will be entrusted. The Australasian Association decided that the challenge round should be played in Wellington, and recommended accordingly to the challenging nations. It was also decided to approach the challenging nations with the object of having the preliminary tie played in Australia. The management Committee in Sydney for the Davis Cup contest 1910, has appointed Messrs Hunter, Peacock, Swanston, Young, Salmiond, Laishley, Hurley, and Goldie, of Wellington as a sub-com-mittee for the' challenge tie, such committee to be invested with such powers as may be delegated to it from time to time. The' Post, referring to the rumour already referred to in my previous telegram, that Wilding will not 'play, says " persistent rumour has been circulated that A. F. Wilding, the noted Davis Cup player and New Zealand champion, will not be prepared, if required, to assist in defending the Davis Cup this year, for the reason that Wellington has been chosen before Christchurch as the place where the match is to be decided. Wilding has always been looked upon as a great sport, and it is hardly conceivable that he would leave his country in the lurch over such a minor mat-

ter. The Australasian Association naturally would decide upon the city that would, from its geographical position, be' unrivalled as a converging centre for the outside public, and the facilities for transit are such that visitors can more readily, at a less expense, visit Wellington than any other of the princinal cities in the 1 Dominion, Tennis players and - tennis enthusiasts should out the report that Wilding will fail New Zealand out of their minds at once. He, like his father, is too keen and too generous a Slsort " May 2. There is evidently going to be some trouble over the choosing of the locality for the playing of the next Davis Cup. A report has been current that Anthony Wilding would decline to play unless the competition was allotted to Christchurch, but Mr Fisher, M.P., states that this allegation is denied. In a letter received from Mr Wilding, sen., the attitude of the Wildings, as put by Mr Fisher, is that they are entitled to some consideration in view of the fact that Anthony Wilding has. represented Australasia in six Davis Cup matches abroad —four in England and two in Australia —all at his own expense, with no assistance whatever from the New Zealand Association or any other association. The Wildings have a private court, and have every facility for the accommodation and practice of Anthony Wilding's partner (Brookes) and the challengers, whoever they mav be. .Mr Wilding, sen., says that he would have offered no objection whatever to the playing of the Davis Cup match at any place that the New Zealand Association might have selected, but he has the strongest objection to the settling of the question in anv hole-ard-comer manner, and at .the instance of a sub-committee which was acting without the authority of the association" from which it drew its power. The reply to this is that there was no hole-and-corner' method adopted.- The Committee of Management was asked for its opinion. It went into the question, thoroughly, and it gave its matured and unbiassed opinion. The committee is the executive bodv of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, and acted in every way quite within its rights. It did not decide the question; it only made a recommendation, and the Davis Cup Committee fullv recognised the wisdom of that recommendation.

THE EASTER TOURNAMENT AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, April 30 The final of the combined championship in connection with the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's Easter tourname'nt was played to-day. when Miss Butterworth and Goss defeated Miss Nicholson and Kiver, 6—5, 6—4. VICTORY FOR. WILDING. CAPETOWN, April 26. Wilding, of New Zealand, won the South African tennis championship, beating Kitson, 6—o, 6—3, 6—4. CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. LONDON, May 1. In the Doubles Championship S. Doust and R. Poidevir. (Australia) beat A. Gore and H. Roper-Ba.rrett, tlie holders, 6—3, 4_6, 7—5, I—6, B—6.