WHERE WERE THE MEN?

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17469, 1 June 1922, Page 4

WHERE WERE THE MEN?

THE NEW ZEALAND TE:STNIS REPRESENTATIVES,

Strong comment on the failure of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association to send a men's team to Sydney in April was made at' Monday night's meeting of the Management Committee held at Wellington. Mr E. Salmond said lie thought he was expressing the views of every tennis player in New Zealand wlhen he said that .it was a great pity that a men's team did not journey to New South Wales. Ho understood that it was the question of finance which prevented the team's going. Knowing the calibre of the New South Wales players, he felt assured that if a New Zealand team had been sent it would have liud a very good chance of winning. There were a large number of old players Who would have considered it a privilege to 'have contributed towards the cost of sending the men's team to New South Wales. First and foremost, tennis was a man's game. A voice: No. Mr Salmond: Well, that's my view. Mr G. N. Goldio said he would like to congratulate the Management Committee upon having sent the ladies' team to Australia.. Mr Salmond had stressed the team which did not go. His own opinion was that it was the fault of tho men themselves that the teanf did not make the trip. Had they gene, they might have returned with as good a. record as tho l-.id.es' team had brought back. Tennis was a mixed game, and they had a right to consider the ladies as well as tho men. Mr J. L. Lord said he had been one of those who had advocated the tending of a. ladies' team, 'and he was pleased that the lesult had been justified. Mr Henderson said they had to remember that it had been originally decided to send a men's team to -Australia, but they had been unable to do so for various reasons. For his part, he was against sending any team | tiho members of which were not pre- ! pared to pay a share of their expenses. Mr Salmond: They are representing their country. iVlx Ken<ler£*m : Yes, but w.3 have to look to the future. Mr M. £. Denniston aiid that tha reason the men's team did not go was largely because the men could not arrange for leave. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was averse to I anything in the way of professionalism. He was convinced that the Davis Cup ! contests would yet bo blocked on the : ground that t)he cost of sending the teams tended to breed professionalism. Mr Longuet: I do not think it should go out that the New Zealand men's team did not go to Australia because of a few pounds' cost. The chairman: No one has suggested such a thing. Mr Salruond: Oh, yes, they have. I am not tho only person who has suggested such a thing.