TROUBLE BREWING

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18238, 24 November 1924, Page 9

TROUBLE BREWING

j«ONG TENMS PLAYERS -

professionals RULED OUT.

ithletes who derive benefit, distinct lubrity or eminence, from their M wi] j find themselves ruled out fn tennis competitions, club, interZ? and open, by the recent do- . oi tho New Zealand Lawn f"js Association "that no official Tenß 'layer deemed a professional c ' j ny other branch of sport !* diriblo to tako part in nny s tennis club competition or open Siament:" When the ruling i 5 1 ntf-fl by tho Canterbury Association, (toast bo, the exclusion will extend sil of Canterbury's professional %et<« runners, boxers, cyclists, and M may be) to two of tho amateur ill Bl&eks— j. H. Parker, the runner, ,3 B McCleary, the boxor—should s ' the fullness of time desiro to wU shorts and jerseys for flannels. But how Trill tho decision affect jf Te rs under tho New Zealand Kugby f«W That is a problem that a rejftft bus tried to solve. Tho rales of the All England Lawn Tunis Association, the governing body, ! T e nothing to say of professionals in sports, but they defino strictly tennis player. The rule jtads: —

i. fcMleur lawn tennis player is a per,oiriw ( a ) has not played the game for ®mey prize, staked bet-, declared -wager, i. olhsr monetary consideration, (b) lias not Zgmelii for a prize at the game with or iSjat any person other than an amateur, Tjjy not taught, pursued, or assisted in J, gjjn# for pecuniary gain, except at a, jXool or college where tho engagement also scholastic duties, (d) has not pronwney or pecuniary advantage .by Sua prizes -won, (e) has not accepted maty, travelling expenses, or other mone!Ut equivalent (except hospitality at a prints hoiise) f° r Paying the gam© in any j-fßjniont,- match, or competition (but a •brer when representing an Association or jo, any receive necessary travelling and hotel expenses from ouch Asjaitfion or club through its recognised offix if permission to pay suoh expenses Ajjl Jjuve been previously obtained from lb Council), (f) has not accepted money gmonetary equivalent for piuying the gamo nth and thereby advertising the goods of ey manufacturing agent or retailor of lawn lOBH requisites, (g) is not disqualified as a amateur from any other branch of sport, g jj a person who, after doing or commitMiy of the before-mentioned acts, has : ba reinstated as an amateur by tho Cbuncil.

"It all depends on clause (g) nhether a League player is disjwdlfied as an amateur," said Hr E. J. Tayler, vlio was secrejjty of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association for 17 years, and who irew up its constitution, when he was aied about the matter. He said the lital Association would have to abide ty the decision of the Now Zealand luociation. A professional would certtinly be blocked from competitions, but he did not think any club would rtfnse to have him as a member.

Asked what precautions the Associate would have to take to see that W professional sportsmen entered in tournaments, Mr Tayler said the clubs would have to be made responsible, ftrtififjates might perhaps have to bo iraed. "The Association is strict on 'ieia points," ho said. "We are not iltowed to play against 'enemy aliens' jet, as the ban has not been lifted isee the war."

The puzzle was to find out whether liigue football is a professional sport «not. The New Zealand players may 4,amateur, but how does their aflSlia»a with the English League affect 4fm? Dr. H. T. J. Thacker definitely fielared that the game was amateur. "Iheto is no professional element' in i at all," he said."The players in liigland are only paid out-of-pocket cx[fflses; the trainers- are the only paid «n. The Northern Union League team Hut toured New Zealand was composed •Jwage-oai'ners, and they were given nges as compensation while on tour, fogue players, swim, run, and cycle ii;#taateurs." The Doctor considered any reflection on League's amato status was "pointing," and that i» was felt at the way the game was inking headway. He added: "And there is no doubt that it is the League ittyiration in the present All Blacks Ihtf is making them win matches! "• "If they say Leagne is not profesijoiut], I suppose we will have to take ttlirword for it," said the president tithe Canterbury Lawn Tennis Assoition, Mr W. N. Seay. . He said that it an affiliated body the local Assotlltion would have to adopt the ruling «t the New Zealand Association, but it-ironld not need, to raise the point Wtil instructions were received from Iwdquartere. The rules laid down that t!» Association should officially recogllM'the disqualifications imposed by amateur sporting bodies. As official of the L.T.A. summed up ttjiirhole situation fairly well when lie lliithere was "trouble brewing."