LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

WHY IT IS CORRUPT. ALLEGATIONS BY MR. P. A. VAILE. "You ask me," Eays Mr. P. A. Vaile, late of Auckland, in the London' "M.A.P.," "does veiled professionalism exist in lawn tennis? There cannot be the least shadow of doubt that it does. In fact, to my mind, the poor position the game holds in this country socially is due to the fact that the financial slime of at least one corrupt firm is spread all over it. "Indeed, this firm has things so well 'readied' up in England that the game is practically under its thumb, and if the inner history of the manner in which ball contracts for tournaments are obtained by the aid-of bogus amateurs and venial secretaries were known to the police, there wuuld be sufficient foundation' for tt remarkable series of prosecutions under the Corrupt Practices Act. "In speaking now as I do of the lawn tennis trade, it must not be thought for a moment that 1 am Inrring the wholo trade with the same brush. There are in this trade firms whose respectability, integrity, and solid workmansuip'are beyond question. There aro firms who resolutely refuse to greasb the palms of lmugry cjuasi-pros., firms who think that they havo a right to he considered in fair competition against their fellow tradesmen, without giving away motorcars; finding every leading player free rackets, thrusting thousands of balls on tournament committees, ami fiuauclug every needy lawn tennis player who seeui6 likely to be a good advertisement for them.

"To a very great'extent, the firm I have in my mind is responsible, for the corrupt condition of things that exists. They have got people, lawn tenuis players, and others connected with tournaments absolutely 'squared.' "There are vurious ways in which amateurs are squared. Of course, one of the most important methods of doing this is naming a racket ufter him, and giving him a royalty on it. "It is, of course, common knowledge that the namse of at least two very fine players in England have been absolutely prostituted by one firm for trade purposes. ' • "Squaring" Amateurs. "For years past it has been common rumour that these players were financially interested in the house running the goods bearing their name. Yet, with the full knowledge' that these things were being said," l.heso players have allowed their nanies to be used by this firm of tradesmen over a long course of years. "I do not think we need waste much time speculating whether there is any financial arrangement between these players and this firm. It seems to me, that if there is any speculation to be done at all, an ordinary, sensible;,, business man would merely ask, 'How much are they getting?' "Now there is no mawkish sentiment about me in connection with these matters. If these persons who have practically spent their 'lives in the not very noble pastime of lawn tennis—l mean where it is pursued as the sole end and aim of life—have by their distinction in Ih'ttl »[>ork acquired poiver to charge for the use of their names and influence in pushing the goods of certain tradesmen, I don't know that I should object 'to l their doing so, provided it were done in an open, manly manner. What I do object to is that these .men, who, as I have already said, are in the front rank, pose as lily-white amateurs, when they are in truth nothing more nor.less than tradesmen's touts. ' Ball Governs Players. ' "Some of the things they do art, in my opinion, - despicable in the extreme.. Of course, it is well.known that when .they visit foreign tournaments they get their train faros and expenses on a generous ,scale. 'But what is not so generally known is the fact that that generous, scale has been known to include an exoess over actual expenses which represents during that time a very comfortable 'living wage.' - "" "These same , 'amateurs' have been known to refuse' to appear at a tournament unless the ball of tho firm that was running them, and. whose goods they wcro engaged .in pushing, was used at that tournament. "There are practically two men in the lawn tennis trade, who, in my opinion, are responsible for the degraded condition of tho game. ' "One of these, a fat person of alien extraction, is, as a matter of fact, striving hard for honours, and expects to get ■ them. I have a strong idea that he will be /disappointed, 'because I have taken very good •care that these things are known in the proper quarters. "Tho difference in the class of men who play golf and those who play lawn tennis, .both as regards wealth and posifion, is too obvious to require emphasising. ' To a very great extent it is the social atmosphere of golf that has given it its wonderful hold on the world. ■ "Thero is a danger in this aspect of golf—a great game bids fair to develop into a social cult, but it will be a long time before there is any similar risk in lawn tennis. King, Edward and the Game. "Some years ago ■ I pointed out to a member of the-All England Lawn Tennis Club that tlio,game did not occupy that position-in England that it ought to, and I told him he ought to endeavour to get the late King to take an interest in the game:

"He seemed awed at the idea, and asked me if I would do it. I sent to Lord ICnollys a copy of one of my articles on' the importance of lawn tennis, which had had a world-wide vogue, and!drew his attention to the fact that, if the King would attend the finals at Wimbledon, it would be a great thing for the game. "His late Majesty sent the Hon. Henry Stonor to see "me,' and Mr. Stonor said that tho King had read i my letter and articl|e, and it would giv« him great pleasure to do as 1 suggested. "It was left to me lo make'-arrange-ments for the King's accommodation. Unfortunately, it rained continuously, and the finals were postpon-ed to a day when his Majesty could not attend. I was, however, given to understand that a similar, request at a future time would be favourably considered. "There can bo no doubt that such an event as I endeavoured,to arrange would have a beneficial effect on the tone of the game, but is it likely that I am going to interest myself in raising the social status of tho game with tho full realisation of the fact that, in doing so, I should merely be acting as a tradesman's tout? ' "When I endeavoured to secure his Majesty's presence, I did not know what I do now regarding the corruption of the. game. "One firm alone has a whole army of parasitic touts attached to it. And, to our everlasting shame, these ignoble satellites in some cases occupy responsible positions on bodies which exercise an important' influence on lawn tennis in England." ■- . '