LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1872, 4 October 1913, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

, [Bi BAOKHAND.iI

THE PROBLEM OP QROUMDS. Plrlo Stroot Rooorvo. Pirio Street Reserve is the important topio in sports circlos just now. A month ago tennis players might have imagined the whole problem of oourts had been solved by the leaso which the City Council granted to the Lawn Tennis Association, but in tho light of later developments it is questionable if that is the case. At the time <>f writing the association's committee is considering the terms of tho lease, thero is a rescinding motion before the City Council, and a campaign against the leaso t<] tho association, bo that the mattor can hardly bo regarded as sottled. In view of ail this it is rather remarkabio that Hhe tennis authorities seem to be the people least couccrned about tho wliolo question. Indeed, the majority of delegates to the Wellington Association evidently did not deem the grounds problem of sufficient importance to require their attendance at the annual mooting last week, when cnly about fifteen delegates out of 50 were present. Moro active interest will bo necessary if the association is really anxioiiß to be in possession of a property which will be suitable for New Zealand championships and iiiter-proviu-cial contests. Tho Day's Bay grounds, which have served for important fixtures in the past, ban now be tased from month to month only. There would, therefore, appear to bo some cause for prompt action in deciding whether the Pirie Street proposal should bo proceeded with ' or whether tho freehold at Day's Bay should be acquired. If the couple of acres at Pirio Street can not bo leased on terms satisfactory to the association then tho problem is no noaror solution than it was twelve months ago. A Cosd Soacon Ahoad. i About tho increasing popularity of lawn tennis in Wellington there can be no question, and' everything points to a good season ahead. The Karori Club commenced play'last Saturday, and today, if the weather keeps fino, a move will be made by the Brougham Hill. Wellington, and Newtown Clubs, and also by sovbral suburban clubs. The Thorndon Tonnis Club's courts will bo opened on October 18. The Ivelburue Tennis Club's courts will bo closed next week, during which time improvements will Be carried out. Gorman Touring Team. Aftor considerable negotiations by cable (says the Sydney "Referee"), the difficulties in tho. way of getting a representative German team to tour Australasia during this yoar have proved insurmountable; but it is hoped that next 6oason a team can bo obtained. The London " Sportsman" gives as reasons for the Gorman tour being abandoned that:—lt was found difficult to arrive on a mutual basis of agreement and also as to the personnel of tho side. Rising Talent. In America thoy havo a brilliant colt, W. M. Johnston, who promises to be tho equal of M'Loughlin, and in Australia thero appear to bo quite a number of young players coming forward to tost tho present champions. Discussing tho recent City of Sydney championships,. "Austral," in the "Referee," says:—"The greatest and most pleasing feature has been the success of now playerß. Wo had read of tho buccdbsob of the Todd brothers at Brisbano, but seeing is hotter than reading, and now wo are able to judge for ourselves, and the general verdict is undoubtedly that thoy have come to stay. They havo not had .the same'unchecked run of successes as in the northorn capital, but thoy have mot stronger players, and probably in one or more of their matches have played a really higher class gamo. Cortainly, their defeat of such a pair as Wright and Marsh is their most notable achievement, and when _ one realises that they did it after their opponents led at 7 —5, 6—2, and 3—l, after a run of 13 out of the previous 16 games, the merit of such a fino recovory is great indeed. However, wo havo a bettor colt, on present form, than either of tho Todds, in 3. 0. Anderson. His whole play is forcible and free, and when he gains ex-1 perience, and fills up tho gaps in his gamo, ho will possibly provo one of the best players tho Stnte has turned out. Ho is only 19, stands quito 6ft., and is strong and active. _ ' In a lower class, but with groat possibilities, several more young playors havo proved thomsMves. These are Bn.rton, a stylish volloyor, good in both singles and doubles; Jordan, a firstclass tactician; Dickens, Edgar Rice, Morgan, the Poach brothers, C. Anderson, and Goodman. An criually pleasing feature is.tho return of H. A. Parkor to form, and his display of tactics on Saturday was a timely illustration to the newcomers that they must study methods as well as play strokes. Publlo Schools Prolutlloo In England. ■ In tho United Kingdom, the rising talent does not at present disclose any players of tho calibre bf Parke and Dixon, and in commenting on this fact "Baseline," in tho London "Sportsman," says: —"Before very long our veterans must inevitably pass on, however worthy they may be at the moment, and wo aro confronted with the fact that in our rising generation we cannot discern n team capable of adequately filling their shoes. What we want to do is to discover and encourage young men of distinct possibilities, and in the distant future to rely on our public schools removing their ban from tho game. But just as those matters were pressing homo on us camo the speech of the headmaster of Dulwicli, objecting strongly to lawn tennis as a gamo for the schools, and paying it the highost possible tribute in his contention that it' would bo detrimental to school cricket. Any gamo rcgnrded as so powerful as that must, indeed, be a worthy ono. I fail to see why cricket : should suffer, ns the good cricketer will continue to play tho game if, in his freedom of choice, lie prefers it to any other gamo, and it is tho natural crick- ■ eter the game needs for its salvation, and not, as Mr. Eustaco Miles so happily says, "tho uncarcd for duffer," who is iforccd to cricket, as to a drill. "If lawn tennis is so good as seriously to threaten cricket, it is. reasonable to 1 affirm that natural ability should be given ample scopo in preference to any other game being drilled into the unwilling and inflicted upon hopeless ma- ' terial. As to a boy not playing for " his side in lawn tennis, that is an exi ploded theory, as he could play for Ilia school, his University, his county, and [ his country, and givo both body and i brain healthy exercise, leaving its mark » in tho later and moro serious affairs of 1 life. Undoubtedly there is room for - both cricket and lawn tennis at the ' schools, and I undertake to say that ill 5 many ronpccts it is a better health incentive than and certoinly healthier than tho strain of athletio • sports, which often are vory harmful to v tho heart. If wb ore to be rich in 3 lawn tennis talent we must begin at tho beginning, as they do abroad. The international recognition of the most cosmopolitan of games actually thrusts 1 upon our headmastors ft responsibility l which at present they aro shirking in j their disdain of tho true merits of the caso. , — 1 i According to the estimate of tho Comp- . trollcr of ; tho Currency, the population I of tho United States on August 1 was s 97,478,000, and tho monev in circulation was .4)688,102,680, or £7 Is, 2d. per head.