OVER THE NET

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 510, 13 November 1928, Page 15

OVER THE NET

By.

“DEUCE"

SOUTH ANNUAL MATCH SUGGESTED PROPOSAL NOT FAVOURED A suggestion that a North versus S.outh tennis match should be played did not find favour at the last meeting of the N.Z.L.T.A. Mr. N. A. Foden moved: “That a fund should be set aside to enable grants to be made to associations for the benefit of school tennis or toward the expenses of an annual North v. South match.” Mr. Foden said that it appeared that the association had no definite policy beyond the' ordinary routine of conducting tennis affairs. The Christmas tournament was, to his mind, not sufficient to bring the standard of New Zealand tennis up to the pitch which would enable them to compete with oversea players. If a special fund were set aside to enable school tennis to be fostered it would be a step in the right* direction. Tennis had come into its own during the past few years, and it was time the opposition to tennis in the secondary schools was broken down. An annual North v*. South match would also do a great deal to imjxrove the standard of play in the Dominion. Mr. W. T. Harbison, Wellington, said that in almost all sports nowadays they had a contest between the North and South Islands, and he did not see why they should not inaugurate an annual tennis trial of strength between the islands. Mr. D. Kean, Marlborough, was of opinion that they should either concentrate on the encouragement of school tennis or the North v. South Island match. Tennis was not supported by champions; it was the rank and file who kept the game going. The association would do better to make grants to the various associations to help them to encourage the game amongst the schools. Mr. W. Goss, Canterbury, said that the matter was one for the individual associations and not for the Dominion “ u "“\ A North v. South match would be self-supporting and would not cost the New Zealand association one penny. - Ihe motion was lost on the votes.

COST OF TENNIS HE bankrupt Duke of Manchester admitted that he spent £976 on tennis racquets and balls, presumably since his last bankruptcy in 1926. This is rather more than most New Zealanders spend on the game in two seasons. Nevertheless it is not so cheap a game as the non-player is inclined to think. A good player's expenditure for a season runs into about £3O 10s, made up as follows: Racquets (two), £10; balls (a pair a week for five months at least), £5; strings, 30s; scription, £4; match and tournament fees, £5; flannels, £4; shoes, £l. This does not include travelling expenses or breakages, and it makes a very moderate estimate of sartorial needs.