SPORT

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 23, 18 November 1938, Page 16

SPORT

by

S. V.

McEwen

= much-debated question of junior tennis in New Zealand is again in the melting pot through the failure of the New Zealand Council’s scheme to send a youths’ team to Australia during the approaching summer. ; The Council has been the target for years for brick-bats from all and sundry in its attitude towards junior players and their advancement in the game, One cannot overlook the fact, however, that the juniors themselves have not done much to assist their own cause. The present impasse provides a yood example. . ; The four players who were chosen were asked to find £15 towards their own expenses. Obviously there has been organised opposition to influence these boys in their decision not to accept the Council’s invitation unless all their expenses are paid. Spoon-feeding of sporting stars is a growing vice, and I suppose it is useless fighting

against the spirit of the times in which we live, From my experience, juniors in most forms of sport seek just as many privileges as the seaiors receive; but they are prepared to give little in return. A few hours a week of solid practice to improve their play and make them worthy of such privileges becomes a burden. It is typical -of the juvenile outlook these days. The plum has to be well coated with sugar before they will look at it. The Tennis Council would be justified in completely dropping its | activities on junior tennis for the time being, and await the day when the juniors get down to serious business and prove themselves worthy, by the standard of their play, of further recognition. To neglect the chance of Australian experience, and a month’s good holiday thrown in, for a paltry £15 says little for the enthusiasm of those who received the invitation. Practical Progress HEN Jackson Scholz, American ’ Olympic sprinter, was in New Zealand a decade ago he told me that he considered New Zealand’s athletes only needed training and coaching along the right lines -to take a prominent place in world athletics. We have proved often enough that we can produce sufficient natural talent, but lack of class competition, due to our isolation, has always kept a _ restraining hand on our progress. Now we are definitely getting somewhere. The controlling body of athletics in South Canterbury -has arranged for a summer school for athletes at Timaru in the week between Christmas and New » Year, whea the services of the American coach, A. L. Fitch, will be available to all who seek his advice and help. Nothing has ever been attempted on this scale before. Fitch is one of America’s most accomplished athletes and his work in New Zealand last season is already bearing fruit. Through him, the very latest methods in training and _ the mechanics of field games become available to our athletes, and utoth--jng but good can result from such a scheme. It now rests with the athletes themselves to support the school whole-heartedly. It is passing strange that the initiative in this. desirable movement has been undertaken by 2 country centre. N.Z. Hope T is not comforting to know that at the present time five world’s boxing titles are held by three negroes-Joe Louis, John Henry Lewis, and Henry Armstrong. The search for a "white hope" continues apace, but meanwhile Harlem kicks up its heels in joyous arrogance and scoffs at the white man’s impotence. Since the day in July, 1928, when Gene Tunney battered lionhearted Tom Heeney into a state of insensibility in a New York arena, New Zealanders have nursed few hopes of a fighter from these shores following in the footsteps of immortal Bob Fitzsimmons. However, such an event may even yet come ito pass. According to Charlie Lucas, now visiting America for Australian Stadiums Ltd, New Zealander Maurice Strickland has more box!ng ability than most of the heavyweights over there and Lucas declares that if Strickland would cut loose and fight as he can fight, he would be sure to get places.

Lucas says the only heavyweight of any class is John Henry Lewis, who would make Joe Louis look anything but a champion. The heavyweights are the worst lot on record, but the middleweight division is strong. Meanwhile, Strickland is tied to @ promoter, and one-man promotion is said to be the cause of: the decline in big boxing in America. Not a Living HAVE often heard discussions on the amount of money earned by players under’ the Rugby League code which so many people delight in terming "the professional code of Rugby." A Sydney newspaper recently published the distribution of bonuses made by the various. League Clubs in Sydney for the season just closed. Highest rate was £52 to first grade players in Pd

the Canterbury-Bankstown Club, winners of the premiership. This is the only payment the players received during the season, and it averages out at £38 4s. 8d. per game. The record paid in the hey-day of the game in Sydney was a bonus of £98 paid. by South Sydney, averaging £6 per match. From this it can be gathered that no player could possibly live on the game without some other means of: i#velindod;. 1° 3

The League ‘draws huge attendances’ in Sydney-much bigger than the Union code. On a comparative basis, the money which the New Zea‘land League Clubs have avail- — able for distribution to their players must be considerably smaller. The question arises, should a player be branded a professional for receiving a pound or two for playing with his club on a Saturday afternoon? | I think we would get keener and better play, and much more enthusiasm on the part of the players, if the Rugby Union adopted the same policy and spent a little more of its huge resources on the men who make it for them, rather than concentrate their favours on the few lucky enough to be chosen in an All Black XY. Still Very Fit RECENT caller at this office _ was Mr. P. J. ("Paddy’’) Hannan, one of the most accomplished oarsmen ever produced in New Zealand. Paddy did not look his 54 years; he has not aged a day in the jast ten years and appears fit enough to regain the New Zealand professional sculling championship which he relinquished many years ago. Hannan’s rowing career is an interesting one. He did not compete until he had passed his 27th birthday, had 30 match-races, and was beaten in three. He was the oldest rowing champion in the world when he retired. At one time he was entitled to claim the world title, but with his accustomed modesty, he did not do so; he preferred to win it in competition, if possible, The circumstances surrounding the title at this stage ' are- worth recalling.’

Ernie Barry defeated Felton for the title and was then challenged by Dick Arnst. Unable to travel, Barry forfeited the title and Darcy Hadfield met Arns* to take the title from him. Hadfield was then beaten by Jim Paddon, who thereupon retired. The title should have automatic. ally reverted to Hadfield, but Australians began to push the claims of their champion McDevitt. Eventually it was decided that Hannan and Hadfield should meet in New Zealand, and Major Goodsell and McDevitt in Australia, the winners to meet for the title. .. Hannan defeated Hadfield, at Tauranga in 1925, and Goodsell beat McDevitt. Hannan and . Goodsell met in Australia and the New Zealander suffered his third _ defeat in match races. This win gave Goodsell undisputed cham- . _ pionship honours, but on a point of procedure the title should have gone to Hannan when hé defeated Hadfield at Tauranga. Now residing at Picton, Paddy finds time to paddle a skiff on the harbour. He considers the young rowers do not do sufficient training, and that all clubs should include a "rowing machine" in their equipment so that training will not be broken during rough weather.