Evening star., 1938-04-25
NETMAN INSISTED
ON 'PAY,' IS CLAIM
AuckIanders Feel Expense
Demand for Don's Play
UnWarranted.
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.

NEW YORK, April 25.-Whether
the United States, having to date
lodged serious international issues,
Is in for an athletic war with New
Zealand over question of Don
Budge's amateurism remains to be
seen.
OF course, it may be that. down in
the Antipodes, specifically in Auck-
land. they have a conception of what
constitutes an amateur which differs
materially from that held in the
United States. France, England, Ger
many and other countries going in
for lawn tennis. This also remains
to be seen
Meanwhile. the facts to be con-
sidered are these. as culled by Braven
Dyer, Los Angeles writer, from the
New Zealand press. 1t appears that
Bulge and his doubles partner, Gene
Mako. were on their way home aboard
an American liner from Australia
One of the stated ports of call was
Auckland in New Zealand. Accord
Ing to the understanding of the u S
l.. T. A., Auckland was on the timer
ary of the migratory American play
ers. who were booked to go ashore
and play there. At any rate, here
is what happened. according to the
New Zealand Sportsman, a publica-
ton which has just reached these
shores.
But There Were No Expenses"
I'm radiogram,' says the Sports
man, from Bulge, the world tennis
champion demanded f2O each for
himself and Gene Mako. The cable
left no doubt that they would not
fulfill their advertised appearance in
Auckland unless they were paid
1T was agreed here that never be-
fore had such cold-blooded demand
been made to the association by a
player. What was to be done? There
was the public to be considered. To
stand on its dignity and not accept
the demand meant that the associ-
alton would disappolnt many hun
dreds. So the money was paid and
Bulge appeared
What happened to the f4O Bulge
and Mako received? There were NJ
travelling expenses involved. Before
the team left the United States the
fares had been paid to Australia and
return.
Can it be said there were ex-
penses involved in getting from the
boat to the Wharves? Hardly, be-
cause the players were met at the
boat by association officers and taken
places at the associations expense
Next is the question of hotel ex.
penses. There were none. Bulge
and Mako remained on the boat.
Protection of Bulge Seen.
"On what grounds, in view of all
available evidence, can those 'ex.
penses be justified? There is only
one ground-the fact that if it would
retain the Davis Cup the United
states must continue to have the
services of Bulge. Everything else
will be subordinated to that one fact
One would not be stretching it too
far to say that the United States
Lawn Tennis Association would give
him a fortune to keep him as ar
amateur"
Question would seem to arise how
the expense money was figured. If
the two players did not spend the
night ashore; if, as appears to be
the case, the steamship was due to
stop at Auckland anyway, it would
be interesting to know how and what
way any expense at all was involved.
Or, possibly, as already said, the word
has different meaning in the
U. S. L. T. A. lexicon than it has in
New Zealand. incidentally, it calls
to mind a statement attributed to
Fred Perry-"All I could make as
an amateur was between $4,000 and
f2n nm q vearo