THE AUSTRALIAN XI OF 1902. A SUGGESTION AS TO PAYMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 57

THE AUSTRALIAN XI OF 1902. A SUGGESTION AS TO PAYMENT.

The following letter appeared in^the London Sportsman of October 17: — " Sir, — Now that it is almost certain that an Australian eleven is coming over next year, and that "Wanderer" thinks "it may be taken for granted that the financial arrangement will be on the lines of 1599," I venture to suggest," Svs I have- often done before, that a readjustment of the financial arrangements might very appropriately be made on the occasion of a first visit in a ijew century. Our amateiirs ■when on tout in Australia receive liberal expenses and £50 — so I am credibly informed — as "pin money" ; our professionals receive expenses and £300, in very special cases £500. Not one of them has any interest in the gate money, and the net profits of the last visit were from £8000 to £JO,OOO. I give these figures, of course, with some reserve. The Australian elevens which have come here have received half the gross receipts, pooled the profits, and it, is conceded that they have made from £600 to £800 a man — not a bad sum for an eleven of amateurs.

My suggestion is to do as we are done by; to pay each of the Australians a handsome lump sum, say £700, . which would include expenses — this would be the more convenient method I faney — and to let our clubs and counties make what profit they can. But as some counties, as commanding larger gates than, others, have a- claim to larger receipts, I -would let each county take half its gross receipts, the various balances, after expenses are paid, to be pooled and divided equally. The arrangements for the test matches would, of course, be special,* as they were in 1899. My chief object in making this suggestion is to avoid the exportation of some £8000 to Australia, while the bulk of the money earned out there by our men is left behind, some £16,000 in all going every three years into Australian pockets. Australian .amateurs have a right to be reimbursed ior loss of business or salary, and the expense of a locum tenens, nor does one grudge them a reasonable profit, so perhaps my figure — £760 — is too low. That is easily altered, but some arrangement should foe made by which we do not always get the worst of the deal. I hope that the publicity of your columns will induce the^ M.C.C., or the counties, or both, at least to consider the question. — Yours, etc., W. J. FORD. Rugby, October 16.