SUNDAY CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 12

SUNDAY CRICKET.

WHANGAREI CONTROVERSY. ASSOCIATION DIVIDED. HOUSE MATCHES ONLY PROPOSED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, Friday.-? The question whether sanction should be given to - the playing of Sunday games on its ground agitated the annual meeting of the Whangarei Cricket Association last night. Members were so evenly divided that a deadlock resulted. Mr. Drever said he understood that a house cricket match had been played at the reclamation. He did not think cricket should be played so near town on Sunday, and predicted that the sport would lose public sympathy if the practice continued. / The president, Mr. G. Hedditch, said if all sports fell in with the same ideal th 3 position would be different, but why should the cricketer see people carrying golf clubs and tennis racquets past his door without enjoying liis own recreation The president said he remembered Sunday house matches being played 20 years ago in Wellington, and he could see no harm in occasional friendly games of that character. Nothing in the way of organised competition was intended. Mr. H. Langdon said that some very keen' cricketers could not get a game except on Sundays, on account of their half-holiday falling on odd days. Mr. Gash said he would refuse to hold office in a body that countenanced Sunday cricket. Mr. Langdon: It appears you are holding the big stick at the association. Mr. Gash: Not at all. I have stated my opinion. You can please yourself. I did not say I wished to stop anyone playing; simply that I preferred not to be associated with an executive which allowed play against my principles. Mr. Jennings: I agree with Mr. Gash that everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but why does he attempt to stop us having ours? The Chairman: Do I understand that there would be objection to teams outside the association being allowed to use the ground upon payment of a f^e? Mr. Gash: As far as I am concerned, yes. Mr. Jennings: But other games arc played. Mr. Flewellyn: The question we have to decide is not whether Sunday cricket is right or wrong, but whether it is in the best interests of the association to allow it to be played at the reclamation. I say definitely not. He moved that Sunday cricket be not allowed. Only those directly representing clubs were allowed to vote, and several refrained. The voting was even, and the chairman declined to give his casting vote. Mr. Whimp said he preferred that a youth should be induced to engage in clean, manly cricket rather than that he should slink behind a tea-tree bush and play two-up. Before a definite policy is laid down delegates will consult their clubs, and a special general meeting will bo. held to make a decision.