MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13646, 1 February 1910, Page 8

MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL.

The quarterly general meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council was held last evening. Present —Messrs G. T Weston (Wairaraoa) in the chair, J. Young (Auckland).*H. C. Ridley (Auckland), F. H. Labatt (Hawke's Bay), C. Treweek (Wellington), A. R. Holdship (Wellington), E. J. Austin (Otago), D. H. Thomson (Otago). J. N. Fowke (Canterburj), W. B. Bothcll (Marlborough), J. D. Lawrence (Buller), C. R. Clark (Westland), A. Hardy (Taranaki). and H. S, Barns (Manawatu), and F. C. Raphael (hon. secretary).

The following notice of motion by Mr Hardy was, in accordance with tli.» rules, held over until the nest meeting :—"That no person who is in receipt of any payment whatsoever as a cricketer or coach shall bo eligible to play in Plunket Shield matches until he has resided in the Dominion for twelve months continuously, the necessary alteration to be made to th<s rules." .

Mr Hardy stated that the intention was not, as most delegates considered, to do away with professionals and the money said to be earned by their presenoe on the field, but it was to endeavour to prevent the hiring or borrowing of professional cricketers for the sole purpose of winning these matches. Mr Young suggested that if it wer>> possible to get good coaches by the offer of wages at an annual rate, instead of for the season, it would be more to the advantage of the Associations and cricket locally. The hon. secretary reported on tho arrangements made in connection with the visit of the Australian team, statiny that the Management Committee had altered the datesj of the second test match to Easter Saturday, Mo?tday, and Tuesday at the Basin. Reserve, Wellington.

Some discussion took place as to the advisability of "pooling" the gate money, Mr Ridley suggesting that in future it would be a good idea if each association were taxed —say, 15 or 20 per cent. —on its profits, the money to be "pooled, ,, and any association losmc money on its match to be reimbursed from this fund.

The Chairman remarked that thu question of "'pooling ,, was a very im■portant one, and would: have to t? fully dealt with in the near future.