TO HELP CRICKET.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17756, 7 May 1923, Page 12

TO HELP CRICKET.

COACH TO BE RETAINED,

MUNICIPAL ASSISTANCE

SUGGESTED,

Some time ago a meeting of chckcd enthusiasts recommended that an appeal for public assistance should be made to enable tho game to bo put on a sound financial basis. The objects woro set out as follows:—(1) detention of coach for primary schools; (2) support of the Boys' Association; (3) improvement of grounds; (4) provision of a urofesaional coach; (5) provision of a capital fund. A further meeting was held on Saturday night, Mr W. Simpson presiding. The chairman said that he took it that all who were present had the interests of cricket at heart, elso they would not have attended. Speaking with regard to tho suggestions, he said that after tho executive had given them duo consideration, it recommended that: (1) It is necessary that the services of Shaddock, the present coach, be retained; (2). business men be asked for £SOO a year for three years, the funds to be earmarked for coaching and Boys' Association expenses, and that subscriptions be invited for a capital fund. Mr K. B. Ward said that, unlike the Rugby people, cricketers had no funds, and got no big gates, although they had lengthy and expensive tours to make. Any little profit that had been made out of revenue had been expended in coaching. There was fortunately a small credit- balanco in hand at present, by means of which it would be possible to finance the tour next season. The services of the coach Shacklock cost the Association £125 a year. In addition to this sum, Shacklock himself earned wages in another capacity. Mr Redpath was in favour of the appeal being postponed until September, and the speaker was also of this He wished to make it clear that "The money would not be used at Lancaster Park. ,The grounds, which would be couched Auld be Hagley and Sydenham Parks, and perhaps some of the other grounds. Unless the Association got the assistance of business people, he was afraid that it would bo impossible to carry out the scheme. Mr D. Beese said that he felt the position with regard to Shacklock ought to be gone into at once. The payment of such a small sum to Shacklock for his coaching was ridiculous when compared with payments to other coaches. lie thought that Shacklock should combine two positions—coaching primary schoolboys, and also junior players. Shacklock was_ eminently suited for such work. With rogard to the £SOO, he thought that the allocation of such a sum was rather vague. He would like to have further particulars concerning it. The chairman said that Boys' Association cricket now cost £250 a year. The sum was raised by private subscriptions, tho Cricket Association meeting any deficiency. Mr Eeese urged caution. He hoped that the Cricket Association would not try to run too much. With so many grades aa it had at present, the Association was involved in considerable expense. Unfortunately many of the boys when they grew older were lost to the Cricket Association.

The chairman admitted that • the Boys' Association was giving the Cricket Association a lot of worry. It scarcely knew how to deal with, the boys. Mr Eeese said that in Victoria the Cricket- Association did not have to face any expense in connexion with the upkeep of boys' grounds. The chairman said that recently the boys had subscribed more than was expected of them. Mr H. E. Lawrence:. No boys should ever get their cricket for nothing. They should pay for it as much as possible.

The chairman said that he thought 'the Association Bhould endeavour to get the City Council to look after the grounds. The Sydenham Club had to face expenditure each year in respect of keeping the ground fit for boys to play on. Mr J. S. Barrett, moved: That the committee of the Canterbury Cricket Association be recommended to offer Shacklock £250 per annum for his services as coach for both junior and school cricket, such- salary to com* mence immediately on his acceptance of the offer. That this meeting

pledges itself to raise the amount mentioned. , . , The motion was seconded by Mr •Reese and carried unanimously. Vr Barrett suggested that the apneVl iu respect of the £SOO mentioned O.ould be postponed until September, in view of the numerous other appeals bcipcrmade at present, He would also " U f^es f that the meeting bo re-eonveu-cdtbout the second week in August. Mr Barrett went on to say that he thought sufficient attention was not paid by the municipality to the matters of orouuds. In this respect Chnstchurch compared unfavourably with municipalities in other countries. He moved: That this meeting do adjourn until a Hnte to be fixed in August or September when a scheme for an appeal to the' public will .be submitted to the Canterbury Cricket Association and dl Thc S inotion was seconded by Mr W. B Fox. and carried. 'Mr Kcese suggested that something more definite should bo brought forward with regard to tho amount likely to be required by the Boys' AssociatloMr E. E. Cavgill expressed the opinion that there wore matters nearer ~„„„ than the Bovs' Association. The chairman said that the Cricket Association would be given >great reliof if the Citv Council took up the work of preparing wickets in the Spreydon, Elmwood, Beckenhani, and other similar parks. _ Mr Barrett, while agreeing with the suggestion, also thought that a deputation should wait on the City Coun cil and seek its assistance. Speaking with regard to wickets, Mr Lawrence said that.an admirable wicket could be made with road cinders on top of clay, if properly drained. Such a wicket would stand for years, and would not interfere with football. K motion was carried recommending the Canterbury Cricket Association to arrange for a deputation to wait on the City Council with regard to that body preparing wickets for boys matches on municipal domains. _ Mr "Ward, speaking on the financial aspect again, said that, had a capital fund been started eorno time ago, he felt sure that there would have been £IOOO in hand to-day. Tho Canterbury Cricket Association should certainly aim at being equally as strong as' other provincial centres.