NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19112, 22 September 1927, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND CRICKETERS.

DEPARTURE FROM LONDON.

LORD MAYOR'S COMPLIMENT. (BY CABLE—PKESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, SoptemWr 20. Tlie New Zealanders had a surprise farewell, the Lord Mayor, Sir Rowland Blades, and Lady Blades entertaining tliem at breakfast at the Mansion House. It was a lightning affair, the cricketers dashing from the West End and hurrying back to pack up, then entraining at Victoria Station. Sir Rowland Blades, in toasting the team, said that before the team came tliev were inclined to appreciate New Zealand football more than cricket. ''You treated us to a wonderful game at Lord's, tho spectators thereafter being oil tenterhooks," lie said. "You have shown us how to play in the public interest." Earl Jellicoe said that, like all other Englishmen, he was impressed with the Siportsmanlike cricket of the New Zealanders. -They went for the bowling throughout, and were full of grit and determination.

Mr Hay, in responding; in the absence of Lowry, who is indisposed, said that tliey did not intend to lapse into slow cricket when they returned. The Lord Mayor, Earl Jellicoe, Lord Hawke, and Lord Harris said farewell to tho team at Victoria Station.

THE FINANCES.

GOVERNMENT GRANT SOUGHT.

STATEMENT BY MR D. REESE.

Interviewed last night by a representative of The Press regarding the tour of the New Zealand cricket team, Mr Dan Reese, chairman of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council, gave his opinif regarding the tour, and made an important statement in connexion with the finances.

"The departure of the New Zealand team from London yesterday brings to an end the cricket tour through Great Britain which has proved so satisfactory from New Zealand's point of view," said Mr Reese. "I think, perhaps, • the two outstanding matters of satisfaction are, first, the definite status which has been given the Dominion in the cricket world, and the creation of a national pride in the cricket of our country similar to that aliich was created by the 1905 All lacks. The tour opens immense possibilities for the cricket of the Dominion, and with a definite prospect of regular tours to both Britain and Australia will now be a decided incentive to the young players of this country, similar to what all Australian boys have had since the year 1878, when the ■first Australian team visited England.

Bowling Weak. "The play of our team in England," continued Mr Eeese, "has proved conclusively that this is the finest batting side that has ever represented New Zealand. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of our bowling and fielding. With an admittedly wet season in England, one can only conjecture what might have happened if Fisher and Downes at their best had been in this side. We have never during the. past 25 years had such a bowling side as Fisher, Downes, Prankish," and Upham. The recognition of this fact brings out the first important lesson of the tour. Admittedly all cricketing countries are suffering a slump in bowling just now, but I think a definite effort should be made to reinstate the bowler in his proper place. His efforts are certainly not recognised as those of batsmen, for a man making a century gets far more recognition than a bowler taking five or six wickets, yet taking their relative values the latter is an equal, if not greater, performance when measured by the standard of run-getting these days. I would like to see the bowlers get far more encouragement and recognition on the honours boards of clubs and schools in this country. The joy of making runs is sufficient encouragement to a young batsman, but bowling is hard and continuous work, and is always dependent on the efficiency of the fielding side. In fielding, also, the touring team seems to have failed to come up to the required standard of a county, side. No excuse can be offered for this, and it behoves the authorities in this country to stipulate that efficiency in fielding is essential to inclusion in a first-class side." Honour to Blunt. In reply to a question regarding individual players, Mr Eeese said: "I would prefer not to make invidious distinctions, for so many of the members have done splendidly. However, •' the distinction given Blunt by his inclusion in Wisdcn's Almanac among the Ave cricketers of the year is a high honour to a fine player. It is also a very great compliment to New Zealand that her best all-round player should be given such distinction."

"The results of the tour have proved we were a little too modest when the framing of the programme was under consideration," continued Mr Eeese. "Not only did it prove disappointing to find that we were too strong for the minor counties, but'it had a very definite bearing on the financial results of the tour, and it is certain that any future tour of England would be planned along the line of Australian tours whereby they play all th'e major counties two matches, with just one or two against the minor counties, and a week's tour of Scotland. With the figures the management committee has before it just now, it is difficult to compute accurately what the loss will be, but it will certainly exceed £4OOO. This, at first sight, will prove extremely disappointing to all supporters of the game in this country, and particularly to thpse generous people who found the money to make • the tour possible. It is hoped, [however, to bring the total loss back to a more nominal figure. Government Assistance. "The Council will carry out its promise to stand the first loss on the tour from its own funds, and this will not be less than £IOOO. There can be no serious regrets at this, for the Council only acquires money for the development of the game in the Dominion, but it is hoped that with the advancement of the game future tours will not only pay for themselves, but provide funds for the game throughout New Zealand, similar to the results obtained by the Australian authorities. The Management Committee has applied to the Government for a grant towards the expenses of the tour. As previous Governments made substantial contributions to both the All Black tours to England, and the Maori team's visit to England and France, it is felt that the Government will favourably view our request. 4.s the amount asked for is £IOOO, it is therefore hoped to bring the net loss on the tour from the shareholders point of view, back to £2OOO. As the Association has generously offered 90

per cent of the net gate in Sydney, a substantial amount should be obtained from this match. A final effort will be made to make the matches in Wellington and Christchurch go a long way towards wiping out the loss. Both the Wellington anc| Canterbury Cricket Associations very promptly offered their full assistance in the control of these two matches, and it is confidently expected that the public ■veill give the necessary support to make them_ a huge success, and enabl© the' Council to retrieve itself from the difficult financial position in which a very wet season placed it. Match at Colombo. "The team will arrive at. Colombo on October Bth, and will play a one-day match there against Ceylon," stated Mr Eeese. "It will be interesting to followers of the game to learn that, not only is there a likelihood of the Australian Board of Control sending a firstclass team to New Zealand during the coming season, but there is now a prospect of the English team, which visits Australia in the season 1928-29, playing at least two matches in the Dominion in March of the latter year. "The wonderful reception given the team in England," concluded Mr Eeese, "and the kindness and hospitality meted out on all sides, has been a marked feature of the tour. It required some boldness for the Management Committee to decide at shore notice to accept the invitation of the Marylebone Club without just knowing how the tour conld be financed, but I think all will agree that it has proved a wonderful event for the cricket of this country, and that the players themselves are entitled to the best thants of the Dominion for the splendid way in which they have upheld the country's honour on the cricket fields of England."