A WORD FOR THE GIRL CRICKETERS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20979, 6 October 1933, Page 17

A WORD FOR THE GIRL CRICKETERS

TO THE EDITOR OF THE fRKSS.

Sir, —The girls of Christchurch have taken up cricket with enthusiasm, and that must add greatly to the interest of the public in the glorious game. Surely, then, it is not too much to expect that these young, charming enthusiasts should be encouraged both for the sake of the game and their own dear selves. But it might appear that Christchurch cricket is controlled by a cabal of diehard Tories, who have never understood, or accepted, the fact that the better sex is to-day fully i emancipated and is on a level with man in everything. Those dictators would keep our wsmen and our girls in the shameful subservience of Victorian days. It is probable that they would not allow them to play cricket at all if they could manage it; but seeing the girls do play it they are resolved they shall play it outside the pale of the male cricketer. For the men a splendid cricket field is provided with several- playing pitches—but not one of them is assigned to the girl cricketers. Why this sex distinction? It certainly docs not savour of clean cricket. Is it due to jealousy on the men's part? Last year, I recall, the girls played .on one of those pitches while another match between men cricketers was played on another pitch. What happened? The people crowded to see the girls play and left the men cricketers. Did that rankle, I wonder, or what is the reason for this virtual boycott of our girl cricketers? Whatever it be it is time the boycott ended, and I hope others will join me in this protest and compel the lords of cricket to give to our girls what they should have had from the first—fheir rightful share of the cricket field. Hagley Park or any portion of it was never intended to be a preserve for men only.—Yours, etc., CLEAN CRICKET. October 5, 1933.

[Mr W. Simpson, president of the Canterbury Cricket Association, when this letter was submitted to him, said that the only grounds controlled by the association were those on Eugby Park, rented by the association from the Canterbury Rugby Union. The association had never received an application on behalf of the girl cricketers for a pitch. The Hagley Park ground was controlled by the West Christchurch, St. Albans, Riccarton, and Old Boys' Clubs; the Lancaster Park and East Christchurch clubs rented grounds from the Lancaster Park Board of Control, and the Sydenham Club rented the Sydenham Park ground from the Christchurch City Council,]