M.C.C. TOUR NEXT YEAR

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27208, 27 November 1953, Page 12

M.C.C. TOUR NEXT YEAR

CRICKET

REPORT TO N.Z. COUNCIL An M.C.C. team will tour New Zealand during the 1954-55 season. This was announced by Mr U- A. voi ville chairman of the (nanagement committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council, at the annual meeting of the council last evening. This year there was the tour of the "Fijians and a tour of young players from New South W M? S (North Otago), while congratulating the management committee on its endeavours to arrange tours, said his association was disappointed that it "was not getting a game against the Fijians. He understood that the association had not played against a touring team for• ju years. He considered the association was entitled to consideration. He said he would also like to see more tours by major assocations of minor associations. One of the reasons this was not aone was because of economies being effected, but he asked if it would not be possible for the council to subsidise major associations to play matches against the minor associations. Mr E. Hayes (Otago) said be was asked to express his associations disappointment at not getting a game against the New South Wales boys team in February-March. Mr Colville said the time for the boys’ tour was limited and matches had to be kept down to a minimum. If time had been available the team would have gone further south. He said this was an exploratory tour and if successful might lead to a regular interchange of visits. Replying to Mr Hamilton, he said it was the management committee’s policy to make grants available to the major associations, and it looked to the major associations to look after the minor associations. This had been done bv some associations through passing on a grant, and by others through using the grant to play against the minor association. Mr D. E. Wanklyn (Wanganui) also protested against the omission of Wanganui from matches with either the Fijians or the boys’ team. As the holder of the Hawke Cup, he said it was felt that the association should have some priority. Mr Colville said there were 21 minor associations and four major associations plus Central Districts and only 17 matches were to be arranged. It was obvious that some associations had to be left out and Wanganui was unlucky.