PLUNKET SHIELD DATES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27993, 13 June 1956, Page 6

PLUNKET SHIELD DATES

CRICKET

WELLINGTON REJECTS PROPOSALS

CANTERBURY SUGGESTION unacceptable;

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. June 12.

None of the four alternative sets of dates proposed by Canterbury for next seasoh’s Piunket Shield fixtures was foignd suitable by the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association last night. A further pronosed list of fixtures was approved for circulation to other associations for their consideration.

Some members of the committee criticised the arrangement by which the dates and venues were fixed by agreement among the five associations concerned, and contended that the national controlling bodv should take over and fix the programme for two years ahead.

“The five associations are for ever consulting one another trving to reach agreement,” said Mr D. R. Alexander.

“This wool sale idea is the craziest thing in cricket.” said Mr J. McLellan.

“No other country in the world runs »t«; major tourney, whether it is interstate or a country competition, in <=uch a wav. The controlling body lays down how it shall be run and makes all the fixtures.”

The chairman (Mr W. G. Speakman) ss’id he had raised the nuestion before at a meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council. The other associations felt that the Question should be referred to the council only if the associations could not agree among themselves.

Mr Speakman agreed that under the proposed new constitution for the New Zealand Cricket Council, there would be two half-yearlv meetings, and therefore no opportunity for representatives of the associations to get together in a corner and thrash it out.

Mr Speakman said that usually the basis of agreement had been reached by on-the-snot discussion at the winter half-vearlv meetings.

Fixtures suggested bv the secretary (Mr N. H., Chanman) fo” the coming season, as a further alternative to the four Canterbury pronnsal s ; were:

December 25. 26. 27: Wellington v Auckland, at Wellington; Canterbury v.i Otago, at Christchurch. December 29 and 31. and January 1, 1957: Auckland v. Otagn. at Auckland: Canterbury v. Wellington, at Wellington.

January 3. 4. 5: Canterbury v. Auckland. at Auckland: Central Districts v Otago, at Dunedin. January 12. 14, 15: Otago v. Wellington. at Dunedin: Auckland v. Central Districts, at Palmerston North or elsewhere in Central Districts.

January 19. 21. 22 or later: Central Districts v. Wellington, at Wanganui. Members agreed that it was most important that Canterbury and Wellington. where the biggest gates were attracted, should have- Christmas fixtures. imd it was felt this would suit other associations who found Christmas games at home inconvenient.

“If we cannot get agreement to a Christmas date at home we may have to go to arbitration,” said Mr Speakman.