RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30889, 23 October 1965, Page 46

RANDOM REMINDER

PANKHURST, NOT OUT, 1965

The lead New Zealand gave the world years ago in social legislation is now almost forgotten, and is little more than a memory of a glorious past. But even today an echo of the far-seeing policies of our forefathers can be found in the newspapers. In 1893, women’s suffrage was introduced in New Zealand. By 1928, the process was completed in England. In 1965, the Robin Hood Darts League at Bromsgrove, Worcestershire barred women from its league matches. And the local dominoes league has acted in a similarly arbitrary fashion. And in 1965, the Ashburton County Cricket Association is giving serious consideration to allowing

girls’ team into its third grade competition. It is a startling difference in outlook. The burghers of Bromsgrove were moved by the belief that a man’s prestige can be lowered if he is beaten by a woman. No such inhibitions hinder progress in Ashburton. At least that is the apparent view of the Ashburton association. But what about the two teams from Ashburton College who may find themselves playing against a team of girls from their own college? Theoretically, it adds to the sum of human progress. But cricket, not at its most robust at present, may suffer further damage if the girls’ team performs too well. Who, at 15 or so, is going to risk having to a go home and confess t<

being bowled for a duck by his younger sister? There will be some, of course, who will see the salvation of New Zealand cricket in this possible move. Who knows, some of the wise ones will be saying, that the Ashburton College girls’ team may not produce a player —possibly a science student—who is capable of delivering diabolical spinners. Would there be anything in the rules to prevent her playing for Ashburton, for Canterbury, for New Zealand? Barrington might blanch, in March, if confronted by a slip of a girl, as it were. But this is all supposition; first things first. The immediate problem. If the girls’ team is accepted, will be to get it to the to ground on time.