CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 243, 8 July 1921, Page 8

CRICKET

VISIT OF AN ENGLISH TEAM WELLINGTON SUPPORTS THE PROPOSAL A meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association was held last night, Mr-. C. G. Wilson presiding. There were also present Messrs. B. L. Salmon, W. G. Hughes, M, J. Crombie, K. Tucker, and B. S. Johnston.

In 19C6, when practical help was very sorely needed by the association, Messrs. W. E. Bethune, M. F. Buckle, C, A. Richardson and A. T. Bute furnished a £250 guarantee for the association. This guarantee has recently been cancelled, nnd a resolution was passed last night thanking tho guarantors for their help and tho interest they had shown in tho sport. The New Zealand Council wrote in reference to the proposed English tour. It pointed, out that the financing of the tour was the chief matter confronting tho council, .and tho various associations were of the opinion that the proposal should be gone on with. The council further stated: "The experience of previous tours suggests that it will be hotter and mors profitable to have two matches against each of the main centres, with three test matches, and then grouping the minor associations into districts, making about another six matches. On this basis, the amount of guarantees required need not be so high as on previous tours. It will be necessary for the major associations to guarantee £l9O for each match, but against this there are two important items which might easily bring a considerable amount by way of refund. When Lord Hawke’s team visited New Zealand under P. F. Warner’s captaincy in 1903, the memtars of tint team were privately entertained as the guests of citizens in the various cities, thus considerably reducing the cost < f the tour. For the purpose of estimating the cost of this proposed tour, the Management Committee has allowed for £1 per day per man as hotel expenses, but proposes to refund, to any association the amount saved by way of private accommodation. It is also proposed to arrange matches at Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on their return journey, and although t«e matter has not yet been discussed with the Associations of the various Australian States, it is expected that, the terms arranged will enable ft considerable profit to bo made on that portion of tho tour. Such profits would bo divided pro .rata, among tho council and associations guaranteeing the cost of the Dominion tour, after first providing for any grants, which mi"ht be made to associations that had suffered loss through wet weather in their matches against tho Englishmen. The proposed tour will commence m the first week in December, and finish about the end of February, leaving March for the Australian matches. The view has been expressed that the requirements of New Zealand cricket can be met by the visit of Australian teams only. The Management Committee does not agree with this, and is of opinion that it is not in the best interests of cricket to lose touch with tho Old Country, which is, after all, the home of tho game. lhe experience of the past has been I hat no Australian team has created so much enthusiasm, and the committee feels sure that the same result will be attained it this suggested tour eventuates-especially if the team is captained, as is hoped, by a player of the personality of Tennyson. The cost of the tour is estimated at £5700, and of this amount the council will guarantee £1200.” ■ It was mentioned that the Auckland association was opposed to the tour and the opinion was expressed that it that association found itself nliable io finance a match the New Zealand council should finance a test match there. Mr. Crombie moved that the Mellingitbe iwsaiation should guarantee the nece'-'sarv amounts. Mr. Wilson expressed the opinion that the proposed tour should, in the interests of cricket be persevered with, and a resolution to Jiat effect was passed.