CHEAPER CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 63, 8 December 1931, Page 10

CHEAPER CRICKET

Plunket Shield Matches REDUCTION IN ADMISSION “I think the time is coming when we will have to make a reduction in the charge,” said Mr. W. J. R. Christopherson, treasurer, to the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association, last evening, when the task, of fixing the charges for Plunket Shield matches came before it. It was decided that the charge at the gate of the enclosure and the stand should include the tax, instead of being “plus tax” as in the past. Mr. Christopherson said that last year the charges had been 1/- at the outer gate, 1/3 at the enclosure, 3d of this being tax, and 1/1 at the stand, of which Id was amusement tax. He suggested that the charge at-the outer gate might be reduced to 9d, believing that many more people would go in than previously. The chairman, Mr. P. B. Broad, did not agree with this suggestion. He suggested that if prices were going to be reduced, it was the cost of admission to the enclosure that should be lightened. He thought that they might bear the tax on that charge themselves, so that in effect it would be 9d plus tax, and then they would charge the usual 1/plus tax for the stand. This suggestion found good support among the members of the committee, and on the motion of Mr. R. A. Whyte, it was decided that the charges should be 1/- to the ground, an additional 1/- to the enclosure, and a further 1/- to the stand, the association paying the tax out of the proceeds. Subsidy for Touring Teams. The University club wrote asking for £lO toward the expenses of sending a team to Taranaki, and Mr. L. J. Brabin asked for £3O to take a team of colts to Christchurch, and intimated that they would want another £7 later, for entertainment expenses for the Auckland team, which is to play at Wellington. It was decided to consider University a request at the end of the season, and to make a grant of £3O to the colts, this being the final grant to them for the season. Death of Supporters. Death has removed two prominent supporters of New Zealand cricket within the past week—Mr. T. S. Ronaldson, 0.8. E., and Mr. E. Heathcote Williams. Mr. Broad referred to the interest in the game each had taken. “Although he has not been actively connected with the Wellington association,” said Mr. Broad, when referring to the late Mr. Heathcote Williams, “he has been a sort of unofficial father of New Zealand cricket." Speaking of Mr. Ronaldson, he recalled that deceased had once been a Wellington representative. His presence had been a feature of all big. games for years past, and he would be missed. A vote of sympathy with the relatives of deceased was passed, members standing in silence. Third Grade Fixtures. Fixtures for third grade matches on Saturday are:— Third A. —Shell v. Kaiwarra, Anderson 3; Petone v. Karori, Petone; Hutt v. Midland, Hutt; Seatoun v. Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay 3. ' Third B.—Seatoun v.'Railways, Wakefield 1; Midland v. Brooklyn, Wakefield 3; Hutt v. Duthies, Hutt; Technical v. Institute, Lyall Bay 4. Colts to Practice. The following colts are asked to attend practice nets to-day, to-morrow and Thursday:—A. Willis, J. Ormiston, G. Myers, W. Jupp, R. Samson (Institute), J. Duffy, M. Randell, D. O’Leary, J. Vangioni, J. Rogers, W. Devlin (Marist), M. Marris, R. Morgan, J. Fay, R. Clark, G. Bennett, J. McLean, and A. Wiren (Wellington). Club Cliampionship. With a 46-point lead, Kilbirnie heads the competition for the club championship. The table isKilbirnie, 214 points; Stop Out, 168; Hutt, 162; Institute, 156; Johnsonville, 135; Onslow. 135; Marist, 132; Petone, 127; Midland. 127; Wellington, 122; University, 118: Kaiwarra, 98; Technical, 86: Duthiea. 84; Wellington College, 72; Old Boy*, 68; Seatoun, 67; Karori, 61; Brooklyn, 56; Hospital, 39; Shell, 32; Railways, 15.