COUNTRY CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 10, 7 October 1936, Page 6

COUNTRY CRICKET

Conference To-night

Some years ago the New Zealand Cricket Council, with the object of encouraging players in the country districts, divided the Dominion into four Plunket Shield areas—Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago—and gave the tour major associations the right _to select teams for the Plunket Shield matches from any part of the area under their wing. Wellington, for some, years, drew largely upon such populous districts as Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wairarapa, and Nelson, but of recent years the policy changed to giving preference more to city players. The annual Town v. Country match the year before last was allowed to lapse, and last year dissatisfaction with the policy of the management committee of; the Wellington Cricket Association in this connection led to a conference between delegates of the country associations and representatives of the Wellington Cricket Association. A talk cleared the air, and the Town v. Country match was made an annual fixture onee more, and at dates which would give the country players an opportunity of proving their right to inclusion in the first Plunket Shield match../.. Last year, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Association in Christchurch, the Wellington. . .delegates gave an assurance that they would again hold a conference with delegates of the country associations in their.. Plunket Shield'area. That conference will be held in Wellington to-night, and supporters ot cricket hope that every country association will have a delegate present to discuss the best means of controlling cricket in the province. No doubt, Manawatu’s proposal to establish a fifth Plunket Shield area, embracing Manawatu, Wanganui, Taranaki. Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Rangitikei, and Nelson, will be thoroughly discussed. The country has supplied many able players to assist Wellington in Plunket Shield contests in the past, among whom may be mentioned: E. H. L. Bernau, C. A. 'Holland. J Orr (Wanganui). D. A. Cameron (Rangitikei), D. A. R. Moloney, W. Hatch, N. Gallichan (Manawatu), M. A. O’Brien. T. P. Reaney (Hawke’s Bay), J. Newman, D. L. Freeman (Nelson), and JI. B. Massey (Wairarapa).