COUNTRY CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 11, 8 October 1936, Page 13

COUNTRY CRICKET

Conference Held at Wellington WELFARE OF PLAYERS Fifth Plunket Shield Area Favoured Delegates representing the minor cricket associations in the Wellington Plunket Shield area conferred last night with the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association on the best means of giving country players a chance to take part in firstclass cricket. A motion was carried endorsing the Manawatu proposal that a fifth Plunket Shield team should be admitted to the competition. The chairman of the management committee of the Wellington Cricket Association, Mr. J. H. Phillipps, presided, and other members of the committee present were: Messrs. A. Ronaldson, J. E. Banks, A. W. Duncan, W. A. Baker, J. S. Hanna, J. R. Stevens, C W. Bell and A. Varney (secretary). The minor association delegates included : Messrs. A. M. Ongley and D. A. R. Moloney (Manawatu), T. C. Lowry (Rangitikei), R. M. Chadwick (Hawke’s Bay), H. B. Massey (Wairarapa), M. McLeod, (Nelson) and E. Gane (Marlborough). Mr. Hanna acted as the Taranaki delegate. The chairman said that at last year’s conference of the New Zealand Cricket Association it had been suggested that each major association should hold a conference with delegates of the minor associations under its wing, and the S®®®®®®®®®©®®®®®®®®®®®®®®® 4

Wellington Association very gladly fell in with this suggestion. He welcomed the country delegates, and felt sure that the conference would be for the good of the game in the province. The first business taken was the Manawatu association’s suggestion that a fifth Plunket Shield district should be formed. Mr. A. M. Ongley said that it did seem that the liue of demarcation between town and country players was disappearing. For some years Wellington had been able to give representation to the country players in its area, but there were now so many good players in the country that the position had been altered. The country associations felt that the only solution was the establishment of a fifth Plunket Shield district. The ideal solution was to have six districts in the North Island, and four in the South Island. This would give the players in the 10 districts a chance to take part in firstclass cricket. ‘‘Old Conservative Idea.” It would be for the good of the game, he said, if the old conservative idea that there should be only four major associations in New Zealand was exploded, and some other system adopted. It was important that something should be done this year, as a team would be sent to England next year. No one would suggest that a New Zealand Rugby football team should be selected solely from the four centres. All they "were aiming at was to give country players an equal chance of selection in the New Zealand team as city players. New Zealand cricket in the past had lost a good number of promising players through not giving them a chance to take part in first-class cricket.

Air. T. C. Lowry (Rangitikei) said he agreed with Air. Ongley as far as players for New Zealand teams were concerned. It was a pity that the Indian team was not coming to the Dominion this year. As a New Zealand team would be going to England next year, it was essential that a number of trial matches should be played. The country players appreciated what the Wellington Cricket Association had done in the past to give country players a chance. He suggested that a fifth Plunket Shield district should be formed, and that each team should play the same number of matches. The financial problem would be a difficult one, but he thought the money could be found with a little hustling. The chairman said it was apparent that the minor associations in the Wellington Plunket Shield area should be given a chance to gain a place in the New Zealand team. He suggested that each Plunket Shield team when travelling north should play a three-days’ match at Palmerston North. Wellington had the strongest minor association area in the Dominion, and if two Plunket Shield teams played at Palmerston North this year it would give the country players an opportunity to prove their worth.

Air. Lowry:’ We come to you, Air. Chairman, as your children; we are entirelv dependent upon you. Air. Ongley: No doubt there will be opposition from the other major associations. The formation of a fifth Plunket Shield area would not mean any more expense.

Mr. MacLeod (Nelson) said he had attended cricket conferences for some years, and his opinion, was that the New Zealand Cricket Council did nothing. The Nelson association was in favour of the Manawatu proposal, provided there was a better method of selection than by correspondence. Tlie Alanawatu- association should also give an assurance that it could maintain a Plunket Shield team. If players were to travel second-class on the railways, and stay at cheaper hotels, expense would be cut down considerably. A Tail Order. Mr. Ongley: It is rather a tall order to expect that Manawatu should finance a team, and send selectors round the country. If a fifth Plunket Shield area was formed, all the minor associations concerned would have to share the expense.

Mr. 11. B. Alassey (Wairarapa) said he was sure that all the country associations would willingly contribute toward the expenses. What was wanted was that trial matches should be played, and that the New Zealand selectors should attend these matches.

Mr. R. Al, Chadwick (Hawke’s Bay) said the only problems to be considered wore leave for players and finance. He did not think that the country districts were cricket-minded, and for this reason they could not expect much from the gates He agreed that country players were not getting a fair chance in big cricket in New Zealand. The New Zealand Rugby Union sent its selectors round the country to see what form was offering. and it might be cheaper for the New Zealand Cricket Council to follow this example. He would like to know the attitude of the Wellington Cricket Association regarding the formation of a fifth Plunket Shield area

Mr W A. Baker asked how the expenses of the Hawke Cun matches had worked out last season. Air. Ongley said that each association bore the expenses of its own players. The gate money went toward the expenses, and any loss was made up by the associations concerned.

Mr. Lowry challenged Mr. MacLeod’s remark that the New Zealand Cricket Council did nothing. The council was composed of honorary members, and they

were doing their very best for cricket m New Zealand. The chief difficulty with regard to the formation of a fifth Plunket Shield district would be obtaining leave for the players. As they were beggars, they would have to' be prepared to bear the expense of sending theirXeam on tour. The New Zealand Cricket Association had lost £3500 on the visit of the English team last year, and was sending a team to England next year,- so they could not expect much financial assistance from the council. Mr. Massey said that Wellington had the strongest minor associations of any province, and the formation. of a Plunket Shield area in its country districts would allow more Wellington players to gain places in the Plunket Shield team. Association’s Finances. Mr. O. W. Bell said there were several points that had to be considered. The. first was the finances of the Wellington Cricket Association, and he felt the association would lose financially if a fifth Plunket Shield district was formed. If. the Wellington district area was left intact, it would mean that the province would have a stronger Plunket Shield, team. Two matches would be played in Palmerston North, and there would also be the Town v. Country match, and the Wellington selector would have the chance of seeing the form of the country players in these matches. Wellington had country players in its Plunket Shield team now. and the Wellington selector would welcome any good player from the country with open arms. The New Zealand selectors would also see the matches at Palmerston North. Mr. J. S. Hanna said that Taranaki was in favour of a fifth Plunket Shield district being formed from the minor associations in the Wellington province. He was afraid that the formation of a fifth Plunket Shield team would mean that players would have to ask for extra leave. Mr. Baker agreed that the problem of leave for players was the chief difficulty. Mr. Hanna said that, through bad weather, Wellington had lost some £6O in the match with Auckland, at Wellington. last season. Could the minor associations stand a bump like that? If matches were played at Palmerston North on week days, they could not expect much from the gates. He was afraid that. Auckland. Canterbury and Otago would jib at the financial hurdle. Air. Lowry said that the object of suggesting the formation of a fifth Plunket Shield district was to give country players a chance to take part in firstclass cricket. He was sure that the country associations would be able to finance the cost of their team. Mr. A. W. Duncan, sole selector for Wellington, asked if it would not be possible for the best country players to join i Wellington clubs, and play in the city competitions. Mr. Massey said that players who did this would not be too popular in their own districts. Mr. A. Ronaldson said it was clear that the minor associations desired a fifth Plunket Shield district. They might be successful if they asked the New Zealand Cricket Council to try out the scheme this season in view of the selection of the New Zealand team for England next year. The chairman said the Wellington association now knew what was at the back of the minds of the country delegates. Mr. Onglev then moved: “That the rules of the ‘Plunket Shield competition be amended so as to permit: (a) The inclusion of a fifth team representative of the minor associations of the Wellington district or anv other minor associations; (b) the reduction of the matches from four playing days to three playing days: (c) that each team should play only three matches per season.” The motion was seconded by Mr. Lowry and carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. Lowry, the minor association delegates expressed confidence in Mr. A. AL Ongley as sole selector of country teams. It was decided that the North v. South country trial match should be cut out this season, and it was announced that the annual Town v. Country match would be played at Wellington on December 18 and 19. On the motion of Mr. MacLeod (Nelson) it was decided to ask the minor associations to consider a scheme for arranging interchanges of visits.

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