SPORT AND MILITARY TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 48, 25 August 1921, Page 8

SPORT AND MILITARY TRAINING

CRICKET ASSOCIATION'S REQUEST.

As many cricket teams were unable to play at full strength last season on account of militai-y parades, the Wellington Cricket Association has made a request to the Minister of Defence (the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes) that attendance at military training should be so arranged as to prevent interference with sports fixtures. In doing so, the association pointed out that sport, was essential in the training of Cadets and Territorials. *. ■

A reply was received to-day by the secretary of the Cricket Association (Mr. Roy S. Johnston) from the Minister as follows:—"I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter in which you ask if arrangements' might" be made whereby the holding of military parades would not prevent members of' cricket clubs taking part in matches on Saturday afternoons. While appreciating the advisability of parades being held on such dates as ,will interfere as little as possible, not only with cricket matches, but also football and other branches of sport, I fully recognise that, while it is necessary to hold a certain number of parades on Saturday afternoons, it is impossible to avoid a certain amount of clashing between men's military, training and sport. All responsible officers have been informed that players may be granted leave in order to play in matches, on condition that such parades are made up on other occasions. You will, no doubt, recognise that not only cricket but other branches of sport have to be considered in arranging parades for the year, and every endeavour is made to liold such parades at times when no one branch of sport.will be affected more than another."