PETONE CRICKET OVAL'

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 128, 27 November 1923, Page 3

PETONE CRICKET OVAL'

"ALMOST A WILDERNESS;' "PERFUNCTORY ATTENTION" BY COUNCIL. Some very descriptive adjective* were applied to the Petone Recreation :Ground by Mr. D. M'Kenzie, in a report to the management committee o^ the" Wellington Cricket Association last evening. •Mr. M'Kenzie said that the Turf on all the wickets was good, and. that the ground could be made into fair playing areas if given the necessary, attention. But the absence of grass on the' pitches indicated that they had not received sufficient watering to give the" grass a. decent chance. It seemed.that otherwise the wickets received perfunctory, attention, and he had-come to the conclusion that either the roller used was not .heavy enough or that it was not used as/much as it ought to be. - "I have no hesitation inlaying-,'.' said Mr.. M'Kenzie, "that if the younger cricketers of Petone are to be-given a decent chance of developing along right lines, better, playing surfaces . should be prepared for their matches. .- =<"• .- One wicket in particular was covered^ with docks; the grass seed used off "it".; could not have been selected with any- care. An eyesore on "the ground is "the long grass—almost a wilderness-r.which has been allowed to develop because of the top-dressing put on -the ground'^ early m the season. In appearance",it would disgrace a. back-blocks ground, and for the decent playing of cricket is out of the question. The fourth-class wicket is practically in the midst of this wilderness, and one end of the junior wicket is affected. I am. told the.:grass has been allowed, to remain in its present state bo as to ensure a good turf for football nest season, but surely the fact that the association pays rent for the use of the Recreation Ground for cricket purposes, should weigh with the Petone Borough Council and its responsible officials. In. my opinion the junior and fourth class wickets should be declared unfit to play on until'"the long grass is mown. . .-.. . . 'While at the ground, I naturally had a look at the wicket that is being -got ready for senior matches. It reminded me of a description I once read of a property that was being offered for sale; the auctioneers described it as rolling downs and undulating ... There were stones to be tound on the surface, and those that are underneath are'bound to come to the surface directly the wicket is played on." Mr. M'Kenzie reported more" favourably upon the Hutt Recreation Ground, but remarked that the fourth grade wicket was rather rough. The chairman (Mr. C.; G. Wilson) said the_ association must have Rood wickets if it was to produce: good cricketers. If they were not improved they would never have good .cricketers r .t! Wa?> decided to draw the attention °f „the.,P et°ne Borough Council to tlig state ,of the wickets at the Oval ■ and suggest that the surface be improved