COSTLY SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 54, 7 March 1929, Page 13

COSTLY SERVICE

CEICKET IN COUNTRY

ASSOCIATION'S ACTION

- Under the wing of the Wellington Cricket Association there are various minor associations, and in,'endeavouring to advance the interests of the game in their districts, the local controlling body arranges .an annual match in Wellington between town and. country representatives.. Since this fixture was first made iii the 1923-24 season it has provided much bright cricket, and many of the country representatives have been included in the Wellington team for Plunket Shield matches, but it has meant a considerable amount of expense to the Wellington Cricket Association. There has been a loss on each Town'v. Country match, the total now amounting to £200. In view of this the Manage--mont Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association has doubts about the advisability ,of going on,with the fixture. The whole position has beta given serious attention, and it has been made'the subject of a special report by' a sub-committee. After giving details of the matches which have been played, the report points out that the six matches have involved the Wellington Cricket Association in a loss of £200. "That must raise a substantial doubt as to whether the match ought to be gone on' with, at all events upon the'same terms as hitherto, "the report states} "From time to time it has been suggested that the dates fixed upon.'have .been unsuitable. The match, to fulfil its mission, must be played before the Plunket Shield matches, which usually start on Christmas Day, and,, owing to the uncertainty of the weather, it cannot very well be played before the end of November. .Early, this season all our country associations were circularised with a view to ascertaining their views [ upon the match generally." :,... ; COUNTRY VIEWS. The report gives the opinions of some associations, and states' that a number did not reply at all. ; Horowhenua considered that-the match should, be played in the middle of November. Manawatu expressed the opinion, that it; would. be. a great loss to country cricket if the fixture were abandoned, and that the match should be played early in' December. Hawkes Bay thought the fixture should' be persevered with, and that the dates'fixed upon for it should be notified to minor associations by the middle, of Novem--ber, so that minor: associations could arrange their own fixtures accordingly. Rangitikei had' ho recommendation to make, but • said there. was a feeling that the Wellington representative team was chosen before the'match took place. Nelson said it would bei very sorry indeed to see the match, dropped, and expressed; the opinion that, if the match were played a little earlier and either the country- players themselves or^their associations asked to stand a small;portion of the players' expenses, the match, could be made to pay its way. ■■'■;■"■ ■, ■ .••■'. .-'.■.■.';■ '. •

"Early in November, this association notified that the 7th and Bth December' had been fixed for the match,?' the re^ port state's. "Immediately 'Wanganui and Taranaki, who had not replied'to our previous coinmuiiicatiou, -notified that that dato clashed with their:Hawke Cup fixture and npne .of their men would :be available. It does seem< to us that these associations,, especially Wangauui, which,has .had greater representation in ■ Wellington -"s ! Plunket Shield teams, ,and-therefore greater ■benefit from the fixture, than any other minor associations, might well have acknowledged our circular letter,, and, when so doing, notified what dates were unsuitable. .'•■■■ ■ MATCH A BURDEN. "Our view; therefore, is that tho Town v. Country; fixture has become such'a burden upon .this*, association that, before the end- of the [present season, country associations be informed that wo cannot' see our way to go 1 on with the match unless those associations bear the/expenses of their own players, taking part in the match. If the Town v.. Country match, should fall through, or, indeed, whether . it: falls through or not, we. consider that teams from Wellington, equal in playing ability to an. average senior team, and containing as many colts as possible, should be organised to play at towns in the Wellington Association^ district during the-.Christmas holidays and again during the Easter holidays. Such tours, in our opinion, cannot fail to be beneficial not only to players in the towns visited,'but also to our own players, and we believe £25, a year, used.in subsidising such tours wouid be better spent than in staging the Town: v.; Country match.- We' 1 believe that during the Christinas holidays such teams would be welcome at New-. Plymouth and at other towns in Taranaki, and at Napier, Hastings, and elsewhere, in Hawkes Bay,, and also at Nelson and.Blenheim. At Easter our teams.need not go so far afield, and might play; at :Palmerston North, Marton, and elsewhere. Such tours are calculated to provide keen young cricketers with a, very enjoyable holiday. -The organising of such tours, in i our opinion, should bo commenced before the cricket season starts.'?; ■ Tribute is paid in'the report to the services of Mr. A. M. Ongley, of Palmers ton North, in. selecting and organising the country teams, and to the sporting spirit of the Manawatu Association, in stating that it' preferred to havo representation in the Piunket Shield rather than win the Hawke Cup. The Wellington Cricket Association's Management Committee is giving special consideration to the report, and whatever suggestions are. made with-'a. view to minimising the loss incurred by Wellington will be placed' before tho country associations. ,