SUMMER SPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1932, Page 15

SUMMER SPORT

OUTLOOK FOR CRICKET

HOPEFUL VIEW TAKEN

WELLINGTON'S POSITION

"In spite of the world depression, signs I of the lifting of which are only here aud there appearing," states the annual report of the Wellington Cricket Association, "the committee feels it can say to delegates that the outlook for the game in Wellington for the coming season and, in fact, for the future is not only not mil'iivoiirable, but is in many respects hopeful and reassuring." The committee points to tho number of very promising players in the city as. being one good sign, and, on the iinuncial side, it calls attention to the improvement recorded in the past season over the previous season. The gates for the Vlunket Shield matches showed no decrease through the effects of the slump, but the takings for the match aguiust the South Africans showed a decrease of perhaps 2d per cent., probably wholly attributable to the depression. "la thejeoming season," the report continues, "tWe will be only one Plunket bhield match in Wellington, that a«*ain«t Otago, but on the other hand the Kns- ■ hsh lest team, after its tour of Australia, is to come to New Zealand and reports indicate that the council is to allocate a match to Wellington. Furthermore, Mailey's team of Australian cricketers now touring Canada and the United fctatea is to pass through Wellington on its way to Sydney about lUth September, and the committee is hopeful ot being able to arrange an exhibition match in Wellington. As the team includes Bradman, such a match should prove a great attraction. Finally comes the welcome news that overtures have already been made from India for a strong and representative team to tour New Zealand and Australia in 1933-34. Tours ot .New Zealand by overseas teams provide a tremendous fillip for the game and do much to assuage the anxieties oi those who are concerned with the management of cricket." THE ECONOMIC CRISIS. Reference is made to the fact that about three months ago very disturbing refor* :?' ere, Publ£ hed as to proposals beioie the C,ty Council to increase the tost of wickets, or in the alternative to leave it to the cricketers to prepare their own wickets, as the economic crisis was making it necessary for the City Council to reduce the staffs on the different reserves.' The committee went very fully into the question of comparative costs, ?? t7S ab!e t0 P- Üblish strikin S fi S»re th,h hS SI, mS Pald hy the association, clubs, and players towards the upkeep of the grounds "We are glad to be able to report that the threatened danger is now past, it being understood thai the tity Council will be able to afford the same service as in recent years at no increase in cost," states the committee. "It is abundantly plain that any increase in cost would be disastrous to cricket. The clubs could carry no additional burden, many players would have to drop out of the game, and the whole future of cricket would be imperilled through it being impassible for boys leaving school to afford to play, and so -be forced into other forms of exercise and pastime where the expense was negligible. The thanks of all' followers of the game are due to the daily papers, and particularly to the 'Evening Post' for the space generously granted to enable the association to state its cass, and to the City Council for its consideration in the matter. "It would t>e particularly discouraging to have additional burdens thrown on young players now. For some twelve years past the association has spent its -funds.as generously as reasonable caution .permitted iv improving wickets liy importing soil and in engaging coaches. There has been natural growth in the population of the city, and a 'marked and unforced development of districts, accompanied by an inevitable progress toward district cricket with district grounds. No doubt all the foregoing factors have contributed; but whatever the cause there can be no doubt that there is to-day in Wellington an unusually large number of very promising colts, on whom cricket tomorrow must depend. It would hnve set .the game back many'years if the door to cricket had been barred to these young players." THE PAST YEAR. The committee expresses its satisfaction at the termination of a season of sustained interest and success. The return to New ■Zealand of the team that toured England in 1931 provided a happy stimulus at the beginning of the season; a fine spring and early summer made conditions unusually favourable for cricket; a clear-cut win in the first Plunket Shield match; a meritorious first innings win in the second, and a most exciting outright win in the third and final, played at Dunedin, maintained interest in the game at a high level, while the visit of the South African team, and the playing of a Test match • against the visitors in Wellington, provided an appropriate climax at the end of a notable season. : The contest for the senior championship was of the closest character. Three teams —Kilbirnie, Hutt, and Institute—actually finished the competition even in points, nnd the first-mentioned club was. under the rules, awarded the championship on the averages, the other two being bracketed second equal. A careful tally of the forms purchased some ten years ago, and the overhaul and repair of all that were still capable of doing service, showed that the original 400 had now shr&nk to 95. Iv view of this, and pursuant to its policy to provide permanent improvements wherever possible, the committee, with the approval and assistance of the City Council, in February last re-decked and extended the terraces of seats at the Basin Reserve, and also built a new tier of seats to the south of the existing ones. The additions are estimated to seat approximately 700, and this should do much to add to the comfort of those ivho patronise the enclosure, while it also frees forms for use in the outside area. The cost to the association (£35) was very low, and for this result the thanks of the association are due to Mr. Harry Lans, who on behalf of the committee purchased the necessary material and supervised the construction of the seats. FINANCE. The financial statement shows an excess of income over expenditure amounting to . £99 14s lOd. Against this amount must be placed a further increase o£ £120 7s 8d in the debit balance of the coaching account. The financial result for the season is, therefore, a loss of £20 12s 10cl, as compared with a loss of £173 6s lid in the 1930-31 season. Honorary membership subscriptions show a further decrease from £122 7s 6d (1930-31) to £76 11s. This is only about one-third of the amount realised in the 1929-30 season. As mentioned in the last annual report, application was • made to the New Zealand Cricket Council for a refund of part of the salary of the coach while on tour in England last year. The council granted the association £5o! Two special items of expenditure—for Oamaru soil and seating accommodation at the Basin Reserve—account for the sum of £80 5s Od. The City Council received for the use of the Basin Reserve £570 4s 3d, and an additional sum of £391 for other council ■ reserves. Other grounds cost £36 ]2s, making the total for all reserves £1037' 10s 3d. The net results of the Auckland and Canterbury matches were approximately £90 better than two seasons ago. Tho Town-Country match clkl not result iii any loss to the association. Country players received allowances totalling £13 Gs lOd, and paid the remaining costs of their trip to Wellington themselves. The St. John Ambulance Association, in ■ conjunction with the Wellington Automobile Club, has arranged a series of classes dealing with the importance of '-First Aid," so that motorists may have some knowledge of the subject during the ap. proaching holidays. The first class will be held on Wedriesday at 7.30 p.m. in the Automobile Club»rooms, D.I.C. Buildings. Talks on safety first, practical bandaging, and the use of splints, and a lecture by a member of the medical iirofeesion sill be given.