IN KEEN' DEMAND

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 122, 20 November 1934, Page 13

IN KEEN' DEMAND

THE BASIN RESERVE

CRICKET AND ATHLETICS

AVAILABILITY FOR SPORTS

That the position held by the Basin Reserve as the. "home of cricket" in Wellington was being jeopardised was tho view expressed by mombers of the management committee of. the Wellington Cricket Association last evening wl'ibii, the question 6f allowing...'the ground to be used for an amateur athletic meeting on Pccember 1 was being discussed, Eveutually.it was decided that for financial, as well as other reasons, the committee was unable to 'relinquish the ground on that dato. ' -

In regard to the contention that the secondary schools' meeting last Week could not bo regarded as cne of the four Saturdays on which, the ground was to be devoted to amateur athletics during the season, Mr. A. Bonaldson said there was no stipulation that the meetings were to be under the control of the Amateur Athletic Association.

Mr. W. J. E. Christophersen mentioned that spocial provision had bqen made to make Newtown Park a "charge" ground, arid lie thought it might be suggested to the A.A.A. that one of tho fixtures set down for the Basin Roservo should be hold there.

Mr. P. B. Broad (chairman) paid that there were several alternatives open 10 the committee. One was that they could let the Amateur Athletic Association have the ground on four more Saturdays tliis season on the understanding that its use for tho schools' meeting last Week was not to bo regarded as a precedent, REFUND OF BENTS. Mr. J. IL Phillipps: If lyo let them hnve it, is there any chance of our getting a rofund on the money we pay to the council? Mr. W. Hammond: Perhaps we could get a. share of the gate takings. In pointing out that tho irregular use of the Basin Reserve for cricket- was having an adverse effect on the season's receipts, Mr. Christophersen gtiid that the takings on the1 first three Saturdays this season compared with last season were as follows (last year's figures in, parentheses): £2 10s (SO Os Oil); £0 3g Od (£5 7s); £1 Is 7d (£3 5s Gd). He said it would not bo wise to commence the Wellington College Old' Boys match at the Basin Reserve this Weok and then transfer it to Kilbivnio for. tho final day. If the ground were not used regularly for club cricket the results would .be-'reflected-'.in'the Plunket Shield attendances.

Mr, E, Wjren: I have always lookod on the Basin as the home of cricket, but I am beginning to wonder now if it is.

Mr. A. Duncan: To give it away at this stage is going to mean financial loss. We should at least have sonio compensation.

Mr. Christophersen said It was important that tho prospective representative players should play on the best wickets available, and that could not be dono if the Basin Reserve could not be used. Mr, Hammond moved that the Amateur Athletic Association be advised that for financial reasons the committoe could not see its way to grant the use of the ground on December 1.

With the amendmont of " for other reasons" besides .financial the motion was passed unanimously.