TOWN AND COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 5

TOWN AND COUNTRY

: FUTURE POLICY CONFERENCE THIS WEEK » To discuss the future policy of Welj lingtbn in reference to country players, ; Town v. Country matches and Plun- ; ket Shield matches, a round-table cori- ' ference is to be held in Wellington next Friday evening after the North v. South Island play. The Manawatu and Hawke's Bay Cricket Associations' letters on the subjects were discussed by the management committee of the Wellington Association last night. •The. chairman (Mr. P. B. Broad) reported <,that, acting in view of the urgericy:;of the matter, he and the secretary"'Jtjad.circularised nine minor associations, in Wellington Province convening such a conference for next Friday, night. The chairman's action was confirmed, and the chairmap and Messrs. W. Hammond and J. H. Philhpps were appointed to represent the Wellington Cricket Association at the conference. ,' Mr. T. 'C. Lowry is to be invited to attend. ' ■-■•■'■ "Actually we have never decided not to play the Town .v. Country match this season," said the chairman, "but there has appeared to be a lack of in- . terest in it arid it has been postponed. It seems to be thought in the country that we .have abandoned : it for all time. As I understand it, that is not SO." ■'- ...' ■;.■ ... .-.; :. '. -. . .' ~... ■The committee agreed that that was so, as the minutes showed. . SUGGESTIONS. it should, not. be held that" a performance by a. country player in a Town v. Country match entitled him to ;Pliinket Shield selection without other factors, Mr. Phillipps maintained. He that the minor associations should select Possibles; and .Pro-bables-to play, at (say) Palmerston' North and that^ a •country team be selected from toe: twenty-two players. The Wellington selector could- then see .t%ehty-two' country players in action ; a^i'w^ll as the; Country team against Wellington: v;Mr. Phillipps thought the chances of. ; getting a fifth Plunket Shield side out of the country were b'eyoridjthe .bounds, bf.probability. ■Splitting the minor associations into two groups of three in each group in completion for the Heathcote Williams Shield which was not being used at - present was: suggested by. the. secretly, Mt. •A. Varney. '. "■Points:which'it was agreed should be viexglained to ■ the country representatives were that (Da Town v. countryJmatch-this season had not been; abandoned; (2)' that it was felt suctiia. match- was. not a .satisfactory test; s(3)' that Wellington was desirous of 'country -players; (4) that . %wasVin -sympathy;with the proposal that:'a- Wellington" minor association . Plunket .Shield side be formed; (5) . that Wellington was prepared to put \ that forward at the pending major association's conference in April; and (6) to explain Wellington's financial burdens. , PLATERS AVAILABLE. ,Sufncient;players approached had indicated their ability and willingness to play.in,the proposed match Wel- ,. lmgton_ y.. T. C. Xowry's country ■ eleven feariy^'-M'-Mafchr repbrted" the secretary.. Mr. Lowry. is to be advised and; details will. be. discussed during his! suggested;visit. • : In preference. to. the inter-Island • match, the New. Zealand Cricket Council secretary (Mr. W. H. Windsor) wrote that the management committee would consider the suggestion that £25 be paid the Wellington Association for loss,of Saturday gate when the final returns should come in. Mr. Windsor said he would be in Wellington and would act as manager for both teams. The south team would arrive on Friday morning and the northern'members at 1 -ajn. on Friday. ' NO GAMES NEXT SATUEDAY. No .association.-, competition matches will, be played in Wellington next Saturday, on account of the playing of the North v. South Island match. The committee decided to write to the Women's Cricket Association and the Mercantile: League notifying them of tha match and j suggesting that no games be played.