HUTT CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 8, 9 July 1935, Page 3

HUTT CRICKET

ALLOCATION OF GROUNDS

The Reserves Committee of the Lower Hutt Borough Council recommended last evening that the Hutt Cricket Club be granted six wickets on the Recreation Ground, and that the Hutt Valley Cricket Association be granted two wickets' on Trafalgar Park, three on the Naenae Reserve, and one on Bell Park.

The report stated that the Hutt Club had been charged £75 last year for the Recreation Ground, and that this year the committee was of the opinion that the ground should produce £100, plus 3s per night for the use of the pavilion. • Councillor P. Dowse moved that the report be referred back for further consideration, on the ground that the Hutr Valley Association should be granted at least, one wicket on the Recreation Ground. The association played 'a very attractive form of cricket, was formed ot local players, was entirely controlled in the Valley, and had many m»re teams than the Hutt Club. On the other hand, the Hutt Club was controlled by the Wellington Cricket Association which frequently played the local team away and played outsiders on the Hutt ground. The Hutt Valley Association was prepared, he understood, to take over all the wickets on the Recreation Ground and guarantee payment. The motion was seconded by Councillor W. A. F. Hall and supported by Councillor R. M. Russell, who said that he understood the Hutt Club had difficulty in paying £75 last year, and if the association would guarantee to pay £100 the association should be considered.

Councillor W.B. Rainey asked if the association did not play "league" cricket, which meant that the teams were subsidised by the firms whose names they bore. ' If this was so, he would oppose the association as not being in the interests of pure sport.

■ Councillor Hall considered the Hutt Club was being given a monopoly of the Recreation Ground, which he opposed. The Mayor (Mr. J. W. Andrews) said that the committee considered the ground should not be divided and, therefore, the club had been given the Recreation Ground and the association all the other,grounds.

The motion to refer the matter back to the committee was lost. It was then moved that the Hutt Club be charged £100 per year, plus 3s per night for the pavilion.

Councillor M. Macaskill thought the amount was too high, as many of the players were quite young. Councillor W. B. Rainey supported this view.

Councillor Walter Cole: I presume the Recreation Ground pays for itself. The Mayor: Oh, dear me, no.

Mr. Andrews pointed out that if the club was not prepared to pay £100 it stood the chance of losing the ground to the association.

The motion to charge £100 plus 3s per night was carried.