PLAYERS' EXPENSES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 13

PLAYERS' EXPENSES

TOWN-COUNTRY CRICKET

.ASSESSMENT SUGGESTED

"We found that more than one country association put in statements in the matter of expenses for which there was no justification. Tarahaki knew that, but they were not one of the associations." In that statement, made by Mr. P. B. Broad (chairman) at a meeting of. the Wellington Cricket Association's management committee last night, some new light was thrown on the acute position which arose last season over the relationship between town and country. Mr. Broad's remarks were made in explanation of a letter received at last night's meeting from the Taranaki Cricket Association, the terms of which were that the Wellington Cricket Association, as the body controlling the Town v. Country cricket match, should assess expenses, the country players to be allowed second-class travelling and reasonable hotel expenses. The match last season, Mr. Broad stated, had been played in March, and the arrangement had been that any surplus' from the "gate" would be expended in paying the expenses of players.

It was indicated last night that the association would do its part in fulfilling the terms of the agreement reached at the conference last season. This was that, to enable the country districts to be properly combed for players of merit, a game be played as a preliminary to the Town v. Country match in a convenient country centre. In view of the new system of drawing all senior and representative fixtures at the beginning of the season, the senior championship committee recommended that it communicate at once with the minor associations regarding the dates of the preliminary match to the Town v. Country engagement. It .was suggested that the Town-Country 'match be played in Wellington at Christmas time. - ■ • . -

Mr. Hanna: Is it not the position that all we need do is to advise the minor associations of the Town v. Country match?

The chairman: We laid it down as definite that they should play as a preliminary a match between the two best country teams at a centre of their own, and that if they did not do that we reserved the right' not to play the Town-Country match.

Mr. J. H. Phillfpps added that it had also been agreed that the Wellington Association's selector shouldaltend the preliminary match in the country.

The committee agreed that Ihe course of action as recommended bo adopted.