"LET US DOWN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 61, 9 September 1941, Page 9

"LET US DOWN"

COUNTING THE COST

CRICKET AND CITY COUNCIL

''I think they let us down a bit," remarked the.retiring chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association (Mr. A. W. Duncan) when reporting to delegates at the association's annual meeting last. night upon the outcome of an approach made to the City Council for some • measure' of relief from its financial burden. The council had indicated that, it was not prepared to meet the association's request. One thing was certain, and that was that the association's revenue was going to be down substantially this year, said Mr. Duncan, in recommending that the incoming committee make further representations to the council. Nothing less than a 50 per cent, reduction, he considered, was needed for the association to be able to carry on. It might not be known to all delegates that the association paid the City Council £240 per year for the use of the Basin Reserve alone, and he did not see how. they could carry on in these difficult times paying that and other sums which made a heavy strain on the association's finances. It was understood, said Mr. Luckie, that when the application was made the association was going to wait on the reserves committee. Mr. Duncan: We did not get the chance of doing it. Mr.- Luckie agreed that the matter should be reopened. He pointed out, however, that it v had to be borne iti mind that the costs of administering the City Council's - activities had increased greatly. The increased cost of labour meant, that' the council itself had been put to a great deal of extra expense. He realised the Cricket Association's need of assistance, and he would endeavour to do all he could to assist. It was vital for game of cricket to be kept, going, war or. no war. By doing so, men were being kept fit for the-job they might, be called upon to do, at any moment anywhere, and there was no game like cricket for that, he added. .