ALLOWANCES TO CRICKETERS

Evening Star, Issue 15516, 11 June 1914, Page 3

ALLOWANCES TO CRICKETERS

Mr D. Reeee, of Christchurch, who captained the New Zealand team in Australia lasi year, writes to us: At a recent meeting of the delegates of the New Zealand Cricket Council, Mr S. A Orchard made some remarks which cast a reflection on the cricketers of the Dominion. During the discussion of the much criticised balance-sheet relating to the tour of the New Zealand team to Australia, he is reported to have said: “Apparently delegates do not understand the players as well as I do. I am certain that they are ‘cut on the make’ all the time, and until the council take some steps to prevent it, they would always be ‘on the make.’ ” He further stated that “some players would not play unless they could make money oat of the game,” and finished up by saying that “ unless they were prepared to play for the love of the game they ought not to play at all ” Surely these are ill-chceen words from a man holding executive office? The attack on the. players is not only ungenerous and unfair, but untrue. Unfortunately, I was unable to be present at that meeting, and very much regret that, the propriety and accuracy of these statements was not questioned at the time, but apparently the meeting considered them irrelevant to the main discussion. Mr Orchard’s criticism is discounted by the fact that he himself, as manager of the team, accepted and retained the same allowance as the players. My absence from the city and pressure of business prevented me taking up this matter earlier. 1 now find that these remarks have been reprinted in Australian papers, and reference made to them. As captain of the New Zealand team, I feel it is 'my duty to the players to put the matter before the public in its proper light. Referring to the question of allowances to players in New Zealand, this has been clone only on a very limited scale in the past. Canterbury has perhaps gone further than the other associations-, but at the most has only made payments to a few player's who lose their wages when playing, and would he unable to afford to play regularly for their province without some compensation. It must b-e understood that there is a difference between the salaried man and the man who is employed in the workshop or factory where deductions are made for all loss of time. It is surely no reflection upon that man if he receives recompense from his association for wages lost. My experience covers cricket l>oth in England and Australia. In England the counties, while paying the professionals a fixed amount for each match, find it necessary to make commensurate allowances to amateurs for out-of-pocket expenses. It would surely be unfair to accuse those gentlemen of making money out of the game. It would be equallv unfair to suggest they did -not play for the love of the game. In Australia the interstate associations make a fixed allowance of so much per day for out-of-pocket expenses to each member of the team, so that at airy rate for Sheffield Shield matches Australian players come well within the bounds of the amateur status. As far as New Zealand is concerned, I do not hold with the salaried man getting any payment at all beyond his travelling expenses, while it would be impossible for the associations in their present state of finances to allow every young fellow for less of time. I am, however, firmlv of opinion that in special cases, where the player needs ifc,_ and has familv responsibilities, bis association or council should recompense him for the loss of wastes, and when payments are made be should be entirely free from remarks such as form the subject of this letter. Coming now to the matter of payments to the members of the New Zealand team Which toured Australia, the council, in giving allowances to every member of the team’"’ and the manager, established a precedent in this Dominion, nnd it is their action in this matter which the various associations have taken such strong exception to- In this connection it must be clearly understood that the placers were never consulted, and only received intimation of the terms on which they were to go along with their official notice of selection. I personally informed the chairman of the executive ‘that I did not desire the allowance, but he stated that no distinction could be made between the players. It will thus be seen that the players made no demands for payment, and only those who lost their wages expected any atlow- | ar.ee. Quite a number of the team neither needed nor desired it. I have endeavored to place the exact facts before the public._ In conclusion. I would say most emphatically - that my experience of New Zealand cricketers goes to prove that they are not “out on the make,” that they do not desire to make monev out of cricket, but taat they play for the love of the game.