NEW ZEALANDERS' TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 10

NEW ZEALANDERS' TOUR.

CRITICISM OF COUNCIL. REPLY AND EXPLANATION. WHY EXPENSES WERE HIGH. [nV TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] , Cubistchukch, Friday. A special meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council was held to-night to consider the ;criticisms and statements that had been .•made by the various associations with regard to the recent visit of the New ZeaJand team to Australia. Particular exception was taken to some statements -published in the New Zealand Herald *of the 14th inst., in which the methods of the council wore severely dealt with. •'fJ'lio article particularly criticised the bal-ance-sheet of the tour and. the itoms of •expenditure. The chairman Mr. Q. F. Francis) said the mooting had been called to consider "whether the committee would roply to the published statements. A sub-committee had been sot up to frame a reply, but the council would have to decide what steps Ho take in the matter. The secretary lead the reply drawn up "by the nub-committee which referred ip particular to Auckland affairs. The chairman said he thought they 'Should not assume that the Auckland Association was responsible for the information published, and he proposed that copies of the reply be sent to the Auckland Association and the New Zealand 11 KIIALD. 'I'liis course was agreed upon. It was decided that the following communication should be sent to each guaranteeing association : " There has been some misunderstanding among a number of the associations as to the reason for the expenses of the tour of the New Zealand team to Australia exceeding the estimates. .The Management Committee think it right, therefore, that an explanation phould bo given to the associations. When the tour was first proposed it was assumed that it would not last longer than tux weeks. It was found, however, that ii the South Australian mutch was included, the tour could not be completed under eight weeks, thus adding considerably to the expenses. , The quarterly nieeting of the council was emphatic in its opinion that the South Australian match should be played, especially in view of the council's aim of years past to sinango regular annual tours in New Zealand from the South Australia, Victoria, Mm gouitj SVftles and, feajnk

In the next place the lean) 'was travelling in Australia during Christmas week, and the week after, and' on adcount of the railway regulations relating to Christmas travelling no concessions in fares were allowed. The difference from the original estimates of rail fares and the actual amount spent was considerable, and othoi ■ items for groundmen, attendants etc., were charged for, which could not have keen foreseen before the team left New Zealand. These charges are usual and were recognised by all teams playing in the big grounds in Australia. They are not in the nature of tips. The Now Zealand team paid less than most inter-State teams. Further, it was proposed to play two matches in New Zealand before the team left, aid the receipts from these two matches were included in the estimates of receipts. The disorganisation caused by the strike prevented either of these two matches being played—in fact it was only with extreme difficulty that the team was got away at all- " There bad been some criticism of the item 'Players' allowance,' but this criticism overlooked the rule of the council dealing with this particular question. The council, under its rules, is bound to reimburse players for loss of wages. In the case of the New Zealand tour ••» Australia in 1899, and all New Zealand matches since that date, players have been reimbursed bv the council for loss of wages, according to the duty which is upon tie Council by virtue of its own rules. The council felt, howover, that it could net afford to pay the players loss of wages during the whole of the last tour. Instead, the committee decided to make a special allowance to the players to pay them 5s a dav in lieu of loss of wages. This arrangement was accepted by all the players. Prom the councils point of view this was the best bargain that could be made under the circumstances. Whatever the opinion members of the committee may undoubtedlv have had concerning the propriety of making an allowance to players the committee as a body could not disregard one of its own rules while it remained in the rule book. We might also ami that tins arrangement was confirmed oy a meeting of the delegates." THE AUSTRALIANS' TOUR. MATCH AT WELLINGTON. PLAY STOPPED BY RAIN [BT TELEGRAPH.—I BESS association.] Wellington, Friday. • The match, Australia v. Wellington, began at 12.15 p.m. to-day in fine weather. The teams were "as follows:AustraliaArmStrong, Cody, Crawford, Dolling, Laver, Alailoy, McKepzie, Noble, Sims, Tramper, Waddy. " Wellington— Saunders; SouthaJl, Grimmett, Howe, Gibbea, McGirr. Beechey, Hay, Baker, and Hiddle- ! atone. Wellington won the toss and decided to bat. Howe, the Victoria College man, played. two balls without mishap, but the thifd he tipped to Noble in the slips. Baker, the incoming batsman opened his score with a clean drive to the boundary for four. Hay also opened with four off a high ball Jfom Armstrong. Twenty went up after a quarter cf an hour's play and 40 after half-an-hour. Crawford's -fifth uall bowled Hay, and Gibbes came in. : Armstrong had him out, lbw, before he scored. Hiddlestone accepted the bowling, with more confidence than his predecessors -ad displayed, but when lunging out to a bajl from- Armstrong he overbalanced. He apeared to have hi* foot within the line, put Waddy whipped the bails off and uie umpire gave his division against the batsman. Beechey joined Baker and for a while the play was cautious. An hour's play -saw 70 on the board. The board showed 95 at the luncheon adjournment. Daring, the adjournment; rain fell and continued with the- result that play was not resumed. ',' Scores: —r, .

: WELLINGT()N.-Fu6t Innings. Hay, b Crawford -•- . ... 10 Howe, c Noble, b Laver ... ... 0 Baker, not out .1 ... ; 50 Gibbes, lbw, b Armstrong 0 Hiddlestone, st Waddy, b Armstrong 12 Beechey, not out ... ... ..< 7 V l ' Extras ... ... ... ... 14 ' Four wicketu for 93 , Bowling. Analysis: Armstrong two Wickets for 25 runs, Laver one for 27, Crawford one'for 18, Mailey none lor 7, Noble none for 2. r