EXPENSE OF SPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19203, 17 December 1925, Page 8

EXPENSE OF SPORT.

THE MOST COSTLY GAME. CRICKETERS CLAIM THE PALM. The question of which pastime costs its devotees the most was debated for some time at the meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association on Monday evening. The subject was introduced by Mr. H. ,T. Buck, who questioned the wisdom of Mr. M. F. Luckie, a member of the Wellington City Council, who, at the annual smoke concert of the Wellington Cricket Club, had expressed the opinion that cricketers should, as was done by bowlers, golfers and other sportsmen, contribute more toward the maintenance of their own particular branch of sport. It was time that the Cricket Association officially replied to such erroneous statements. As a matter of fact, cricket was the most expensive game of any to follow. Mr. Buck challenged any branch of sport to prove that they had to pay as much as cricketers to follow their pastimes. Most subscriptions to cricket clubs were about 355. To this had to be added the cost of a new cricket bat each season, ground fees, and wear and tear on gear. Bowls had been referred to, but it was common knowledge that bowls was the cheapest pastime of any to follow. Mr. R. Darroch (with studied emphasis) : Yes, and cricket is a sport, while bowls is not. Mr. J. Hutchings stated that during the past twenty years it had cost him on an average about £5 a year to play cricket. Mr. H. McGirr: Yes. and you have got off lightly. The cost has gone up considerably within recent years.