WELLINGTON CRICKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 16

WELLINGTON CRICKET

ALLOCATION OF GROUNDS j STIR IN OFFICIAL CIRCLES There is some slight difference in the Welington City Council's allocation of grounds to tho Wellington Cricket Association for this season, but it is enough to have caused quite a stir In official cricket circles, says a Wellington writer. The grounds question has always' been one of difficulty, but the association was more or less resigned to the fact that, with an allocation similar to that of last season, tho position would slmplj have to be faced and the best made of l' in the iuterests, of all participants in the game. Thi' association., however, did not expect thai it would lose two of its city wickets m exchange for two out of town. This, in efl'eei. is what has happened. But there is mare in it than that. Apparently tho application by a club lias accounted for the enanged allocation, and this has had a .very disturbing effect on the local cricket controlling body. It is felt, according to one member, that "the whole structure of the Wellington Cricket Association is challenged. The matter arises from representations made recently to the Wellington Cricket Association's management committeo by tho Onslow Cricket Club for two more wickets to be made available on Nairnville Park for use in Weflington Cricket Association competitions. In view of the club's increased strength and the amount of travelling lo be done,-it was felt by the club that it was entitled to more wickets at home. A suggestion was made that, in the event of the tivo additional wickets being secured as an additional allocation, the association might exchange them for two of the Wakefield I ark wickets.

The junior championship committee gave the matter its consideration, and a recommendation that the . request of the Nairnville Club be not granted ~was adopted b.v the management committee. The reason given in regretting that the suggested change could not he entertained was that it would entail more travelling on the part of town teams. That appeared lo he the end of the matter so Tar as the association was concerned, nothing further having come from the Onslow Club, and it was with some amazement that the Cricket Association's management committee members learned that the club had had its request met by the Reserves Coinmittee of the City ,Council. It was expected by tlie committee that.-as the association rents the wickets from the City Council and does the allocating for mulches, it would have been the body to be consulted. Indeed, surprise was expressed at the C'it y Council recognising applications from a club. One result of the new allocation is that the association is faced with sending -more city teams out of town, a position, which il has been doing its utmost lo avoid as it realises thai already there is overmuch travelling for town teams. For clubs other than district clubs there are now 10 wickets in the city, and those clubs have something like 50 teams. There is. naturally, very strong feeling thai the amount of travelling by city teams should be increased, as there is over the action which has brought this about.