THE PLUNKET SHIELD

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11415, 11 January 1923, Page 8

THE PLUNKET SHIELD

CANTERBURY MATCH. A QUESTION OF DATES. There has been a. great deal of con' troverey between the / Wellington Cricket Association and the Canterbury Cricket Association concerning the dates for the Plunket Shield! match to be played in the southern city. The original dates submitted to the Canterbury Association were the 9th, 10th, and 12th of February, but these were found to be impossible as the match would then clash with the New Zealand Metropolitan trotting meeting. The next dates submitted were the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, which fell on Thursday, Friday, ’and Saturday, respectively. The Canterbury Association could not agree to these either, and in suggesting the 23rd, 24th and 26th as the dates, the secretary gave the following reasons:— I think it will be conceded that both associations are agreed on the following:— (1) Both are actuated with the desire to. improve cricket in New Zealand. (2) For that purpose it is essential that the four major associations should meet one another in representative matches every season. (3) The travelling expenses of a touring team are dependent in the main upon • the profits from the “home” matches during the preceding season.

(4) That the home association being conversant with local conditions is better able to decide which days of the week are the most suitable to obtain the beat gates. Bearing in mind the foregoing 1 think the reasons I now give for my association’s attitude will be clear.

(a) Before my association can expect to make any profits from a match the takings must exceed £IOO, as the first £IOO will be appropriated as follows: Expenses of match, including gatekeepers, £SO; visiting association, £3O; sundry charges, £2O ; total, £IOO. (b) If the match should commence on a Thursday there is no guarantee that it woud extend to the Saturday, and during Thursday and IViday the takings would probably not exceed £IOO. (c) The second day of a match is generally the most interesting from the point of view of the public. Therefore it is the biggest draw. (d) A Plunket Shield match must be played to a finish, and should the play extend to the fourth day the visiting team would be compelled to stay over the week-end. (e) If the match were over in two days the Saturday would he a wasted cne for club cricket, os wickets would not be prepared nor teams informed in time.

(f) It has always been a reogoniand practice that when representative fixtures are arranged at a time other than a public holiday, Saturday has always been the firßt or second day of the match, and my association has always borne that in mind when accepting dates, and has never queried a date even though it meant our team staying over a week-end. Now, it is a rule that a visiting team should receive at least £3O; it is more important than ever that the practice should he adhered to. Mr Read said that he had been a member of the Canterbury Cricket Association for eight years and could quite see their point, and he moved that Canterbury request be acceded to.

Air Buck then moved an amendment, that the Canterbury association be offered the dates forwarded by the Wellington Association, and laid stress to the financial side of the arrangements. Mr D. McKenzie said that as the Dunedin match finished on the Monday the new arrangements would keep tho team in Chmtohurch two days longer, and thus extra expense would be involved. After, further discussion the amendment was dropped, and the motion was carried with the addition that the Canterbury Association be asked to pay half the extra expenses.