MAJOR CRICKET MATCHES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23259, 21 July 1945, Page 4

MAJOR CRICKET MATCHES

Liquor For Players Suggestion To Licensing Commission ■N.Z.P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. July 20. “There are difficulties in this," commented the chairman of the Royal Commission (his Honour Mr Justice Smith) this afternoon after Mr D. >■ Wanklyn, chairman of the Management Committee ot the New Zealand Cricket Council, had been cross-examined on the proposal that permanent licences hould be granted for sale of liquor i grounds at Christchurch, Auck.’.ind, Wellington and Dunedin dur'n.g major cricket matches in which i lay lasted from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mr Wanklyn said the suggestion was dial, licences for various grounds should be vested in and controlled by tne authorities in charge ot grounds, or be attached to grounds, and that the profits derived should be devoted to the maintenance and improvement of the grounds. Grounds, he said, were much more expensive to maintain lor cricket than for lootball. Section 82 of the Licensing Act, 1908, made provision lor a person holding a puolicans licence to sell liquor on cricket grounds, but as far as he knew that authority had not been availed of by any body controlling a cricket ground, tlie objections appearing to be the impermanence of tne authority, the uncertainty arising when dealing with different individuals from time to time and the absence of control by the authorities controlling the grounds. "The suggestion would bring New Zealand into line with England and Australia, and it is believed South Africa,” said Mr Wanklyn, who gave evidence that at cricket grounds overseas he had not seen anything that was in the least objectionable.

Position Not Abused "In New Zealand it is the custom in major matches to make a certain amount of bottled beer available in the a, sing rooms for those players who wane ic,” said Mr Wanklyn. "As lar as the players are concerned, in my experience this has never been aousea, LUu it is difficult, if not impossible, to k,. p friends of the players out of those rooms. It is from these friends that has come whatever trouble there has been in the past. If liquor were available to ptayers when they required it in a suitable part of the pavilion, and if ii was controlled by the authority running the game, this nuisance, sucn as it is, would disappear." Mr R. Hardie Boys, for the New Zealand Alliance: Do you suggest there is any puoln: agitation?—The suggestion came spontaneously from two major Associations, Auckland and Canterbury. Under cross-examination, Mr Wanklyn said that in Wellington an hotel was across the road from the cricket grounds, and Christchurch spectators had to walk onl” 200 yards to an hotel. Mr Boys: So this is a question of money as tar as the Cricket Council is mainly concerned?—Not entirely. To the Rev. J. T. Macky, a member of the Commission, Mr Wanklyn said that the proposal was that the facility should be 8. ailable, not right through the cricKLj, ucuson, but only lor major games w. .i lasted till 6 p.m. each Mr Macky. Is it that you want the Associations to make money instead of the licensees? Mr Wanklyn: To be fair, there is something in that. Replying to questions by Mr P. Malthus. a member of the Commission, Mr Wanklyn admitted that he had seen bottles being thrown away or dropped at football and cricket matches. If the suggestion were adopted no liquor in containers would be sold on grounds. "Would this improve the game?" asked Mr G. W. Hutchison, another member. Earlier in the day the Commission had been informed that alcohol reduced mental precision and physical output. "Would liquor on cricket grounds make for fewer runs?" asked Mr Hutchison. Mr Wanklyn gave his opinion that cricket players were usually abstemious, but that after batting or fielding thev liked a drink which was not sweet and had a small glass of beer. The chairman raised the question whether the principle of social amenities would not also apply to football, tennis, basketbail and hockey. On the question cf time tennis would have to be included. He finally remarked that there wre difficulties in the suggestion.