CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10682, 31 January 1913, Page 4

CRICKET.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION

■ A meeting of the committee of tho Canterbury Cricket? Association was held last- evening; present—-fM'essrs P. C. Raphael (chairman)i»A/-Cant, C. A. M'Cov, R. B. Wardf Donnelly. J. 11. Fowko and' (secretary). ,

The secretary stated tluafc he.hnd received a telegram liawke's Bay Association asking tli»t->iWGaiiter-bury team should play, a-match in Napier on its way back from' Auckland. He had wired asking-for dates, and tho estimated profits which would be made. The Hawke'i} Bay Association had replied that as a rule there was no profit on interprovincial* matches, but the Association were so anxious to secure a game that it-would guarantee £l2O. The secretary added that he had telegraphed to Mr Cavgill, who Avas in charge of the touring team, asking how many players would be ablo to make tho trip, ,awl a reply had been received stating that eight members of the team would be available. The takings in Auckland for two days, were £lB7. Members estimated that the local Association's share of the Auckland match would be £6O to £7O. . ■'

_ Letters and telegrams Avere reafl stating that tho Wellington Association wanted the homo and home matches with Canterbury to commence this year, and suggesting dates in February and March. Auckland, it Avas stated;'would 1 visit Christchurch next year. Mr "Ward said that he would favour tho team; visiting Napier if it Avould not, necessitate men being sent from Christchurch. The Association started the year with a credit balance of £l3O, and if it lost £3O on the Napier visit it Avould finish the year with a debit balance of about £3O.

Mr Cant said that-if .Canterbury owed Hawke'S Bay a visit, tho present would be a good opportunity to make it. The chairman said that the match, if played, might decide the holder of the Plunket Shield. ■

In view of this, members held that it would be a risky 6tep to send a weak team to Napier. Mr J. Fowkes moved—" That, provided that at least nine members of the representative team playing . against Auckland can visit Napier, a match be arranged for February 4 and 5." Mr A. T. Donnelly seconded the motion, which was carried.

Regarding Wellington's request that the home and home matches -should start this year, and that the .matches should be pla\ed at Christchurdh on February 14. 15 arid 17; and at Wellington on March 15, 11, and 18, it was decided, after some to defer consideration of the matter. It was decided to play a match against a team from 'the . Suburban Cricket Association on a dato to be fixed. Tne Ashburton Association wrote suggesting that a'match, should' be arranged between a Canterbury eleven and an Ashburton fifteen, or a Canterbury Junior eleven and an Ashburton eleven. ; On the motion of. Mr M- Coy, it was decided to arrange a match on da, to be arranged, at Easter time for preference. . .- v - - .CRICKET COUNCIL. PROPOSED VISIT FROM AUSTRA--ITAN TEAM. PROGRAMME FOR 1 NEXT SEASON. . The quarterly general meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council was held last evening; present: the Hon E. C. J. Stevens, chairman (South Canterbury), Messrs G. F. Francis '(Wanganui), J. H. R. Vincent (Poverty Bay), F. .C. Brittain and J.. F. Peake (Otago),; T. W. Reese (Buller), J. N. • Fowke (Westland), F. H. Labatt and G. T. Weston (Hawlce's Bay), H. C.. Ridlev (Auckland) ; and F. C. Raphael, lionorary secretary. . . The Wellington Cricket. Association wrote suggesting, that the Council should endeavour to make arrangements with the Australian • Cricket Associations fpr teams from Australia to visit New Zealand four years in succession, and that, in the fifth year a team from New Zealand should visit Australia.' . , Mr Francis moved that the Council should reply that the Council had the matter in hand. Mr Francis mentioned the breakdown in the negotiations with New _ South Wales, the Council having decided to discontinue! after the New .South Wales Association had made two increases in its demands. '

The secretary ■ reported that there was every possibility of a visit by an Australian team next season.

Mr lleese asked what the, position was with reference to the proposal for a New Zealand team to> visit Australia. He said that the present time was the best in which to send a team. NeVer in the history of New Zealand cricket had the time-been so opportune for a visit to the other side.\ Those in, control of the sport owed it to the youth of New Zealand, and ho felt that an attempt should be made to send a team next year. ' ■ : Mr Vincent said that the Management Committee" had done' its best to carry out the scheme proposed in ;the letter from the Wellington Association. Mr Fowke also urged that. a team should visit Australia. He said that he had discussed the position with Mr G. H. S % Trott, who had suggested that the New Zealand team should first play the country associations before meeting the stronger elevens in the cities. As aii experienced player he had no hesitation in sayipg that cricket in. New Zealand, and :in , Canterbury particularly, was of a higher ■ standard than it had been before; The Council had £2OO in hand, and it should utilise it to assist to finance the tour. Mr Trott had assured him that a New Zealand team would obtain good gates" in Ballarat and Bendigo.. Mr Raphael said that early in ,1912 the Council had opened negotiations for a team to .visit Australia, but- the associations had not fallen into line. Already the management committee had commenced negotiations for the visit of a strong team from Australia next season, and could not withdraw.

Mr Brittain said that lie agreed with Mr Fowke that the standard of cricket in New Zealand'was high, but' the finances were low. More good would be done for cricket in the dominion by the visits of Australia!]! teams, who would play with a large number of cricketers, instead of thirteen only. The Council should build up its funds and should seek to engage good coaches for the public schools and teach the cricketers from the cradle. Mr Reese gave notice to move at a subsequent meeting that a New Zealand team should be sent to Australia in 191-!.

Finally it . was agreed on, the motion of Mr Weston that the Wellington Association should be advised that a proposal similar to that mentioned'in the Association's letter- was at present being considered and that within six weeks a definite pronouncement would be made. Mr Francis said that the management committee would like an expression of opinion from the delegates on the proposal to send a team to Australia next year. He moved chat if the present negotiations failed the Council should endeavour to send a- New Zealand team across.

Mr Weston said that th,e. ;l dejegates would be wasting time in,discussing a dummy proposal. It would -be -better to leave it to a subsequent meeting. Mr Reese said that he saw cricket in Australia .last season and, he,*was sure that with the of New South Wales the New Zealand-'team could " wallop the lot," It' was'' the duty of the Council to send...a team. The financial difficulty should he,,overcome easily. In the past the associations financed visits to A\Mrali;i";ind from Australians and Englishmen;, there were, enough enthusiasts in the country.

Mr Labatt seconded tliei motion »roposod by Mr Francis. Mr Vincent said thai. iL-satiafac-torv

financial arrangements could be made I a team ought to bo sent. ! Tito motion av:is earned without dissent. Mr Fowko asked the Council to oxplain the position of the Plunkot Shield programme as a result of the Auckland Association failing to, carry out tho programme recommended by the conference in Wellington. A rfiolv was Riven- that the rules governing" the Plunkot Shield matches wero in force. Mr Poako suggested that if the team holding the shield, could not travel tho challengers would have to visit tho holders.

Mr Francis said that the programme really had been upset by tho Canterbury Association sending a team to Auckland. The CanterbuVv Association was to be praised for making tho visit. Canterbury was wrong in thinking that Auckland "should "have visited Christchurch. The Auckland Association said that- it came to Christchurch last year and that it, was Canterbury's turn to go north. It was decide'd to adopt tho Marylebone Cricket Club's new rule that no trial balls should be permitted in any match.