CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16470, 5 July 1921, Page 7

CRICKET.

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION

VISIT OF ENGLISH TEAM SUPPORTED.

The Management Committee of the Canterbury Cricket Association met last night; present—Messrs W. Simpson (chairman), K. B. Ward, F. Woods, W. H. Winsor, M. O, Sinclair. W. L. King, S. G. Thompson, A. Grant and E. E. Luttrell (honorary secretary).

In reply to the. Southland Association’s request for a Hawke Cup match at Christchurch on December 26 and 27, it was decided to suggest a match at the New Year, as Christmas dates had already been arranged. It was decided to offer 30 (per cent of the profits.

The Otago Association accepted Christmas as the dates for tho Canterbury-Otago match.

It wua decided to oppose a notice of motion lodged by Wellington regarding the distribution of Plunket Shield receipts. A letter was received from the Cricket Council stating that -a decision had to be come to regardin' l ' a visit next season from an English team. Tho council favoured the proposal, and was of tho opinion that there should be two matches against each of the main centres and three tests, while the minor associations would be grouped, making about six more matches. The guarantees would be £‘4oo from the major associations for each match, but a rebate of £1 per day per man would be granted in respect to any members of tho team who became the guests of private citizens. It was hoped to arrange matches in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, which should enable the New Zealand Association to make a considerable profit on the tour. Such profit would be divided pro rata among the council and the associations giving guarantees. The tour would commence in the first week in December, and end about tho end of February, leaving March for Australian matches. The view had been expressed that the reouirementa of New Zealand cricket could be met by the visit of Australian teams, but tbe council did not agree with this, believin" that it was not in the best interests of cricket to loso touch with tho Old Country, which, after all, was tlie home of tho game. Experience showed that visits of English teams had aroused greater enthusiasm and interest than Australian visits. The cost of the tour was estimated at £5700. and the council would guarantee £1209.

On Mr Luttrell’s motion, it was decided to endorse the council's recommendation, and guarantee £BOO, as requested. Tho chairman said that it was almost safe to assume that tlio charge for tho use of Lancaster Park for outside matches would be reduced from 25 per cent to 15 per cent. This, however, was not official. It was decided to request the Lancaster Park Board of Control to reduce its charge to not more than 15 per cent in order to facilitate the financing of the tour. Mr Winsor urged the necessity of having a members’\stand at Lancaster Park, but no action wag taken.