NEW ZEALAND CRICKET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17566, 17 June 1925, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND CRICKET.

VICTORIAN TOUR. A STATEMENT REBUTTED. The following article appeared in a recent issue of the Sydney “Referee,” having been •forwarded to that paper : by its special correspondent in New Zealand, evidently a Wellington writer:— “At the meeting of the delegates to the New Zealand Council it was reported that the tour of the Victorians would result in a small profit, and there would be a slight refund to the associations who had given guarantees. Roughly, the profit was about £450. and £250 would be divided amongst the associations. “Some people are complaining that the expenses were unduly heavy. For instance, when the first test was played in Wellington, several members of the 'Management Committee of the New Zealand Council weie present. It is stated that their expenses in coming to and staying in Wellington were charged against the touring account, when there was no urgent necessity for them to be present. The matter may be ventilated at the annual meeting. In connection with- the above article Mr J. F. Peake, honorary secretary of the New Zealand Cricket Council, has forwarded the following reply to the “In your issue of May 13 your New Zealand ‘Special’ under the heading of ‘Finance of Victorian Tour’ writes that some people are complaining that the expenses of several members cf the Management Committee of the New Zealand Cricket Council in attending the first test match New Zealand v. Victoria, played at Wellington, were charged against the touring account, when there was no urgent necessity for them to be present, and that, the matter may be ventilated at the annual meeting. I desire to inform you that with the exception of the writer, who attended the match in his official capacity as hen secretary to the council, no other member of the Management Committee even asked to be reimbursed for any travelling expenses incurred by him in attending the match in question, and the balancesheet cf the tour will disclose the fact that the total expenses of the honorary secaetary in attending the Wellington test, and a representative of the council (not a member of the Management Committee) in accompanying the visitors from Dunedin to Invercargill, amounted to £l4 Bs. Furthermore during the seven years the writer has occupied the position of honorary secretary to the council, no member of the Management Committee has received one penny towards his expenses incurred through travelling to and from Wellington to attend test matches, or for the purpose of officially receiving teams upon their arrival in the Dominion. The Management Committee will, I am sure, welcome any criticism when the balance-sheet is submitted to the delegates at the next annual meeting cf the council, but in the meantime I feel it is due to them that I should make this statement, and, furthermore, I am in a position to add that in many instances members of the Management Committee have not even approached me for expenses incurred by them by way of cables, telegrams, etc., they have at times forwarded on the council’s business, so that instead of the council being made to appear in the eyes of the public something like a charitable aid board, it is the mem- _ ers of the Management ; Committee themselves who are out-of-pocket for the reason as explained above.”