ENGLISH CRICKET TOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 5

ENGLISH CRICKET TOUR.

To the Editor. Sir, —Mistakes more or less avoidable and certainly very lamentable, continue to be made in connection with the arrangements for the forthcoming visit of the New Zealand; cricket team to England. One supposes that as long as the enthusiasm necessary to finalise such things is left to impetuous youth or hoary heads we must expect indiscretions and subsequent heartburnings. One of the gravest errors already committed has to do with the appointment of the Selection Committee, and must be laid at the door of the executive. I venture to guess, however, that the tactful chairman is above suspicion. Whether the committee sees the error of its ways or not, it is generally thought that the council, and not the executive, should have accepted the responsibility of considering the qualifications of all aspirants for the position of selector. The procedure adopted failed to obviate the second oversight—that of ignoring an Auckland representative, and led to an irreparable blunder being committed even if confined to the realms of diplomacy. Canterbury could very well have been asked to accept the position now occupied by Auckland, philosophically. The next' matter that does not appear to be treated as seriously and judiciously as it might is the appointment of manager. If that position goes to a local man our prestige as fair-minded administrators is doomed. The executive may not be wrong in the secretiveness except that it is allowing rumours to be broadcastejJ that certain members of that august body have already been asked if they can accompany the team as manager. I do not think for one moment that the chairman has made even one false move, but others are not as far-seeing. The published message from Dunedin is disconcerting and the telegraphed resolution passed by the Wellington Association is more in the nature of a threat than anything else. It all points to propaganda work and will have a considerable bearing on the difficulty of financing the tour. The sooner the executive takes the council into its confidence the sooner will such tactics be countered. I *)r one, hold instructions to support the nomination of a certain candidate, but it looks as though members of the council will not have the privilege of voicing : their opinions on the matter. For the sake of cricket generally and the success of the tour in particular, I , sincerely hope that the authorities will not only do their best but will succeed in convincing us all that the best has been done in the choice, of the most suitable manager, and the very best team so that all available money will come in voluntarily without delay.— Yours, etc., D- E. PARTON.