IMPROVEMENTS AT LANCASTER PARK.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11509, 16 February 1903, Page 4

IMPROVEMENTS AT LANCASTER PARK.

We trust that the New Zealand Cricket Council and the Lancaster Park Company will agree to the proposal of the Cricket Association in respect to a new cricket scor-ing-board at Lancaster Park. The present structure wliich does duty for a scoringboard is ludicrously inadequate for the requirement of even an ordinary interprovincial match. This is much more the case when the Park is crowded, a_. it was during the reoent match against Lord Hawke's team, and as it will be, we hope, during the match between the New Zealand team and the Englishmen next week. To provide on tho last occasion no other scoring-board than the one in use argued either absurd confidence in the telescopic character of the spectators' eyesight or indifference to their convenience. As a matter of fact, persons with average eyesight who were on the eastern side of the ground were quite unable to read names or figures. On a ground the size and character of Lancaster Park, one has a right to expect a proper board. It should be provided, one would have thought, by the Park authorities, but as the Cricket Association havo generously offered to provide half tho cost, the least the Park Company can do is to put the matter in 'hand at once, so that the new board can bo used at the approaching test match. The public will not patiently submit to such inadequate scoring arrangements as characterised the last match. It would also be well if the Park Company would take into consideration the question of providing more seating aocommod-tion. The present stands are quite insufficient for the needs of a large attend__noe. The fine dry weather during the past match made -his a matter of less consequence than it might have been", but such weather cannot be "laid on-" when required, and there axe many whose enthusiasm for cricket would not extend, in the case of damp weather, to standing for several hours a day watohdng the game. The Pari. Company, we know, have not been too prosperous in the past, and such attendances as graced the cricket match are rare, but the Company would be consulting their own interests by studying the public convenience in this matter.