NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14888, 30 January 1914, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the New Zealand Cricket, Council was held last evening, tho following delegates being present:—The'Hon. E. C. J. Stevens (South Canterbury), chairman, and Messrs C. Wvlde-Brown and H. "C. RidleV (Auckland), A. T. Donnelly (South Auckland), G. T. Weston and F. H. Labatt (Hawke's Bay), Dr. Orchard (Rangitikei), G. F. Francis (Wanganui), C. R. Clark (Canterbury), W. B. Bottroll (Marlborough), E. J. Austin (Nelson), F. E. Brittain and J. F. Peake (Otago). S. A. Orchard (Southland), J. H. Williams (Wairarapa), and J. Fanning (Wellington). VISITS FROM AUSTRALIANS. Mr S. A. Orchard, manager of the. Now Zealand team, gave an account of his negotiations in .connexion with visits of Australian Stato teams to New Zealand. He had -first approached the Queensland Association, and they were very enamoured of the prospect of visiting the Dominion. He considered that when the Council was in a position to invite them, they would be very keen on coming. He had pointed out in all his .negotiations that it was desired to invite South Australia first; as they had not previously toured New Zealand. . The New South Wales Association saw no objection to the proposed visits, and expressed sympathy with the object of such tours, and the same remarks applied to the Victorian Association. South Australia took the matter, up more heartily than any other Association, though Queensland was particularly keen, and Clem. Hill had informed him that he would do all ho could to get away with the team on tour. Cricket was a great inconvenience to the employers in Adelaide, but ho thought that, as the players were mostly young, no difficulty would be experienced in getting a good team away. If the Council invited South Australia next season ho felt sure they would meet with a ready acceptance. In regard.to visits from representative Australian teams, the Board of Control could not guarantee any visit, but ; it might be possible to come to some arrangement later. If they wanted teams from Australia ho thought that they had only to issue the invitation and there would bo plenty of visits. In reply to.a question! Mr Orchard stated that ho had explained to the various associations that all steamer, hotel, railway and cartage of luggage expenses would be borne by the New Zealand Council. MR SIMS'S TEAM. Mr G. F. Francis read a statement, of business transacted by the Management Committee in connexion with the tour of Mr Sims's team, the negotiations for which had finally proved successful. A good deal of adverse criticism had been levelled against the Council in regard to the negotiations, but tho Council was not responsible for tho transactions complained of. He pointed out that the Board of Control was averse to any private tours. He thought that the tour of the New Zealand team in Australia had, on the whole, been a success. MANAGEMENT OF CRICKET. Mr H. C. Ridloy said he had noticed in the Press strong criticism by the Wellington Association of the actions of the New Zealand Council in connexion with the management of cricket, and he thought it a matter for the Council to make enquiries. The first complaint was as to the state of the wicket at Lancaster Park, and the second amounted to a statement* that the New Zealand Council was practically created for the benefit/of the Canterbury Cricket Association. If the Wellington Association had any serious complaints to make regarding the management of the Council, he would like to hear specific instances. Mr Francis said he had not regarded the complaints in respect to the committee's management very seriously, as he considered them personal statements. Tho committee showed no favour and endeavoured to eliminate all provincial feeling. Mr J. Fanning, the Wellington delegate, said that the remarks complained of wero quite informal. Two members of the Association took exception to the expenses in connexion with tho Wellington v. Canterbury match, but the views they held did notexpre6S the sentiments of the Association at all, and were not meant to be reported. Personally, he disagreed with the statements, and thought the expenses quite justified. There had been no motion before the meeting, and no motion oensuring the Council for its actions during the year. At the same time, as a member of the Wellington Association, he wished to place on record his ; protest against the action of the Council regarding the proposed match between the returning- New Zealand team and Wellington. The Wellington Association was not in a good financial position, and they regarded the demand for a £75 guarantee for the match as exorbitant. They had offered to pay all expenses, and he thought the offer very lair, seeing

that the object of th© Now Zoaland Council was to foster cricket in the Dominion. The whole criticism of the council revolved round that point. As to the criticism of the -wicket provided for the Wellington v. Canterbury match, the view expressed by Mr Wilson was quito unofficial, as far as v the Wellington Association was concerned. They were Mr Wilson's own personal remarks. Mr F. E. Brittain said ho regretted the matterVhad been brought up. They had no official complaint, and tho matter did not concern tho council. Mr G. T. Weston expressed the same views. Mr Francis explained, in connexion with Wellington's complaint as to the action of the council regarding the proposed New Zealand v. Wellington match, that at first it had been intended to' play matches against both Wellington and Auckland, nnd in tho estimates supplied to the Associations these were included. They had hoped to get £75 from each, and so did not think it fair to agree to the proposed match for a smaller guarantee tbnn £75. Had not the two matches (which did not eventuate) been included in th© original estimates they would havo acceded to Wellington's request. Mr Fanning said that it had been proposed to play the Auckland match before tho New Zealand team left for Australia, and therefore it did not affect tho position. He thought the council should do all in its power to assist affiliated Associations which wore in financial difficulties. They had a golden opportunity to foster cricket, and he thought they ought to havo stretched a point and accepted tho Wellington offer to r>av all expenses. The Chairman enid that a discussion such as the present was very useful, as delegates could express their views fairly freely, and matters in dispute could be cleared up. Mr Raphael pointed out that tho original plan •*as for tbe New Zealand team te play two matches prior to its departure, but, owing to tbo strike, they were fortunate in getting away at all. Tlio estimated revenue from that source had been cut off, and the council's finances were now practically exhausted in connexion with the New Zealand team's tour. The two test matches acainst Mr Sims's Australian team would cost about £300. and they expected £G0 from each, *o tbat it would be seen that the council was doing its best for "Dominion cricket with the money it had. They wero not m a position to assist any affiliated Association, much as they would like tf do. Mr Fanning said he still thought the council had made a mistake, though he saw their point of view in the matter. In further explanation. Mr Francis pointed out that tbo attitude of th© Wellington Association was rather inconsistent. They had previously stated that they would have nothing to do with the expenses of the fourteenth man, as it interfered with their guarantee. After some further discussion tho matter dropped. SHIELD MATCHES. Mr Raphael gave notice of motion for the next quarterly meeting in April that tho Management Committee go into tbe question of arranging dates for all Plunket Shield matches. Mr Fanning said ho thought tb© council should fix the dates for the Shield matches after consulting the interested Associations. Mr Brittain said he would like to sco the council urge the various Associations to eliminate the afternoon tea adjournment in connexion with the matches against the Australian team. The secretary - stated that he had received a telegram from the ( Auckland Association, stating that the Domain would not b© available for the test match there, but the game would be played at the Eden ground, th© terms for which were the same as those fbr Lancaster Park.