WILL HE ACCEPT?

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18894, 8 January 1927, Page 15

WILL HE ACCEPT?

BIG SALARY FOR PO.NSFORD OFFER FROM ENGLAND. iBT CABLE—TRESS ASSOCIATION—C'OrVKIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N. - CABLI ASSOCIATION.) MELBOURNE, January 7. It is stated that Ponsford lias been mado a tempting offer to go to England to play cricket, tho remuneration mentioned being £ISCO sterling annually. Compared with his present salary as a bank eierk this is munificent and not easy to resist. A movement is afoot, backed by an appeal in at least one paper, to the citizens of Victoria to do something to keep the young batting champion in Australia.

It is suggested that the public should subscribe sufficient to make it worth whilo for Ponsford to stay in Victoria. TRIs proposal is said not to appeal to Ponsford, or • cricketers generally.

DENIAL MADE

"AX UNDIGNIFIED SQUABBLE."

(by cable -rfif.ss association—copyright.) (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received January 7th, 7.5 p.m.)

LONDON, January 6. Tho Ponsford imbroglio is agitating cricketing circles in England. Sir Lindsay Parkinson denies that. Ponsford was offered a salary of £ISOO if he 'would play for tho Blackpool Club in 1927 and adds that he has not received a reply to the tei ms. offered while Ponsford was in. England, though ho promised to consider the matter and cable a reply. Tho "Evening Standard," discussing .tho squabble whether England or Australia shall have Ponsford, describes it as undignified, though the suggestion that admirers should subscribe £1 per run is amusing and "probably only refers to tho past; otherwise Ponsford may stay at the wickets for a couple days while he amasses the price of a new motor-car."

.Tho latest development is that Parkin has become manager of the Grosvenor Hotel, Blackpool, and intends to play for Blaokpool. Parkin says that he was- offered £3O per \veek by League clubs to play on Saturday afternoons and that some also offered' him /5500-if he would sign articles, but ho intended to play .for Blackpool as an amateur.

The Yorkshire County Cricket. Committee headed a testimonial fund " to Rhodes with £220, expressing' the opinion thaa some fresh substantial tribute should he paid to the man whoso super bowling finally turned the game m favour of England in the last lest.' ,i

PONSFORD RETICENT

(ACSTRALIAJI . AND X.S. CABWS 1330CIAT10N.) (Received January 7th, 10.40 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, January 7. Beyond saying that he had received an offer from Sir Lindsay, Parkinson, a wealthy Blackpool business man to go. there to a business position ori 'the understanding that he ; would play cricket. on. .Saturday afternoons, Ponsford . declines. to throw any - light on the reported offer., of' £ISOO to go to England.- ;• .•,» •/:. . V. ,r i