PROFESSIONALS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 16

PROFESSIONALS.

INCLUSION IN TEAMS. APPROVAL OF CRICKET CONFERENCE. ]k the decision of delegates to the Dominion Cricket Conference, professionals will be eligible to play in Plunket Shield and Hawke Cup matches, but their numbers will be liimited. The question was discussed at length by the delegates last evening. The chairman (Mr E. Heathcote Willia .) said in his view no professionals should be played in Plunket Shield or . Hawke Cup matches. The young play- : ers should not be kept out of the !>esi; first grade match*! by the inclusion of professionals. Mr M. MoLcocl (Hawke s Bay).moved that no professionals be allowed to jjlay in Plunket Shield and Hawke Cup matches. Mr J. H. Hayliow (Wanganui) seconded the motion. Mr N. C. cJnedden (Auckland) moved, as an amendment, that one professional, qualified under Rule 4, Clause D, bo allowed to play for each Association in Plunket Shield matches. The best way to learn cricket, he said, was to play against or alongside the best players. It would lead to the importation of several professionals by the stronger Associations, to allow the inclusion of more than one in each team. Mr J. Eobson (Otago) seconded the motiori. He said the play of Bowley had been all inspiration last year, and had resulted in a large increase in the gate takings. Mr J. S. Barrett (Auckland) said the renaissance of New Zealand cricket dated back to A. E. Relf. It would mean a great fillip to cricket to allow the inclusion of one non-resident professional in each provincial team. Mr U. Reese said the experience of New Zealand made him all in favour of the inclusion of one professional. Otago had been made a great side by this policy. "Gate money cannot be ignored," he said. ' "Professionals are most expensive aTticles. They have improved the play in New Zealand." It was not a great hardship for one young player to have to stand down, and he woufd soon get his chance. Mr E. R. Caygill (Canterbury') heartily supported the proposal. "The professional helps to foster interest in the game," he said. Relfs play had been an inspiration in the past, not only to Auckland, but to Canterbury. "We can certainly find one place for a professional," he said, "as he is a fine mode]. Very often he would take the place not of a young fellow, but of an old stock bowler." Mr Reese said Bowley had earned the "£630 record gate obtained in Auckland last year. The'amendment was carried by a very large majority. Hawke Cup Matches. 'Mr McLeod then moved that no professionals bo included in Hawke Cup matches. • Mr Hayliow seconded. Mr T. H. Bates (Taranaki) said the same arguments held in this case as in the Plunket Shield matches. The chairman: You've just got a pro. (Laughter.) "Yes," said Mr Bates, "but we also have an overdraft.. Don*t stop us from playing our professional because you haven't one. Mr J. Hanrattan (Ashburton) supported these remarks. Mr H. F. Arkwright (Rangitikei) said in Hawke Cup matches the jplay was of lower standard, and a professional would make more difference. He had been instructed to oppose their inclusion. Mr G. T. Weston (Taranaki) said they would be foolish to make any distinction between Plunket Shield and Hawke Cup matches. Mr B. R. Macdonald (South Canterbury) supported the motion. He said the importation of professionals would be too great a strain on the resource? of minor Associations, Mr W. Millar (Manawatu) said the Association with the £ s d to financeprof cssionals should not raise barriers againsfthem. (Applause.) Mr D. E. Parbon (Wairarapa) said those who should be considered primarily were the players and the public, j Mr A. C. Cooke (Poverty Bay) said ! his Association had no professional yet, ] bu.t ho was not against their inclusion, j Mr E. R. Neale (Nelson) said he had'! a free hand. The conditions were very different for minor Associations. Only two of them had professionals. Their difficulty was one of finance, and it was doubtful whether Nelson Association would bo able to keep its professional for more than two years. He j suggested that the opinion of the minor : Associations be obtained.. The chairman suggested that the major Associations refrain from voting. The motion was lost by 9 votes to 8, and it was decided, on a second division, that one professional be allowed to play.in Hawke Cup matches.