FINANCING TOURS.

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

FINANCING TOURS.

♦ QUESTION OF TESTS. CRICKET CONFERENCE DISCUSSION. Future methods of financing tours by cricket teams visiting the Dominion were discussed at the New Zealand conference last evening. Mr D. Reese said the team which went to England would cost the Council £IOOO. A position had been brought forward in test matches which could not be maintained. He outlined the Council's proposals for financing future tours. Something must be done, he said, as the Council had to pay 10s a dav per man, and an Australian' tour cost £IBOO. The question of expenses in Australia and New Zealand was a big one, as players in inter-State matches cost up to 25s per day each. A delegate: Are they still amateurs. Mr Reese: They are cash amateurs. Mr J. Robson "(Otago) moved that three test matches be played against a visiting oversea team, one at Christchurch, one at Wellington, and one alternately at Duuedin and Auckland. Dunedin, he said, had been suffering under a grievance, but it had the best ground in New Zealand, which was a big factor. Mr Reese said Auckland was the greatest city in New Zealand, and if the gates were to continue as good up there as in the Plunket Shield match last year, Auckland must be considered equal with Wellington and Christchurch. Mr N. C. Snedden (Auckland) seconded the motion. Mr J. S. Barrett (Auckland) said the Council was back to scratch now, having no money. Mr Reese said the question of leave of absence would have to be faced. The proposal meant seven weeks away from work in one summer for players. "Some day/' he said, "employers will not have cricketers to work for them, unless we watch it." Mr Reese said the Council would seriously consider having more than two test matches. Mr Snedden said cricket had shown a great improvement in Auckland, and his Association felt justified in having a test match against alternate visiting teams. "Make sure that the Council has enough money for Australian and English tours," said Mr Reese. The Council was prepared to try out Mr Robson's proposal. . Mr D. McKenzie (Wellington) moved an amendment that in the next two tours each of the four centres be allotted a test match as the Management Committee thought fit. Mr Robson withdrew his motion, and the amendment becoming the motion, was carried unanimously. Minor Associations. The chairman suggested that the arrangements remain unaltered for matches between visiting teams and minor Associations. Mr Snedden moved that the guarantee of minor Associations be reduced from £125 to £IOO, and that of the major Associations from £3OO to £250. Mr McKenzie suggested that the duration of games bo reduced, and that groups of minor Associations play against visiting teams. Mr Williams: That would be better. Mr McKenzie said they did not want their players to bo a chopping-block for overseas teams. Mr T. H. Bates said Taranaki was satisfied with £125. Mr J. H. Hayhow (Wanganui) said his Association was against any amalgamation. Mr Reese suggested that thirteen men play in minor Association. teams to make better.games. Mr Reese moved that for the coming Australian visit the Council arrange its own terms with major and minor Associations, the Council starting from £2OO behind scratch. He said he was willing to leave it at £3OO from the major Associations and £IOO from the minor Associations. A motion was carried incorporating this proposal. Several delegates spoke in favour of thirteen men playing for minor Associations, against visiting teams. "I'm strongly against it," said Mr Hayhow. "They treat you like kids, and you get no gate." A recommendation to minor Associations to play thirteen men was lost. Visits to England and Australia. Mr Reese said the Council did not consider it practicable to send a team to England in 1931. It was considered that Australia should be visited every six or eight years, and England every six or eight years, so that a team would leave the Dominion every four years or so. . This was considered frequent enough, as the Council did not want tosee the careers of players ruined by too frequent tours. ' In reply to Mr Arkwright, Mr Reese said the Council had considered the question of visits to the West Indies, but England and Australia were as much as New Zealand could handle at present. Mr Reese moved- a resolution on the lines of the Council's reepmmendation, visits to England and Australia to be alternate. The recommendation was adopted.