WELLINGTON CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 398, 6 January 1909, Page 5

WELLINGTON CRICKET.

Sir,—Tho-Pluiiket Shield is still in- the hands, of Auckland cricketers, and, no doubt, they hope that they may hold it for a long time. .As far .as tho Wellington Cricket Association is concerned, it would always re- . main with our northern friends, but other associations are wide awake .'whilst tho local governors of cricket are peacefully sleeping. Otago, for instance; has made two trips for this honour in two seasons, and;'their keenness would probably have been rewarded this season, had it not been owing to an unfortunate arrangement which confined the . game .to three days of play. Few people are; aware that the expenses of the last Otago trip will be borno by the; players ■ themselves, but .this is a'fact, and under these circumstances all men will agree that these Otago players, are .true sports, who play for the game itself. How many of the ohosen of Wellington would :make' a trip under such circumstances?■■ Why, of the team that went to Christchureh at Christmas time for a few days, two players, claim wages from the' association, in addition to fill -travelling expenses,, and these'two players have alwaysplayed under the same arrangement. It probably does not occur to the local association that the Plunket' Shield is; worth about £800 to £1000 a season in gate money to the association l that holds it. . In Wellington ■vvhere; the public ,pays 'for its cricket better than in any other centre : in the Dominion, the ..winnings of the shield would, replenish the Cricket "Association's treasury ito' such an extent that a coach could easily be 1 secured to. bring ; on; players. A' coach would spon maie a big difference' to the standard' of play here, as there are dozens of promising players in Wellington, who reach a certain standard, and oitlior stop at' that stage for a few years,' or else go' back in-their play. ' , . .;-The, whole difficulty is that the local-asso-ciation does '■ not ; appreciate ! the . fact; that money can be made by playing representative' matches regularly; " If'if'did, visits to. Nelson and Wanganui would have b'een repaid some years ; a'go,' and . the fixtures' would have been made annual /ones the. same as ; the Canterbury match, is.; "Matches' against Auckland and ■ Otago -are - also', far' from', annuals,, for .the same reason, and it easily-seen that . these .lapses .reallyv cost money,. for, whereas a trip, to Auckland wouid .cost.about £70,; the return, visit'.of.'an. Auckland, team would; net,, £200, in .gate'.moneys' so that the home association wbiSd'inake about £100 -to, £130:'clear-;but if'ths .two'.'matches. During the ; recent' holidays, for instance, .profitable matches 'could easily have been arranged, as there is so little-to do'; in Wellington 'on a holiday that, the crowd-would roll up. and- pay.'.to'see a- decent game'; 'In -Aiisi tralia.v the ' inter-State matches are ;not allowed to-fall through, for the simple reasoii; that , the .-results are . too golden, and this applies even,; to/. Queensland. and: : Tasmanian matches. . : Wellington', 'should.; endeavour to get that ■shield this season,'-'and matches'.' witli' all, of,--theprovinces :should; be encouraged,' first])', - in the interest- of the,, game, .and incidentally in order to put .the.'finances of tho .'only centre without' a coach on a' better'fdoting.—l am,-etc., BOODLE.'. January 5. ';v \r- r .)