PAID CRICKETERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 406, 15 January 1909, Page 9

PAID CRICKETERS.

. Sir,—A letter signed "Boodle" appearing in your' paper recently stated that two.members of the Wellington representative team which recently, played against Canterbury were to bo paid wages for their services. I waited a day or two for this statement to be contradicted, but it. has gone unchallenged.' So, as I have been an honorary member of. the local association ."because it is so hard-up," I have made-a few inquiries, and-1 learn that ''Boodlo's" statement is,a hard fact.. Ido not think.that the players referred to are so much to blame as the association is. Surely'; players are not so .scarce that the association should havo-to pay.to get these men to represont them. Are: these men so indispensable that they should bo paid; to play for their■• province P; Does the association think of the• principle involved? : The position, from what I can.-gather,. is that these players look upon representative matches ns "benefits" for themselves.: Fancy one player actually claims wages for Boxing' Day! . Just' now the two -players in question are endeavouring to sccuro a trip to Auckland. This is a good idea, as Wellington should mako, -'an, effort to, secure the shield but- why shoidd these particular' players interost thomsolvos ? It is not my intention to mention any names, as this is much' broader thou a personal question. An important prinoinlo is involved, and teams should ; bo solcctod from players who think enough of the game and tho provinco to play for sport. Thero aro plenty of good youngsters playing today "who havo to bo relied upon in tho future, and somo of them should bo chosen, in place of those who domand payment. Tho manwho receives day wages nnd is paid for every minute of overtime he works, does not sacrifice any more than the salaried man who forfeits bodjo of hia holidays in order to play

in those miitchos.. These items never appear in the annual balance-sheet. 'Why?—l am, etc. •■'.-■■■ .MAHOGANY.; January 13.