CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 713, 12 January 1910, Page 6

CRICKET.

THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. OFFER BY WELLINGTON. A meeting of the Management -Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association was held in the Occidental Hotel yesterday evening, Mr.M. F. Luclno presiding. ' Aftor correspondence in reference to the proposed Australian -tour had been read, the chairman mado a lengthy statement bearing on tho position of affairs. Mr. Lnckie reviewed the position up to date, and stated that he had-learned from Mr. Raphael that, without Wellington, the tour could not be financed. There was no question of leaving Wellington out,' and he 'assumed that.' the council had 're-' cognised this all along, but had believed that if Wellington did not gain! their lioint they , would come into line. Wellington, however, had decided, to stand to /their 'original' decision in. reference to. pooling, ■ and they were prepared to _be. left out in taking: this stand. Ho was still of opinion .that .Wellington had done -quite: right,in,..its;-own interests,:.and in, : the, interestsof . cricket /throng&rat . the Dominion. , He '. would now suggest,, in view, of the fact that the-tour could not be, financed without Wellington on- the present.iterms;'that,.if all the centres' come into line, in a non-pooling scheme, and, in view of: the' fact that the guarantees fromvthe smaller, associations would bo insufficient, Wellington should offer ,£125. for. a three-days' match, which, would include .a - Saturday, and be' played before the . New Zealand match in Wellington. He thought,, that Wellington might offer, in addition,; 20 per cent of the net profits towards' theyexpraises of such New Zealand matches as the council should decide to play provided that, the other centres'make ..the same offer. He had been informed 'by a prominent, Canterbury cricketor that it was.not correct;that Can-! terbury ; would not; come ■in on' ; a ; nonpooling basis, .' i He understood, that the visitors-would play, four matches 'against tho centres,,. t,wo against : New. Zealand,and; four' against the smaller associa-' . tioiis.The estimated I cost of . the tour was about .£7OO. '/According.:, to,' Mr.: Raphael, tho visitors would • probably, leave Sydney on January, 29, .and arrive in Wellington on -the Wednesday," and' play hero on Friday,- Saturday,- and Mrin- . da}-. • • ; :

• - It .was, decided, after,.some discussion,' to ofTer. -a sum' of <£125 for a match in Wellington on condition that each' of'the .other-/three centres /did likewiso "on: a non-pooling basis;; also, /if necessary, to assist... the, finances of the : New .Zealand Cricsjt Council the, associationshould give .20 per 'cent., of any profit on -such match towards the,-expenses \ of .-.the conncil in connection-with the. two, test: matches,, which it hhs been decided should' be played on, condition' tliat : the larger associations, do likewise. ' ' i.. The; chairman pointed out that, .- as Otago would probably be visiting Auck-' land 1 shortly,, to;,; contest, the;. Plunket Shield, ' tho southern association'might bp asked , if: they would, play. a match' either • going to or,'coming ' back '.from ' Auckland, provided tho date 6 did not interfere with, the Australian tonr. It was further - suggested' that Otago should be offered. §0 .per. cent.' of the/net profits on condition':.that, a three.,days' match, in-' eluding one- Saturday, is played. ' It was : decided.. to 'ask .'they would bo willing to play if dates could, be. ar--ranged.

,The . Hawke'srßay .Association .wrote asking if tho "Wellington representatives could possibly: play-ia -three days' match at "i Napier, • commencing about., January .29... ; It was decided to .'hold, the matter" over until 'next; week, the'selectors to 'see in,.the meantime if a' 6trong enough' team could : be: picked which: w*>uld "pay its o-wn expenses. It was -stated ■ that tho net '.profit from., the .representative match'was ,£tU 10s. : T-be', chairman-stated that it .was anticipated, that Wellington; would . get 415 or .£SO /as ■■ a rrault' of - the/ Auckland-Wellington' ■ representative match. . • to gam';%ei:it r wa3 idecided' •;to -nmj© it , that.' the I committee : -is -in v" favour of /makiig tho round of. senior. 'matches,'! which commences- on .Jaanuny '22 aU ; ;day gomes," commena-ng 'at';?.3P, fun.lt was pointed, out that-.th©v oommitte© coiild riot: order, that the matches, should ho so played without' the'/chibs agreeing. ' ■', ■ ■ The quosion of " whether a Town-v.. Country match will bo played on January. 29 is to be . discussed at :'next .week's meeting of the association. : :

GAMES TO-DAY. -The following matches, andor tho auspices 'of the Wednesday--. Association, ■will be continued at - the . Basin '.Reserve this aitemoon:—Seniors: Oriental v. Rivals;, Umon v. Bed Cross; Artillery v. Y.M.C.A. ~ Juniors: Oriental v. Artillery."

; On Thursday next' the ■ New' South Wales: teachers'.team ,will. play a match on the Basin Reserve-against a.New- Zealand teachers' .representative; team.:. Consequently; no nets will , be"put Vup on the; reserve: on: the day in ;■ question.".