ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1574, 18 October 1912, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

CRICKET PITCHES.

THE ALLOCATION OF WICKETS.

BY CITY COUNCIL. PREPARATION CHARGES PUT UP. At the City Council last evening the Reserves Committee reported that they hi(d considered tlio applications received for the use of crickot wickots for the season 1912-13, nnd recommended that the allocation of grounds, etc., bo as appended. Altogether 15 wickets woro applied for on Kelburne Park, 7 on Anderson Park, 3 on Newtown Park, 4 on Wakofield Park, and 3 on Kilbirnie Park. These, together with the Boys' Cricket League's application for seven wickets on different reserves, totalled 15 wickets, whereas there are only 26 wickets available. It was ascertained that certain house clubs belonged to what is tormed a House Cricket Association," and they insisted upon the clubs obtaining a wicket jrv i c ?l uc 'l before being allowed to affiliate with the association. Consequently, .double the number of applications irom house clubs were received. The committee decided in allocating the grounds to rccogniso the associations onlv', and not to deal with the individual clubs. The Allocation. The allocation of wickets is as follows:— Wellington Cricket Association.—Kelburiic Park, 3; .Anderson Park, 1; Newtown Park, 2; Wakefield Park, 2. Junior Association.—Anderson Park, 2; Newtown Park, 3; Wakefield 'Park, 4; Kilbirnie Park, 2. Douse Association.—Kelburno Park, 1; Anderson Park, 1; Newtown Park, 2; Wakefield Park, 3. ; Total wickets allotted, 2G. Tho Wellington Cricked Association, it was explained,: had been granted three grounds on Kelburne Park until the Basin Reserve was ready. When they again commenced on the' Basin Reserve there would be an extra ground granted to the Junior Cricked Association and tho House Association. ' . The fees.for the preparation of tile wickets were increased i'roin JB2 per month to .£3 per month, for match wickets. Fees for tho preparation of wickets (both mutch and practice) are to be collected Monthly in advance,' otherwise the grounds will not be made available. Certain clubs are to be informed that they cannot use the grounds until the amounts owing by tliem are paid. Other Wickets Apportioned. Practice wickets were allocated to the following:— Kelburne Park.—Terrace School, St, Peter's Choir Boys' Cricket Club, Wellington Catholic Cricket Club, Wellington North District Cricket Club, A. E. ICtrnot's Cricket Club, and Victoria College Cricket Club: • 'Anderson Park.—Union'Steam Ship Co. Cricket Club, Miss' Baber's School Cricket Club; Miss. Sommerville's School Cricket Club, Normal School Cricket Club, Occidental Cricket Club, arid the" Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union Cricket Club. Newtow'n Park.—St. ' Thomas's Cricket Club, Red Cross Cricket Club, Y.M.C.A. Boys' Cricket Club, Donald M'Lean Street Primitive Methodist Cricket Club,' Newtown School, South .Wellington- School, Wanderers' Cricket clul), Kilbirnie Cricket Club, and:Maramii-School.'; ' Wakefield: Fark.rrßcrha'niporo Cricket ■ club. . ; r ■ Kilbirnie Park.—Maranui School. Nairn Street Reserve.—Brooklyn Club. "You Can't Explain It, But I Can!"' Councillor Fitzgerald wanted some information on that part of the report' doming with the increased cost of preparing wickets. He explained that tho Junior 'Association had not'heard anything about it, and would like the matter held over until they had had an opportunity of discussing it. Prior to Councillor Fitzgerald speaking on the matter, the report had actually been adopted, and tho Mayor ruled that he could not discuss it. Councillor Frost, chairman of the Reserves Committee, stated, however, that the increased charge would press very lightly on the players. They were getting tho wickets at practically a nominal cost. ' Councillor M'Kenzie and Councillor Fitzgerald both protested that they would have lilted to have spoken on the question, and Were taken by surprise in the way the motion for the adoption of the report had been put. The Mayor declined to allow the discussion to proceed further. If It could be shown that any injustice was being done, the committee would, be' pleased to deal with it. ..

At question time Councillor M'Kenzio asked if the Mayor could tell him why tho Wednesday Criike't Association had only been billed for their fees yesterday, and had been posled as defaulters on the report that night. The account had actually been paid that day (yesterday). The Mayor said ho could not explain all these details off hand. Councillor M'Kenzie: You can't explain it, but I can! . . Continuing, Councillor M'Kenzie said the Wednesday Association had originally been sent the wrong account, and had never been sent their own until Wednesday last. • They would have settled it at anytime.