ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1824, 9 August 1913, Page 13

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

BIG CRICKET. THE TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA. IMPORTANT LETTER. THE_ FINANCE & RETURN VISIT, (By Telegraph.—PrcEa Association.) Christchurch, August 8. The management of the Canterbury Cricket Association met to-night. A letter was received from the secretary of tho New Zealand Cricket Council regarding tho Australian tour of a New Zealand i ream, statin# that, until the council had | eomniumcated with, tho Australian Association, it was not possible to advise the Canterbury Association as to itinerary or otlier information. The dates were not yet fixed, but tho team was to bo back in. New Zealand by January 31. The length of tho tour would be about six weeks, and tho council had agreed to guarantee <£100. _ The proposed guarantee from tho council and tho associations would be refunded pro rata according to the financial result of tho tour, and any surplug would be divided between tho counoil and-tho associations in proportion to the amount of tho guarantee. The council had placed the arranging of matches and guarantees (on certain lines suggested by the council) in tho hands of tho secretary of. tho Australian Board of Control, it being proposed to play matches against New South, Wales, Queensland, Victoria South Australia, Glen Innes, Maitl-and, Goulburn, Toowcomba, and the Melbourne Cricket Club. It was also proposed to play the New Zealand, team : against Wellington and ngainst Auckland. .Guarantees in Australia would ba received by the manager of tho team as matches were played, iuid, as the council would requiro £-100 to .£SOO before the team left New Zealand, it became necessary to ask tho major associations to guarantee a. sum of .£75 each, in order to finance the tour. The probable financial results of the tour are as follow:—New South Wales, ,£100; Victoria, .£75; Queensland, ,£75; South Australia, £75; Glen Innes, ,£SO; . Maitland, .£SO; Goulbum, '.£SO; Toowoomba, .£SO; Melbourne Cricket Club, ,£ls; New Zealand matches, ,£25;. total, .£7OO. The council were 'asking their ngeut to endeavour to arrange matches with Bathnrst and Newcastle at i£so per match. At a 'quarterly' general meeting, held in April last, practically all the delegates were present, and it was unanimously decided to send a •team to Australia this season, as none of the Australian Associations had another foreign engagements, and the council trusted .that the association would seo its_ way to guarantee tlie amount required. Arrangements had also been concluded for a first-clnss Australian team to visit New . Zealand in February and -March next on n barfs of CO per cent, of the gross proceeds per match, no guarantee being.required.. Information as' to tho personnel ,of the team and on other matters would be announced later.

It was 'decided that the Canterbury Association should guarantee .£75. The' New Zealand Council also advised that a general meeting will be held on September 9 to. consider the proposed al-. teTations to the Tules providing that the system of challenge to . decide the possession of the Hawke Cup bo reverted to, :»nd that applications from tho Southland Cricket Association to take part in tho Plunket Shield competition be agreed to. It was decided to leave matters to the discretion of delegates, subject to- tho opinion of the committee that the first proposal should bo Carried and the second rejected. , •