BETTER STANDARD.

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 73, 23 September 1930, Page 4

BETTER STANDARD.

"Th« ,performances that ,wero put up "by our representatives," said Mr. ; Luckie, "as well as those put up by the representatives from other provinces against such a strong side as the M.C.O. team, gives us very great hope of a successful tour of the New Zealand'cricket team in England next year, and it m with very great pleasure that I have to record our very keen appreciation of the results arising iorm the tour of the English teamApart altogether from the visitor* ability on the field, said Mr. Luckie, •they were very fine sportsmen. ,' WELLINGTON'S SUCCESS. .

'another matter for great congratulation was the fact that Wellington -was sueeessful in winning the Plunket Shield. (Applause.) Wellington, however, had not won it by too heavy Z margin, and the great struggle which was necessary to bring about the result had to be borne in mind. In view, •too, of the circumstances under which Wellington lost the shield the previous year, it was- a matter for very great congratulation that the province's representatives had been sueeessful last year. Wellington, he thought, had sustained a serious loss in losing the services of Mr. F. T. Badeock, who had fceen such a match-winning factor in previous years. It was with equal satisfaction though {hat they were able •to welcome the fact that tho association secured in Mr. Badeock's place as tho professional coach the services of. Mr. V, S. Dempster, probably the best bat >"cv.- Zealand had produced. During :tlie winter months Mr. Dempster had done good work, and'^it was the hope uf. the association that his work would lie attended with the same success as rhat achieved by his predecessor, to whom was due a great deal of the success, that had attended cricket in

AVellington of recent years. Mr. Luckie i'alao paid a tribute to Mr. T. 0. Lowry, <aptain of the Wellington ■ eleven,. and iiwho also captained the Now Zealand •'-Hide. Mr. Lowry had captained the ■ Wellington representatives very creditably, and successfully, and hnd fought ■ hard for the 'Side, which had been very ■well exemplified in the Plunket Shield match against Auckland. He hoped, ,and he said so without any knowledge 'of what might be in the selectors' • minds, that Mr. Lowry would captain the New Zealand side to visit England. Mr. Luekie referred to the performances of several other outstanding members of the Wellington XI. last season, making particular mention of H. M'Girr and K. C. James. x HNANOIAIi POSITION.

Dealing with the balance-sheet, Mr. Imckie said it was only natural, in view of the very large attendances winch were the direct result of the visit

«f the English cricket team, that ,the association experienced a better year financially than it had had for a good many years. It had to be borne in wind, however, that while1 funds had jiwelled, the association had to look iorwwd to the possibility of two or throe l««n seasons. , It was very necessary,' therefore, that the greatest possible care should be taken, to conserve the finances. <■>