CAN WE AFFORD CRICKET?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2058, 1 May 1907, Page 2

CAN WE AFFORD CRICKET?

To t.ho Editor of the Times. Dear Mir,—“Cricket” (England's greatest game) gave promise last season of placing Poverty Bay amongst the accepted list of intorprovinciai elevens. Alas! the want of seeing-a grass wicket or playing oil one produced a very disappointing display by our eleven against Hawke’s Bay. Why is this thus? comes the question. 1 can easily explain tile reasons why —we have not been able to afford to play cricket so far in Poverty Bay. and before we talk about altering the name “Poverty” we will have to have things different to what they are at present. lam only taking the summer game of cricket into consideration, and we are extremely poor as far as that goes. Why? Either because we. have no supporters who can afford to subscribe, or we arc frightened to open o.ur mouths and declare our poverty. At present Mr. Arthur Fenton, of Hawke’s Bay, is laying down a couple of turf wickets and practice- wickets. This work he has undertaken to do as a donation to the P.B.C. Association, his faro and bare expenses only being paid, and Mr. Cederwall. of thir. town, has also kindly lent his man to assist Mr. Fenton. The P.B.C. Association have barely .■■nougli money to pay for soil, clay, etc. Therefore I declare at present we can not afford cricket, and I would suggest, dear Editor, kind patron of cricket..that we start a shilling subscription list for the ground im-

provements to the .Victoria Domain —call it the Turf Wicket Fund, or what you w’ll. I am sending you my shilling.—Yours, etc.. BROKEN-HEARTED CRICKETER.

P.S.—There is such a thing as dignity where poverty exists. Hope I don’t touch it.—B.H.C.