CRICKET MEETING

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1472, 4 November 1878, Page 3

CRICKET MEETING

A public meeting of gentlemen interested in cricket was held on Saturday night in the Corn Exchange. The meeting was caled by the secretary of the Canterbury Cricket Association, and between fifty and sixty of the members, ineluding influential gentlemen non-members of the Association, but lovers of the game, were present. Mr E. C. J. Stevens was voted to the chair. Having read the advertisement calling the meeting the chairman asked if one of the gentlemen present who had acted prominently in the matter would make a statement of what was proposed to be done. Mr fl. Neilson responded as the first speaker, and detailed the steps which had been taken in sending challenges to the clubs in Victoria. Six of them hid been accepted. It was intended to send over a representative team of eleven, which would probably be able to leave Canterbury about the 9th or 10th of next month. The match now resolved itself into the question how matters were to be arranged to enable the team to get away. The proposal was to raise a public subscription, and he, himself, had received promises to the extent of .£250. The trip would probably cost about .£SOO, including passages to Victoria and the other expenses involved in the trip, He would now move—"Ttat this meeting considers it advisable to send a representative team from Canterbury to play the matches provisionally arranged to be played in Victoria." Mr H. P. Lance seconded the resolution. Mr Morrison said he should like to make a few remarks upon the system of calling upon the public to subscribe money to support the team. He questioned the propriety of this; and thought if gentlemen who were fond of the game could not indulge in it without asking other people to put their hands in their pockets to pay their expenses, or remunerate them, they ought to abstain from playing. A great deal of discussion had taken place since the visit of the Australian team to England, about what constituted amateurs and professionals, and he thought that directly the former took a single penny he ceased to be an amateur. He also thought that the plan which had been adopted by the Australian team did not tend to elevate the game, but rather the contrary. The question now was whether this meeting should commit itself to the principle of appealing for public support to what was purely an amateur undertaking. He would move the following amendment : while desirous of forwarding in every way the idea of intercolonial matches, does not wish to establish as a precedent in any way the principle involved in this instance of pecuniary support to such matches." Mr A. C. Wilson scarcely thought that Mr Morrison's amendment could be considered as one, as he did not see that it was in any way antagonistic to the resolution. The Chairman remarked that the amendment could only limit the principle it was proposed to adopt to carry the scheme through if the original motion was carried. Mr Morrison had no objection to temporarily withdraw his amendment, and Mr Ncilson's resolution being put and carried unanimously, Mr Morrison's amendment was then put as a substantive resolution. Mr Seife seconded it pro forma. Mr W. G. Hamilton, as an old cricketer, sympathised with the movement, but things M-ere on a very different footing in the colony to what they were in England. Gentlemen there had no occasion to appeal to the public for support, but it was altogether another thing in Christchurch where players might have to leave their business in some instances, and go to another colony equally for the gratification of the public as for their own. One or two players might be able to afford t > give up their occupations and go, but many of the men who night be selected to form a first rate team could not afford either to give money or lose the time which was its equivalent. '1 he least the public could do would be to pay the team's expenses, unless they were sufficiently well off to pay them themselves. The line could not be as strictly drawn on the question of payment and the relative points that constituted tbe difference between amateurs and professionals here as at home. And he must say the Australians had done good service in England, if only in bringing some people to their bearings, aid placing in their proper position many who claimed to be amateur*, but were really paid as professionals. It might be as well to place the amendment, or rather the resolution of Mr Morrison on record, but he should be the last to wish these contests either to be looked on as a business or a matter of profit. Mr Selfe remarked that there might be men whom it would be desirable to include in the team who might find a difficulty in leaving, or who could not afford to be absent for >ix weeks for nothing, and he certainly thought that they should be paid, even if it was making it a matter of business.

Mr H. P. Lance said it amounted to one of two things, either they would have to take the gate money or the necessary funds must be supplied here. The question really was, which colony was to supply the money, Victoria or Canterbury, and he certainly was in favor of the latter. Mr Neilson spoke very strongly against the principle of taking the gate money. It would be bringing themselves on to the same level as the team that had played in England, and they would be degrading their proposed scheme if they converted it into a money-making speculation. The great point to bear in mind was whether they considered the cricketers here strong enough to play the clubs in Victoria. He was of opinion that they were, and if they were victorious great kudos would be given to the province; therefore, he thought it only fair to ask the people here who take an interest in these matches to forward them in some way. Mr C. E. Blakiston was afraid it was scarcely possible to secure an efficient eleven who could afford to spare the time to go to Victoria, Perhaps Mr Neilson would inform the meeting how long they would have to be away. In reply. Mr Nei son said they could safely rely on eight of the best men in Canterbury to go, but there was an uncertainty about Mr Corfe, and no team could scarcely be considered complete without him ; but the others could probably be got. He thought they could leave about the 16th of December, and be absent about six weeks. After some remarks from Mr B. C. Monnier, Mr Mclntyre said the practice of- raising money for necessary expenses had been common enough for a number of years, but not for purposes of remuneration. The Chairman remarked that bad been the practice for years in Otago. In the first match that was played in 1864 some allowance was made for expense". Mr Bennett-That was in 1863. Mr A. Ollivier said that from Mr Morrison's remarks that gentleman evidently thought these iuterprovincial and intercolonial matches were only pleasure trips. Aa far as he was concerned he would undeceive him. First, there was a sea voyage, which to many persons was anything but pleasant. On arrival they had two or three days' hard practice, and every one was aware that those who wished to play cricket properly must retire early at night, and would have very little leisure for sight-seeing. There was more labour than pleasure. He remembered that one year a cricketer who had been chosen to go to Otago said he should have to decline unless his expenses were paid. It was then arranged that all necessary expenses should be paid, and those who could afford to play without should subscribe a certain amount to the fund. These matches were of great benefit to the game, aud also to the province, making known to the world the • elements of which it was constituted, and dissipating a great deal of ignorance that prevailed concerning it. If the trip to Victoria were at all successful it would create interest, and people would begin to make enquiries about Canterbury, which would lead to a great deal of benefit to the colony. As to the subscriptions, they would, of course, be limited to what people could afford, but he entirely agreed with the princinle that the expenses of the team should be paid. Mr L. Walker said the issue was narrowed to this, whether gate money should be taken or whether the money should be found in Canterbury by public subscription. He begged to move that a subscription should be started in the room for the purpose of assisting in sending a Canterbury team to Australia. The Chairman reminded Mr Walker that there was already a motion before the meeting. Mr Morrison, havhjg replied at some length. contending that he had rendered good service if for only having caused a discussion on the subject of expenses, his motion was put and negatived, by a very large majority,

Mr Walker remarked that the gate money sy. t>nn had not found much favor in England, and he did not think its adoption in tho present instance would be creditable to the province. We then put his motion—" That a subscription should be at once opened in the room to defray the expenses of sending a Canterbury eleven to Victoria."

Mr Lance seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously and with enthusiasm. The Chairman remarked that now the motion had teen carried, all that remained to be done was to open the list at once. First, he would read two letters of apology for non-attendance from Mr John Studholme and Colonel Brett, both those gentlemen regretted their inability to be present, but sympathised heartily with the proposed matches. Mr A. C. Wilson suggested the appointment of a committee to carry out tho details of the meeting, and the following gentlemen were nominated:—Messrs E. C. J. Stevens, H. P. Lance, Wynn W illiams, J. Ollivier, W. H. Nei son, T. D. Condell, E. J. S. Harman, and L. Walker, with power to add to their number. Mr A. Ollivier. in seconding the appointment of the committee, observed that one of their duties would probably be to interview the cricketers who were likely to compose the team. The motion was then pufc and carried. The Chairman here reminded the meeting that the subscription list was now ready, and in the course of a few minutes .£llO was subscribed. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, and the meeting dispersed.