LOSS ON CRICKET TOUR

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 150, 15 September 1927, Page 11

LOSS ON CRICKET TOUR

“£IO,OOO ABSURD’’ COUNCIL MEMBER’S VIEWS (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The resort'from London that the loss on the New Zealand cricket team’s tour would amount to £IO,OOO is considered absurd by members of the New Zealand Cricket Council. A member of the council said there seemed to be a great mistake. He expressed the opinion that the greatest possible loss could not be more than £4,000. Mr. J. F. Peake, honorary secretary of the council, said that from cabled reports of the attendances at the matches it had been estimated by the council that the loss on the tour would be from £4,000 to £5.000. It was hoped, however, that this would be considerably reduced by the four days’ match in 'Sydney, in connection with which the New Zealand Cricket Council would receive 90 per cent, of the gate money. There would also be a substantial profit on the two matches in Nt;w Zealand. and when the tour was finally wound up the loss would probably not be a-quarter of that stated in the cablegram. The following message was received to-day from Mr. D. Hay, manager of the team: Mr. Leveson Gower in a speech at Scarborough to-day, said the visit of the New Zealand cricketers during the festival had been a delightful success. Their free batting gave infinite pleasure. There was little doubt -n his mind that, on their next tour in England, their claim to play in test matches must be seriously considered. In any event they would certainly always be a leading feature in the Scarborough festivaL”