CRICKETERS AND THE PARK OVAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9607, 29 September 1909, Page 4

CRICKETERS AND THE PARK OVAL.

The hasty action of the Masterton Borough Council in removing the tence that used to be around the Park Oval may possibly prove a serious matter to followers ot cricket in Masterton. It was removed, | we understand, on account of its "un • ' sightly appearance and dilapidated I condition," but a little paint would j certainly have i nproved its appear- : ance, and a still smaller expenditure j would probably have been sufficient jto renovate the dilapidated condition. "Do nothing without first considering the end thereof" is a very ancient adage, but it is one that most of us could even to-day pay attention to with advantage. Thoughtlessly, we presume, the fence referred to has been taken down, and no other has been erected in its stead; and, moreover, there is some reason to fear that unless the Borough Council realise the extent to which cricketers will suffer by their action that nothing will be done. The present position te that the cricketers pay an annual su:n to the Council for the use of t'.e f)» a), and are allowed to charge for admisshn on a very limited number of days, and they, also, bear the cost of keepi ig the pilches in order. Everyone, who is at all familiar with sport organisations, knows that there is usually a rather more pressing demand for funds to meet absolutely necessary outlays than there are funds to meet: the demand.

For some years in Masterton the manly, scientific, and healthy game of cricket "languished" somewhat, but for several seasons past a very much greater interest in and progress generally of the pastime has had to be recorded. Now, however, there 13 danger of a serious set-back, and 1 those in the community who have I ' at heart the promotion of genuine , sport uust recognise that the j cricketers should not only be pro- ! tected, but encouraged The absence ( of a fence round the Oval means [ that the public generally will keep j walking over the pitches and entire-* ly destroying them, while it will * be, practically, impoesibie to hold ) matches of any consequence on the 0 Oval, as a fence h essential for f keeping the public away from the t field of play. It was hoped to arrange b this season for a visit to Masterton by the Australian team that will tour v New Zealand in the summer, and r<

such an event would unquestionably give a stimulus to public interest in the game, but what our cricketers will do now that the Borough Council have taken away the fence it is difficult to say unless the Council do what they ought to do, viz., replace it. We understand that a deputation will wait upon the Borough Council this evening to urge that another fence be erected, and that some opposition to the proposal on account of limited funds may be raised, but the Borough council should see if they cannot possibly prevent an injustice, which is of their own creating, from being suffered.