A Game Sustained

133 those who paid on the gate and more with those (probably better off) supporters of the game who were members of county clubs. While not objecting to the spectator paying his due share, Hawke said he did not think it fair that 2s in the pound should be deducted from all subscriptions. Of 3,000 subscribers at Lord’s, he noted, many never attended and yet still had to pay the tax. Yorkshire forwarded an appeal to the government and to various local Members of Parliament stating that county clubs could not continue for long to bear the strain the tax imposed. The club calculated that, with a membership of 2,700 and on the guinea subscription, the tax of 2s 6d meant that it would pay about £340 to the authorities. Given Yorkshire’s profit in 1914 was only £21 it was clear what a serious effect such a tax would have. As a result, the club resolved that the secretary appeal to members to pay the tax voluntarily with their subscriptions. Former player Sir Stanley Jackson, also criticised the tax. He said subscriptions were capital upon which to widen the game and, as an MP, he was prepared to pursue a reconsideration of the matter. There was less sympathy among other politicians, however, and in the House of Commons, the minister said he saw no reason for exempting county cricket matches. Several cricket leagues passed resolutions protesting against the tax, particularly as reports emerged that the Inland Revenue had collected it zealously during the football season. In April 1919, the Star Green’un reported that ‘minor and junior clubs, which exist solely from love of the game...are being harassed in a manner which surely was never contemplated when the Entertainment Tax was conceived.’ Thus, the cricket season of 1919 started with people throughout the county looking to revive the game and to protect it from the realities of post-war Britain. Getting cricket back on its feet: winter 1918/19