Cricket 1909

Dec. 21, 1909 CR ICKET A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. 467 The construction of the Demon Drivers is fully described in The E vo lu tio n of a Cricket B a t, which may be obtained free upon applica­ tion. f CRICKET BALLS [IMFROVEDMAKE-KEEP THEIR SHAPE LAS LONCERg CATALOQU E UPON APPLIC ATION . CATALOQU E UPON APPLIC ATIO N . CATALOQU E UPON APPLICATION . FDOTBALLS IMPROVEDMAKE-KEEPTHEIR SHWE-LASTmHCEB CATALOQUE UPON APPLICATION . O / ^ D E M O N D R I V E R S ~1J '® V O o ARE OUT AND OUT THE BEST. / Q OTHER GRADES 7 -6 -S '~ "2^ - J-C k T ue on application ^ ^ CATALOGU E UPON APPLICATION TO GEO. G. BUSSEY & Co., L td . 36 & 38, Queen Victoria St., LONDON. Manufactory— Timber Mills — PECKHAM, S.E. ELMSWELL, SUFFOLK Agents all over the world. THE SUGGESTED POOLING OF GATE MONEY. Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Worcestershire County C.C., at the Star Hotel, Worcester, on November 29th, Lord Cobham, who presided, suggested that the whole of the first-class counties should pool their receipts. He was not certain if they would persuade other counties to do so, but, if they would do so to the extent of 25 percent., it would be a great relief to the smaller and poorer counties. He hopel that the matter would be brought before the Advisory Committee, and that some steps would be taken in that direction. Otherwise he was absolutely certain that the whole system of the County Championship must break down. Jn small counties Committees had to accept not only laborious work, but undefined financial obligations; and he thought the sporting public were under con­ siderable obligations to such Committees. An effort ought to be made to back them up in keeping their county clubs in existence. Yorkshire, Middlesex,* Lancashire, and some of the great cricket counties were always in smooth water financially. Yet up to the present they had never lent a helping hand to extricate the poorer counties from the difficulties under which they laboured. Mr. F. E. Lacey said he did not think it would be possible to have a general pooling of all gate-money. Of course, some countics were better managed than others, or so he was given to understand, aud this, in the ordinary way of business, made a difference in the financial position of such counties. But there would always remain the difficulty that the inhabitants of some counties were more favourably inclined to cricket as a sport and gave a better financial support to the game and to the associations and clubs which were doing their best for its proper main­ tenance. It was, of course, very desirable for the richer counties to help their poorer brethren in other parts, but he doubted whether it would be considered a good business principle to make a hard-and-fast rule to give help where there was no very great home effort or where the people did not perhaps care for cricket, in order to force it upon them. It would be difficult in such a case to know where to draw the line. Asked whether he thought it desirable to establish some sort of partial pooling of gate- money, say about 25 per cent., Mr. Lacey said he did not think such a procedure possible or desirable in the interests of cricket. There was no doubt that some of the counties were financially weak, and it was difficult to sug­ gest a remedy for strengthening them. If some of them came to an end as first-class cricketing counties he did not think for a moment that county championship cricket would, as a consequence, come to an end also. The number of competitors would necessarily be fewer, but he did think it might be a good thing if the old North and South matches could be revived. A certain percentage of the takings would have to be paid for the ground, and the balance could be paid to the counties. Even in that case there jmight be a loss, and he did not think the poor counties would like to take the risk of possible losses as well as gains. In fact, it would be a purely business undertaking. W ith reference to the Advisory Committee, * Middlesex’s loss during 1009 amounted to £930 15s. 2d.—Ed. Cricket. Mr. Lacey explained that it was formed by the M.C.C. to ventilate all such questions as that raised by Lord Cobham. The Committee met either at the request of five counties or through the Committee of the M.C.C. From time to time general meetings were held, but none had yet been summoned, although other cricket meetings were nearly due. The maintenance of county cricket was a very difficult question for outsiders to deal with. Mr. Lacey added that tbe views which ho expressed were entirely his own, and did not in any way represent his committee, which had not yet had the question of pooling before them.— Sporting L ife . THE MINOR COUNTIES CRICKET ASSOCIATION. Prior to the meeting of the secretaries of the first-class counties on the 7th inst., the representatives of the minor counties held their annual meeting in the pavilion at Lord’s, Mr. P. J. de Paravicini (Bucks) presiding. After the minutes of the special meeting held in September had been read, the chairman presented Mr. R. H . Mallett with a handsome silver tea service and tray on his retirement from the position of joint hon. secretary with Dr. J. E arl Norman, and in recognition of his services to the Association. The hon. secretary asked leave to bring in a motion, which, although no notice had been given of it, was of a very urgent nature. At their special general meeting on Sept. 23rd the minor counties agreed to a new scheme of grouping, by which each county had to play five home and home matches. Dr. Norman had meanwhile discovered that it was possible for a county to fail to secure the necessary number of fixtures, and he moved that the necessary number of matches to qualify a county taking part in the com­ petition be altered to four home and home fixtures. Staffordshire objected to the con­ stant altering of rules, but after some discussion the motion was agreed to. Mr. A. M. M iller (Wiltshire) brought forward a proposition, of which notice had already been given, that representations be made to the Board of Control with a view to that body allotting the minor counties a larger sum out of the profits of the Test matches. The general feeling of the meeting was against the proposal, and after a dis­ cussion Mr. M iller withdrew his proposition, and the subject was dropped. Alterations in the regulations to meet the new grouping scheme w’ere incorporated in the rules. It was agreed that Wednesday, August 24th, be the last day for completing the ordinary competition matches prior to the final. Dr. J. E arl Norman was re-elected hon. secretary, and the following were elected to represent the Association on the Advisory County Cricket Committee and at the secretaries’ conference: R. H. Mallett, Dr. J. E arl Norman, and A. M. M iller. A N SW E R S TO C O R R E S PO N D EN TS . “ U m pire ." —There is no reason why you should not stand in a shield match in which your son plays. At Worcester on the 11th inst., Edward George Arnold, the well-known cricketer, was charged with causing annoyance by disorderly behaviour in Foro- gato Street, and the Bench imposed a fine of £3, including costs.