CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14838, 2 December 1913, Page 9

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION.

3IEETING OF DELEGATES.

A general meeting of delegates to tho Canterbury Cricket Association warheld last 'evening, Mr F. C. Raphael presiding over an attendance of about twenty. A letter was received from the Canterbury Centre of tho N.Z.A.AA.., requesting that the Cricket Association should postpone its matches on the date of the American team's appearance in Christchurch.

A motion in favour of postponing the matches was lost by 13 votes to «, but full sympathy was* expressed with the Canterbury Centre, and a donation of £2 2s was made to its funds. Mr T. W. Reese, referring to the veterans' match, Otago v. Canterbury, said he thought there would be something like fifteen candidates for the Canterbury team, and he would like an expression of opinion on behalf of the General Committee as to whether the eleven oldest players or tho best veterans' team be chosen.

Mr Cant suggested that he should communicate with Otago as to their principle of selection. Mr D. Reese said he thought the earliest players, like Frith, Ashby and Wilding ought not to be excluded in favour of more recent veterans. It was a friendly match, and there was no Plunket Shield attached to it. The opinion of the delegates favoured this view. , »

-Mr C. E. Beal suggested, with reference to tho scheme for playing semifinals and a final in the senior competition, that the first team should be drawn against the third and the second against the fourth in tho first and second semi-finals," and tho grand final bo played between the winners. If the two leading teams were drawn against each other the strongest might be opposed to a rather weak side, and a lot of interest would be lost. He moved that it bo a recommendation to the Competitions Committeo that this scheme be adopted. Mr Cant seconded the motion. Mr E. 11. Caygill moved as an amendment, and Sir Cecil Moon seconded; that it be a—recommendation to the Competitions Committee that the draw be so arranged that the two best teams do not meet in the semi-finals. The amendment was carried by 16 votes to 4. On tho motion of Mr Fowke it was resolved to recommend the committee that Mr J. S. Barrett be appointed to act as selector in the absence of Mr D. Reese in Australia.

On the motion of Mr Cant, it was unanimously resolved that, in view of the departure of the New Zealand team for Australia, a letter be sent to the manager conveying the best wishes of the Association for its success.