CRICKET.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16854, 7 June 1920, Page 6

CRICKET.

DISTRICT SCHEME ABOLISHED. REVEESION TO THE CLUB SYSTEM A specially summoned meeting of the Canterbury District Cricket Association on Saturday night, decided by 12 votes to 0, to abolish the district system. and revert to club cricket. Mr "W. Simpson presided. Mr J. S. Barrett moved motion providing for tho abolition of district cricket. In moving his motion Mr Barren said there was no new argument to be brought forward on behalf of tho suggestion to revert to club cricket. The whftlo matter had boon gone into many times, and nothing but the loyalty n't those members who had supported" the scheme despite their personal belief in its futility had enabled district- cricket to last so long. Now tho heroic labours of the sub-committee which was appointed to consider tlio question of revising boundaries showed that it was impossible to continue on the past lines without creating residential conditions which bounded on the absurd. The clubs had had an opportunity of discussing tho motion, and delegates were now in a hotter position to consider all tho points at issue. lie felt sure delegates would vote according to their convictions, and he had no doubt, whichever system was decided upon, that they would all lovallv support it in tho interests of the game which tlicv all had at heart. 31 r E. S. Luttrcll seconded the motion. j^ r Winsor rose to a point of order. The whole business was out of order, ho contended. Tho sub-coni-mittee appointed had boon instructed to bring down a report in tho interests of district cricket, not tho abolition ol* it, and the previous meeting of the Association had been convened for that purpose. The chairman upheld a point, of order raised by Mr Barrett, that tho meeting had no right to over-ride the decision of tho chairman of tho previous mooting. Mr Winsor contended that Sir Barrett's motion could not be proceeded with until tho meeting had disposed of the business previously before tho Association. Tho chairman said he understood they were there in the of cricket, not points of order. Tho only way to discuss all the proposals, viz., straightout district cricket, partial district cricket, or abolition of district cricket, was to throw out Mr Barrett's motion. Mr E. H. Taylor said the Linwood Club supported the abolition of district cricket. Mr W. L. King qualified this by stating that tho Linwood Club desired to have the Boundaries Committee's report first discussed fully. He moved as an amendment: — "That cricket be carried on as formerly before tho sub-committee brought forward their proposals for the alterations of boundaries." Mr S. F. Wilson said ho thought it would bo better to settle Mr Barrett's motion one way or the oflier. His club (West Christchureh) thought it better to have club cricket with district, names. District cricket would mean the losing possibly of 75 per cent of tlio Boys' League players. .Tlio City and Suburban Cricket Association had, ho believed, largely come into existence through cricketcrs not desiring to plnv under a dist- ict scheme. District cricket had come into existence 25 or 30 years before its time. The boundaries suggested by tho Boundaries Committee were not acceptable to his club. Mr Winsor seconded tho amendment.

Mr R. B. "Ward said had district cricket continued in regard to his club (East Christchurch), it would have gone to the wall, but since being an open club it had become very strong, and he thought other clubs would benefit equally if they were made open ones. Under a district scheme neither East Christchurch nor West Christchurch could continue. Mr Winsor said district cricket had proved a great success before the war. Mr J. Reid said that during the best year of district cricket there were 132 more players than during the best year of the old club dnys. Club cricket would lead to the Ricearton Club being flooded with players, while clubs like East and "West Christchurch would have their membership depleted, and, sooner or later, go to the wall. Then condi- ' tiona would revert to those of 1905, ! when district cricket was introduced to remedy tho position. He would not support Mr Barrett's motion. There were not more than three members of the St. Albans Club to whom tho idea of club cricket was not repugnant. Speaking in reply, Mr Barrett said there was a fairly strong feeling against the district system. Things could not be quite right when they had to alter the boundaries every year. He did not wish to be a gramophone, and though his club (St. Albans) had expressed itself in favour of tho district system, he intended to have freedom of choice, and therefore to vote in favour of his motion.

Mr Taylor favoured postponing th© matter till the new cricket season, thus giving members of clubs an opportunity of fully considering: the matter. The amendment was lost by 9 votes to 8, and tho motion carricd by 12 votes to 0.

"What is the position now?" asked Mr Wilson of the chairman.

"It means the rules will be so altered that district cricket will bo abolished," announced the chairman.

Mr Winsor said those supporting tho club system that night would rejjret it in years to come. It was a very retrograde step, going back to the days of Noah and the ark.

The chairman gave notice to move that no new clubs bo admitted into tho Association unless they had 75 per cent, of new players.