CRICKET.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 672, 24 November 1909, Page 3

CRICKET.

9 UMPIRES* ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting of the Wellington ,':<Jm4| pircs' Association was held in the Now Occi-i '• dental Hotel, Lamblon-Quay, last night. 'There , was a good attendance of members,.-Mr, W- Rj Bock occupying tho chair. ' \> v 1 The fifth annual report prcparcd&vslho-seero-, tary (Mr. D, M'Kenzie) was read andradoptcd, Tho report is as follows:— "In presenting' a report at tliis stage of the association's history, I cannot congratu. late members on any progross-smce lost wo mot together in annual meeting. As a mattor oi fact, werb it not for the • loyalty of a fow ' members, who, at much personal incanveni once to themselves and the sacrifice of mud valuablo time, have given Ihoir wliolc-hcatlcd ' support to til* work of the association, lh» body by this lime wonld havo ceased to exist A meeting was held three weeks ago, wliich was attended by six.of the members referred to above, wheu it was decided lo make olS' more effort to infuse'now lifo into tho ,worb lof the association. To that end a cixulaiwas drafted and sent round to the various- di& frict clubs, inviting them ,to eo-operato in . , inducing qualified gentlemen to offer their sor.«' \ yicfis as umpires, and it is hoped that some. ■ thing practical may result from this.cffort. R©. j viowmgUho work of tho past season, the as. sociation must express its satisfaction with . '; tho fact that, generally speaking, tho members > carried out their duties bn tin impartial man. " nor, and, although thero may have been grumblings in some instances, players ono and all j were freo to admit' that whatever mistakes i, were made, the umpires gave the decisionstihat ' appeared to thorns to bo tlio right ones. Tin. association is indebted to tho Crickot Association for much valuable assistance during the past, that body ever boiug ready to-acccdo' to any request made by our momljccs, as well, a.s rendering whatever assistant lay in their power. A letter of thanks for their kindnesses in this r,cspecl should lie forwarded them. [Tho (hanks of the association are also dne to tho , ' staffs.of tho 'Evening Post,' Tjir.' Domikion, , ' and,' The New Zealand Times,' who one and ' all wcro over willing to insert tho appoint, ments of tho umpires wcok.by week,, and'..to report any matters of interest from an urn-' pire's standpoint. During last,cricket season tho members of the association wcro much exercised over tho delay m startihg matches at the Basin Reserve, and with the object of. effecting an improvement a deputation was . sent to, the Cricket Association. They' were courteously received and, probably as a result of their contentions, a now rule is found! this year among the association's by-laws lo the effect that a fine will bo inflicted on teams not ready lo start at tho appointed time. So far this «eason things havo worked very smoothly indeed in this direction. Tho association did not hold many meetings during ' last season, but it is hoped that, in 'Jio year we have entered upon, more members may, bo . added to the association's list, and that tho discussions on the rules, which were tho main . ' features of the' early history of the association, may bo resumed and canied out to the mutual advantage of tho members and tho advancement of the game, in whoso interests wo are banded together.. An umpires' association is a necessary adjunct of the playing of tho game of cricket, therefore, I hope, thai our body may still continue to carry oh ib good work." a ' The following officers were appointed :—-Presi. dent, Mr. J. P. Firth; yiee-presidents,- Messrs,, ' A. Ashbolt, T, R. Ronaldson, C. E. Stevens, W. E. Bethune, H. U. Ivorv". S. Alpe, L\ P. Bunny, G. Webb, W. A. Thomson, A. T. Bate, A. M. ; Davies. and T. R. Fleming: chairman, Mr. D. M'Kenrie; secretary and treasurer, Mr. Allen Hill; appointment committee, Messrs. W. R. Bock, D. Mlvonaie, aiid A. F. Wiren; examination committee, Messrs. . * J, Varnham, D. M. Tcatts )( and D. MlCenzie. . A vote of thanks was passeel to tho retiring I rhairman (Mr. W. R. Bock) and sccrctarv for their services during the past season. Three' hew members were elected. j! It was decided to meet regnlarlv every altcN nato Tuesday in tho New Occidental 'Hotel, ' ' jat 8 oclock. i \ , i f>

AUCKLAND V. 'WELLINGTON.' (By TcleErarU-I'reja Association.) , Auckland, November 23. The following enckot'ers have been chosen to practise for Iho match Auckland against Wellington next month:—Hctnus, Robinson, Cummings, Smith, Mason, Horspool, Sale, Oliff, Wright, Haddon, Howdon, Wallace, GootL GuHelt, and Eclf.