CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 306, 14 September 1918, Page 3

CRICKET

ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL KiSi'OKTPAST SEASON SATISFACTORY

The aimuiil report of the Wellington Cricket Association tor tiie season j.yiVlb states tiiai tlio cummiitco regarded with Kiitistuction tliti success which attended its eltorts during the past" season, and the fact that considerable headway had been made. Several outstanding factors had contributed t<f a successful season: (a) l'henomcnally good weather; (b) a very, considerable increase in the number of players; (c) and the fact that the Basin Reserve wae available throughout the whole season, there being no application for its use by other sports, bodies. ■

Four new clubs affiliated with the association last season. The distinction of winning the. senior championship fell to the Trentham Camp Cricket Club, which secured a record number of points, and went through the seaeon undefeated. The .North Club were runners-up. The junior and. third-class championships were won by the Hutt A and Boys' Institute Old Boys' Clubs respectively; with Marist Bros.' Old Boys' and Banks College runners-up.

satisfactory position in regard to the finances was disclosed by, the 'bal-ance-sheet. The income for tho year exceeded the expenditure by £45 18s. Bd. (an -increase of £38 17s. lid. on the previous season's working) despite the fact that several accounts long outstanding aud hopelessly irrecoverable were written off as bad 'debts. As compared with last season there was a marked increase in the several items which went to constitute the association's income account. The foes naid to the-Wellington City Council and to other clubs for thenise of grounds had correspondingly increased, ,but the net final result was a substantial credit balance. The committee was able to nlnee on deposit with the Post Office Savings Bank the sura of £150, and an itnm "bank interest accrued" appeared as an "asset" in the balance-' sheet for probably the first time in the history of the association. The accumulated funds account at the end of last season amounted to £130 7s. Id., but contained two items totalling' £37 3s. od., which had been written off as bad debts. The accumulated funds account, therefore,, amounted really ,to £93 3s. Bd, This year the account stood at £178 las. 9d., and as eaoh of the assets comprising it were hard cash, or the equivalent of it, the committee could show as a result, of the seaeon's operations an increase in its accumulated fund account of £86 12s; Id.

The association claims to hare'taken its proper, part in patriotic efforts. In. connection with the Christmas Gift Fund the committee took a Special part, and "The Cricketers" were successful in raising just under £400,, the effort being the best made, with tlie exception of "The Bowlere." The -representative match played in ' Christohurch benefited a patriotic fund there to the extent of approximately £100, and the return-match in Wellington, which was unfortunately hampered by bad weather, benefited the Mayor of Wellington's Patriotic Fund to the extent of £29 Is. sd.

Tho report stated that it was worthy of remark that the sum of £226 ss. was paid during the season to the City Council in connection with reserves, £205 being paid for the Basin Reserve and £21 ss. for Kelburn Park. s Last year the amount paid was £187. Tho committee had entered into an arrangement with the council whereby the latter agreed to carry out very material improvements to the playing area, particularly the middle portion, of the Basin Reserve, tlie association con-tributing-to the cost the sum of £30. The ground hi}d been top dressed and resown, and in places the turf had been raised and a soil of special quality distributed. The committee was confident that all the wickots ivill benefit very materially witli, advantage to playere and their play generally. Opportunity was taken of expressing-gratitude to the. groundsman, Mr. Brewer, whose unfailing skill, courtesy, and assistance had been for many years of inestimable valne. - . Several of the association's players had "gone West" during tlie past y_ear, and many had received wounds gained in the cause of freedom and justice. The committee desired "to place on record its sympathy with the relatives of all those who had suffered. The thanks of the association were due to the umpires, who acted during the season, and to honorary members ior their continued and generous support.