MERCANTILE CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 190, 8 May 1940, Page 14

MERCANTILE CRICKET

Presentation To Umpires’ Secretary At last alight's meeting of the Wellington Mercantile Cricket league, a .presentation of an inscribed pocket wallet was made to Air. J. 0. Cusack, secretary of tlie umpires’ association, in recognition of valuable services given to the league. over a long period. Mr. Cusack had also reached his eightieth binbhdlay, and was the oldest active umpire in New Zealand. In making the presentation, the chairman of the management committee referred to -the continuous association Mr. Cusack had had with sport for 60 years. He had 'been a foundation member of the St. Albans Cricket Club in Christchurch, had been closely associated with athletics, and had been a joint secretary of the first combined Australian and New Zealand amateur athletic and cycling championship held in New Zealand. He had been closely associated with the progress of women's hockey in the Dominion as an -umpire and selector, and- today held the high office of president of the New Zealand Ladies’ Hockey Association. Mr. Cusack had been a foundation member of the League Umpires’ Association, which he had built into a strong body, and he had been a valuable member of the league management committee. All cricketers would wish Mr. Cusack many more years of happiness. The health of the guest of the evening was toasted with musical honours, after which ’ speeches of congratulation were made by members of the committee and life members. Mr. Cusack responded in a suitable manner, and said that he owed hia long life to his close association with sportsmen. He hoped to carry on for many more years. Championship Positions. Following are the positions of the teams in (he various grades as at the end of the season :—- A Grade: Working Men’s Club, 3ti; Taxes Department, 31; Woolworths, 20; Justice Department. 22; Amalgamated Bricks, 20; Hannahs, 18; Taubmans, 17; Harbour Board, 16; Prestige Hosiery, 14; James Smiths, 13. B Grade: Smith and Smiths, 43; Customs Agents, 39; Celtic, 32; Tramways, 31; United Leather Merchants, 28; Boss and Glendining, 26; Niven-Clarke-Fletclier, 21; Snrgoods, 17; Atlantic Union, 7; Gas Co., 6. C Grade: Shipping, 37; Advances, 3o; Grev Cabs, 33; Audit Department. 32; Seatoun. 28; Berhampore, 24; Wright, Stephenson, 17: Telephone Exchange, 13; Social Security. 12; Pastimes, 5. D Grade: Customs Department, 42; Self Help, 37: Burch and Co., 32; Central, 28; Labour-Tourist, 23; Bonds Hosiery, 21; Printing, 19; Taxes Department, 18; Dutliies, 18; A.0.T.N., 7. E Grade: Insurance. 42: National Bank. 40; Rovers, 36: Woollen Co., 24; J. I>. McKenzies, 20; City Council. 19; Lands and Survey Department, 17; Colonial Carrying Co., 12; Thompson Bros., t>. F Grade: Dominion Motors, 36; Makower Mcßeath, 33; Ikaroa, 23; Cables, 21; Taxes Department, 12; Telephone Exchange. 9; Wellington Taxis, 7. Heinemann Cup. Thy Heinemann Cup was awarded this season to the club with the best average per wicket and the Taxes Department A grade team proved successful. The. performances of the leading five teams were as follows:— Taxes Department A. 302 G runs ar an average of 23.10 runs; Shipping, 2047, 24.97 ; Celtic. 3342. 24.39; Advances, 3129. 24.25; and VForking Men’s Club, 2725, 23.09. Umpires Function. The members of the Mercantile League Umpires' Association met r.«x , ently to make the presentation of a mantle clock to their secretary, Mr. J. C. Cusack, on the occasion of his eightieth birthday. Mr. .Tames Young presided in the absence of Mr. O. E. Dormer, chairman of the umpires’ association. A. number of speakers paid a tribute to the work of Mr. Cusack in putting the association on a sound footing. After a suitable toast list had been honoured, the guest of the evening thanked I hifi fellow umpires for their kind references.