CRICKET CONTROL

Evening Star, Issue 22457, 30 September 1936, Page 5

CRICKET CONTROL

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION CONFIDENT NOTE FOR COMING SEASON MR A. H. ALLEN ELECTED PRESIDENT A confident note for the coming season and a spirit of optimism were struck at the annual meeting of the Otago Cricket Association, which was held in the Chamber of Commerce Board Room last night, the president (Mr J. M. Fraser) presiding over a largo attendance of delegates and supporters. Mr Fraser did not seek re-election as president, Mr A. H. Allen being unanimously elected to fill the position. CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the Chairman said that the cricket season had been most disappointing from a weather point of view. That state of affairs was common to the Dominion, and receipts from the public had suffered in consequence. The New Zealand Cricket Council had lost sorne-_ where about £3,400 from the M.C.C. tour, and he thought the associations had lost about half that amount in addition.

Although Otago did not win the Blanket Shield, it had played the game as it should be played. With the material they had in Otago he thought they should do better this year.

“ The M.C.C. tour was a disastrous one,” said Mr Fraser. A match had been played in Dunedin at New Year, which was always a bad time for a match here, and this had resulted in a loss of about £3OO. He did not think they could have met “ a nicer lot of fellows,” but the results were disappointing from a financial point ot view, though no doubt enjoyable from a cricketing point of view. Overseas

teams found it difficult to command the support of the public unless they included some outstanding figures in the cricketing world. The fairly substantial debit shown was brought about very largely by the loss on the M.C.C. match and because they had to make a trip to Auckland and another to Canterbury. These were usually carried out in the course of one tour, which was much more economical than sending teams away at two different periods. He thought the association had done the right thing in meeting its commitments, seeing that they were graded as a first-grade province. COACH’S ENGAGEMENT, Referring to the engagement of the coach (F. T. Badcock), Mr Fraser said that he was engaged from April 1 to the end of the following March. He was absent for six months, and during all the years he had been hero it had been usual to pay him for that six months before he went, and to pay his fare one •way. The Chairman referred appreciatively to the support the association had received from the public of Utago and especially from the ground members. Cricketers should realise the debt they owed to those who subscribed the necessary funds to enable them to carry on “ Grounds are improving every year,” said Mr Fraser, “ and we are extremely fortunate in the areas now at our disposal.’’ They were obtained at a fairly nominal rental, and their thanks were due to the City Council and to Mr D. Tannock for the fine state the majority of the grounds were now in. He desired to thank all those who had been so helpful inside and outside the committee room, and he specially desired to mention the' fine work that had been done by Mr W. Brookes and Mr E. Ferguson, in charge of the

grade and grounds committees respectively. He thought there was no better committee associated with any sport than that which controlled cricket, and, so long as the welfare of the game was in, their hands, he thought they need have no misgivings about the success of the game. This season they would have visits from Auckland and Canterbury, but there seemed some doubt about the visit of the Indian team. He had had no advice as to whether they would come in another year if they did not come this season. There would be no financial worry about such a tour because the team would be paying its own way. The M.C.C. team, which playing in Australia, was coming to New Zealand, but it was not known whether it would be coming to Dunedin. He had an idea that they had been promised a visit from the next test team, but he had had no further news of the matter. CRICKET FINANCES. Mr A. H. Allen seconded the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, and stated that the actual loss on the season’s working was £283, mainlv arising from the big loss of £273 on the M.C.C. game. That made him wonder whether, in the future, they should not have a better understanding before they invited overseas teams to the Dominion. They must bring teams to the Dominion to educate young cricketers and to cater for the public, but it seemed to him there must be some better financial arrangement. It was a question whether a wealthy organisation like the M.C.C. should not do more for cricket in these parts than it had done in the past. Had it not been for the £420 raised in subscriptions from ground members, the loss on the season would have been very much greater. ATTENTION TO JUNIOR CLUBS. Mr A. E. Ansell said ho had been asked by the North-east Valley Club to ascertain if it would not be possible for periodical visits to be paid by the coach to the various clubs, particularly the junior clubs. He understood Mr Badcock had never visited the Northeast Valley ground. He thought some effort should be made by the coach to get among these young fellows and assist them, and he hoped some arrangement would be made by the Coach Committee during the season whereby the North-east Valley players would receive some attention. The year had been a particularly difficult one, said Mr Ansel!, and until cricket was up he failed to see how they could get more support from the public. M.C.C. TOUR. Mr J. A. Robson said that the New Zealand Council had been let down in connection with the visit of the last M.C.C. team. The council hod concurred in an arrangement that a visit to New Zealand should take place in a certain year, and, had they not ac-

cepted the visit of the last team, they mmht not have had a visit for many years. There had been a distinct promise that some stars would be in the team, but in this direction the M.C.C. had-let the council down. It was useless for this team to come to New Zealand as it was constituted. Gilhgau’s team took £7,000 in Australia before coming to New Zealand, and this team £4,000. That was the setback received by the council.before the team landed in New Zealand. They' hoped the M.C.C. would make a grant in consideration of the fact that it did not send the team out it, meant to send. The M.C.C. team had illustrated how to play a straight bat, but they were a very “ stodgy ” team, and, a “ stodgy ” team would not go down with New Zealanders. Mr Robson said that their drive for ground members had taken place when the tests were being played between England and Australia in England, and he thought something similar might be done this year. Concerning coaching. Mr Robson said that Mr Ansell had raised a very moot question as to whether the services of the coach could be best utilised on Carisbrook or by visiting clubs. He had long held the view that the coach could do much good by visiting clubs. Not only was the influence spread among those players coached, but among all players on the grounds he visited. The speaker said he was not at all sure that they could arrange for the coach to visit senior clubs and junior clubs ns well, because they must give him some time with the Colts’ team or with special colts. Clubs must not be disappointed if the coach could not visit them all. They could look forward to the coming season with confidence, and he felt sure that next year their finances would be in much better position. Mr A. Martin said he thought the meeting one of the best he had attended. During his 34 j-ears’ experience as a member of the association it had sometimes been £SOO in debt, and at other times it had £SOO in credit. They were a little behind .this year, but would soon make up the deficit. Had the weather been fine for the Wellington match last season he was sure they would have had a credit, instead of being in debit. The fact remained that Badcock was turning out a fine lot of cricketers, and the province was going to benefit from them in a few years’’ time. The association’s money had been well spent, and cricket had been encouraged in the sub-associations. Cricketers in Otago only had to rally round to make cricket here what it had been and what it would be.

Mr D. A. Solomon pointed out that the New Zealand Council had stated it would consider the whole question concerning the appearances in New Zealand of the M.C.C. team, and Mr A. T. Donnelly had informed him that the New Zealand Council would do what it could. It was very difficult arraryging the games with the M.C.C.

team, which wa? only coming to .New Zealand as an act of grace COACHING ARRANGEMENTS CRITICISED. Mr C. S. Chadwick first referred to the expenditure of £6O on material, which he thought was excessive. It seemed to him that someone had had a very free hand in buying material, and that a good deal -ot money could have been saved in this direction. “ If you improve your cricket, it will improve your finances,” said Mr Chadwick. He said he had been fighting the colt system for year's. The association was employing a coach, and he was choosing those whom he wished to coach. The Coach Committee should make the selection of the players to be coached, and tell the coach to coach them. They were paying the coach enough money for him to make cricketers, and he should not have the last say. He did not think active cricketers should be on the Coaching Committee. Mr Chadwick mentioned that a young club like Logan Park, which had been in existence for five years, had had only one player coached by Jiadcock. How could they improve their senior cricket if thev did not improve their junior cricket? There was no doubt the junior clubs had been badly treated. The standard of play of some of the juniors was deplorable. Mr Chadwick also suggested that consideration should be given to a revision of the points allotted in the junior grades and to the question of whether they should continue to play to a fixture list. Mr J A. Dunning said he had been on the Coach Committee each year, and he thought he was the only active plaving cricketer on it. Mr E. G. Williams replied to Mr Chadwick’s statement concerning the purchase of material, and said that, when they considered that £3O was spent in balls for representative matches, country matches, and colts’ matches, and that a rep. kit had been purchased, he thought the amount expended was reasonable. Dealing with the question ot coaching. Mr Williams said that Badcock’s idea was that it was not practicable to have more than 18 players a night. The committee had no option but to put him in charge of the selection of the men. He was supposed to be the judge, and the committee had to leave it to his wisdom. The speaker said he believed some junior boys were being coached. Mr J. H. Don Miller said that the present system of points was making a “ farce of junior cricket.” The Chairman said that the committee would look into Mr Ansell’s suggestion regarding coaching, but it thought the present system was the best they could use. So far as the allocation of points was concerned, he thought the present system was the only possible one. The report and balance sheet were adopted unanimously. *

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers President, Mr A. H. Allen; vice-presi-dents—Messrs P. Binney (senior vicepresident), W. ll.Brinsley, D. A, Solomon, and Dr A. A. Reid; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. S. Wilson; committee —Messrs Garth Gallaway. D. jA,Solomon, H. D. Kerr, W. Morrison, J. M: Kennedy (ground members representatives), E. H. Ferguson (Boys’ Association), W. A. Rowland (Umpires’ Association), J. A. Dunning, W. S. Armitage, W. Brookes, 3. M. Fraser, G. G. Austin, E. G. Williams, J. A. Robson, A. G. Valehtine, R. O. Talbot, and G. R. Dickinson; hon. auditors, Messrs W. G, Pickard and A. Raynor. Mr Allen, in returning thanks for his election as president, said it_ would be his aim to endeavour to maintain the high standard set by his predecessor in office, and he would do his best for the cricketers of Otago as a whole. MINUTE OF APPRECIATION. Mr Martin said that Mr Fraser had been an excellent president. He had been neither “ stingy ” with his time nor his means, and they also thanked Mrs Fraser for her loyal support. Mr Martin moved that a minute be recorded expressing the esteem in which Mr Fraser was held, an appreciation of the very excellent services rendered by Mr and Mrs Fraser during the five years Mr Fraser had been in office as, president, and hoped that they would be long spared to enjoy the appreciation of their friends and to help cricket in the province of Otago. .. Messrs Robson and Allen spoke appreciatively of Mr Fraser’s services,and the motion was carried,, LEVY ON CLUBS. In accordance with notice of motion Mr A. G. Valentine moved that a levy of 4s per club be made on all affiliated clubs, and that this amount be paid a* affiliation fee to jhe Otago Athletia Clubs’ Protection Association. The motion was carried. OPENING OF COMPETITIONS, The date of the opening of the competitions was left to the incoming committee to decide. GENERAL. Mr Rowland moved a recommendation for favourable consideration by th« incoming committee that, while retaining the present fixture dates, provision be made whereby each side must complete an innings, which might necessitate a match being played out at night time. The recommendation was adopted. , , ’ Mr Allen brought before the notice of members a suggestion that the association should consider, the provision of an endowment fupd. a similar scheme having been favourably received in Auckland. \ A The affiliation of the Morniugton Club as a junior club was gra’^sd.