OTAGO CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 23696, 2 October 1940, Page 12

OTAGO CRICKET

TWO-DAY SENIOR MATCHES T fi' SEASON OPENS OCTOBER 19 Thu first meeting of the new committee of the Otago Cricket Association met last night, a good attendance of members being presided over by Mr F. N. Binney. The meeting decided that senior matches daring the coming season should be two-day fixtures, but all other matches one-day fixtures. DURATION OF PLAY. The Secretary read a letter from the North-cast Valley Club expressing opposition to one-day matches in the intermediate and second grade A matches. Mr W. A. Rowlands moved that senior grade matches be tivo-day fixtures and all the rest one-day fixtures. The motion was seconded by Mr L. <l. Groves. Mr Arm it age thought it would be better to abandon all competition cricket and allow the players to enjoy themselves by being given a. good deal of latitude; everybody should, said the speaker, be “ given a fair go ” while the war was on. Ho favoured one-day cricket. Mr 'Rowland, in reply, said he did not agree that the competitive spirit should be abandoned. It would be a big mistake, he considered, to confine senior matches to one day’s play. Mr Rowland’s motion was carried. » ENOUGH HARM DONE.” The opinion expressed by some speakers at the annual meeting concerning applying to the City Council for the _ rebate of the ground rents was placed before the ing'The Chairman; Do you wish to consider this matter any further, or shall wc leave it until a later date? Mr A. G. Valentine: Leave it over; enough damage has been done already. It was agreed to leave the matter in abeyance. MATCH WITH SOUTHLAND. The Southland Association wrote, asking that the animal match with Southland be played later in the season than has been customary, and suggesting November 25 (Queen’s Birthday). Mr F, T. Downes mentioned that it was the opinion of at least some of the players who had taken part in the Southland match that a one-day fixture was farcical. They were of the opinion that it should be a twoday match. It. was decided to advise the Southland Association that Otago agreed that Labour Day was too early fot the match, and that a two-day fixture was preferable. The matter, however, would have to bo left over until the New Zealand Council had decided the question of the Plunket Shield matches. OPENING OF SEASON. It was decided to open the season on October 19, entries to close on October 14. find the grades to bo the same as those of last season. It was resolved that those clubs which were in arrears with any dues he written to and reminded of the position, and asked to submit reasons why their entries should not be refused. SUB-COMMITTEES. The following sub-committees were appointed : Grade. —Messrs W. A. Rowland (convener), J. W. Armitage, T. Hughes, E. T. Downes, A. Holden. Ground.—Messrs J. Robson (convener), E. Hayes, E. H. Ferguson. Coaching.—Messrs J. M'Millan (convener). G. G. Austin, L. J. Groves, W. G. M'Clymont. Finance.—Messrs A. G. Valentine (convener), A. H. Allen, W. Brinsley, D. Solomon, H. D. Kerr, Kennedy, C. R. Gaylor, H. Harvey, J. W. Armitage, and Dr A. A. Reid. A “ management committee,” consisting of the conveners of the sub-committees, together with Messrs C. R. Gayler, A. Holden, G. G. Austin, H. Harvey, and the president (Mr F. N. Binney), was appointed.—The Chairman explained that this committee would meet only in the case of emergency. SOLE SELECTOR. Mr J. M'Mullan was appointed sole selec tor for the forthcoming season. An amendment that there be a selection committee of three was heavily defeated. Mr T. Hughes was appointed the association’s representative on the Junior Advisory Committee. PLUNKET SHIELD. The New Zealand Cricket Council having asked for the association’s opinion concerning the playing of Plunket Shield matches, the matter was discussed. Mr Valentine moved that the association considered that the Plunket Shield competition be left in abeyance for the coming season, but suggests that representative matches be arranged among the major associations in the respective islands as opportunity offered. Mr J. Robson seconded the motion, which was carried, and the secretary was instructed to open negotiations with the Canterbury Association for home-and-home Otago and Canterbury matches. COUNTRY WEEK. It was resolved to write the country centres for their opinions concerning the holding of a “ country week ” this season. CLUB WITHDRAWS. The Cavcrsham Enterprise Club, which had won the second grade, B section, competition last season, notified that it would not be able to field a team this year. ENDOWMENT FUND. Mr W. A. Rowland introduced the question of the endowment fund, and asked whether the association intended to move in the matter. If not, said Mr Rowland, the Grange Club would put in a notice of motion for discussion at a general meeting of the association. The Chairman said that the Finance Committee which had been appointed that night would consider the question and probably report at the next meeting. It was agreed that it was not incumbent upon the committee to take any action, but that if any club wished to have the matter reconsidered it was quite entitled to reopen it by the means available. In the meantime the scheme would remain in operation according to the decision of the original special meeting of delegates.