CRICKET FINANCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20053, 27 September 1939, Page 9

CRICKET FINANCES

KEEN INTEREST SHOWN FAVOURABLE OVAL LEASE P.R. ASSOCIATION MEETS That cricketers in Poverty Bay are keenly interested in the finances of the association was evident by the questions dealing with finance asked by delegates to the annual meeting of the Poverty Bay Cricket Association, held in the Cosmopolitan Club last night. Mr. V. C. R. Mitford presided over a large attendance of members. Reviewing the statement of accounts. Mr. J. de V. W. Blathwayt said that ground fees and gate takings collected during the season had shown an increase. Rales on sections owned by the association had increased, while an additional honorarium had been granted to the secretary. Depreciation on plant and tools was registered as an increase. The working for the season showed a loss of £46 4s Bd, as against £4B Is Id for the previous season.

Mr. Blathwayt commented on the strong position of the afternoon tea fund, this now standing at £438 3s 4d. An increase of approximately £2O was shown in income and, in expenditure, £lß'. The satisfactory financial position was partly due' to the fact that the association had lost only one day’s play during the season, this resulting in a steady return from ground fees. Gate fees, always a disappointing feature, were £5 better than for the previous year. Loyal Support Given

The loyal support given to the afternoon tea fund by the players was eulogised by Mr. Blathwayt. The position regarding assets and liabilities was a satisfactory one, a serious liability being mortgages amounting to £2500. As a result of applications made for the adjustment of the mortgage the association decided to transfer its half-share of the Oval to the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, the association obtaining a complete release from the mortgage, a release of guarantors to the mortgage, and a lease in perpetuity for six months of the year from the Rugby Union for a peppercorn mortgage. Such a lease was better than holding a liabilityencumbered mortgage. The lease was from the Poverty Bay Rugby Union and the New Zealand Rugby Union, now the sole mortgagor of the Oval. This, commented Mr. Blathwayt, was a very satisfactory position for the association to be in. Sections owned in Anzac avenue were definitely a valuable asset to the association. The afternoon tea fund was always shown as a liability to keep it separate from the accumulated funds of the association, but, in reality, it was not a liability on ’which a call could be made on the association. The adoption of the annual report, statement of accounts and. balance sheet was moved by the chairman, who added his praise to the work of the ladies in providing afternoon tea. The motion was seconded by Mr. P. H. Dow and carried. Commenting on the balance sheet, Mr. H. E. Maude compared the position with that in 1624 and said that the present position was an eminently satisfactory one. He stressed the value of the present terms of the lease of the Oval held by the association and urged all cricketers to see that the most was made of such a desirable position. Until the general public was aroused to the

value of the game it would be necessary for the players to keep it going and do their utmost to see that a true appreciation of cricket was aroused. Work of Executive The valuable work earned out by the executive of the association was praised by the speaker, who said that this fine body of men had worked to their fullest capacity to keep the game going. Mr. Maude concluded by paying tributes to the retiring groundsman, Mr. C. Whiteley, and the ladies who had placed the afternoon tea fund in such a strong position. Recurring losses shown in the statement of accounts were referred to by Messrs. A. Baker and R. Connop, the latter pointing out that steps must be taken to check these tosses and bolster up the revenue of the association. Mr. Connop said that it was up to cricketers to retrieve the position, and suggested that the executive should seriously consider the question of raising the ground fees as it was the players who derived the benefits from the game. In reply, Mr. Blathwayt said that the players had done fine work in their efforts to place the association in a -good financial position and commented that cricketers willingly made sacrifices in the interests of the ‘game such as participants in other sports were not called upon to make. Officers were elected as follows: Patron, Mr. H. E. Maude, president, Mr. V. C. R. Mitford; vice-presidents, Messrs. D. J. Barry, S. K. White, F. W. Nolan, C. Lord, H. B. Williams; hon. secretary, Mr. D. A. Wells; hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Tattersall; hon. auditor, Mr. C. O. Hansen; executive committee, Messrs. R. 11. Cooke, A. Bignatl, G. A. JRevell, P. H. Dow, G. Slade, W. Stewart, E. Bilham, and C Fraser.