MEETING OF CRICKETERS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 888, 30 April 1877, Page 3

MEETING OF CRICKETERS.

A meeting of cricketers was held at Warner's Hotel on Saturday. There was a good attendance. Mr H. W. Moore was voted to the chair. Mr Stevens stated that the meeting had been called under a requisition from a number of cricketers to consider the best method of managing the ground. He explained the present, tenure upon which the cricket ground was held, and said he thought it was desirable to reconsider the whole question. At present rentals, as might be agreed upon, were paid to the U.C.C.C. by other clubs requiring the use of the ground. There were not, however, sufficient funds to maintain the ground in proper order. It was therefore necessary to consider whether the old system should be continued, orwhethcran association should bo formed who should have the control of the ground, the various clubs paying a rental. Another advantage of such an association would be that it might have the management of outside matches, or matches other than local. The resolutions ho wished to move were as follows: 1. " That the interests of cricket in Canterbury will bo best consulted by the management of the grounds on Hagley Park being placed in the care of an Association representing all the clubs using the ground regularly instead of in that of any one club, and that it is expedient that a Cricket Association be forthwith formed, to whom the entire management of the grounds and of all foreign matches should be entrust ed, together with the selection of players for all such matches.

2. " That the association shall consist in the first instance of the members of any club using the ground under a regular and permanent arrangement with the (J.C.C.C, any club subsequently arranging for the regular use of ground to hare the right of membership. No member who lias not paid his last subscription to his club to be entitled to vote at any meeting of the association. 3. " That all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of the United Canterbury Cricket Club in connection with the grounds shall be assumed, subject to the approval of the Park and Domain Board, by the Association. 4. " That the work of the Association shall be done by a committee consisting of one member )o be appointed by each of tin? clubs (not being school clubs) who have permanent arrangements for ground with the Association. And if at any time a committee shall consist of an oven number it shall appoint annually a chairman from amongst their own number, who shall have both an original and ensuing rote until any subsequent addition to the committee may cause it to consist of an uneven number. 5. " That all receipts of money for purposes of cricket, not being club sub-

scriptions, and any balance at the credit of the All England and Interprovincial Match committees shall ho the property of the Association, who shall purchase at a fair price the existing plant of the U.C.C.C, consisting of mowing machine, hose, &c, not being material for playing (lie game but only for keeping the ground in order." Hi- begged to move the resolutions as a whole, although modifications might be made if desirable. Mr Secretan seconded. It was agreed to consider the resolutions seriatim.

Mr E. Fowler thought, with reference to number one, that it would be a good plan that each of the existing clubs should have a separate ground ; the present proprietary club to have the choice of grounds, and to be recouped any reasonable amount.

Mr A. M. Ollivier pointed out that the Park and Domain Board, at the time the present arrangement was made with the U.C.C.C, would not agree to divide the ground among several clubs, but required that the whole ground should be vested in one club. The scheme proposed by Mr Fowler would only provide ground for the two existing clubs,"viz., the U.C.C.C. and the M.C.C.C. That would be unfair, he thought, to the club which took the most distant or present ground, and there would be far more applicants for the nearer ground than could be met. The only way to deal satisfactorily with the question was to form a Cricketing Association.

Mr Sweet could not see why the grounds might not be under the control of the Association, even though the two clubs had separate grounds. Mr Stevens pointed out that the ground would be allotted amongst the various clubs applying for it. The resolution was carried. Numbers two and three were carried. Some discussion ensued on the fourth resolution, Mr Neilson moving an amendment to the effect that a Permanent Chairman be appointed by the Association who shall only have a casting vote, which was negatived on a show of hands by twelve to nine. The resolution was agreed to, after a further amendment in favor of two delegates had been negatived. The fifth resolution was carried. Mr Stevens moved —" That the consent of the U.C.C.C. and the Park and Domain Board be sought to the above arrangement"; and the motion was agreed to. It was resolved that the name of the Association should be the Canterbury Cricket Association. It was also agreed that an effort should be made to raise funds to liquidate the liabilities of the Interprovincial Match Committee. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.