CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2252, 17 May 1881, Page 3

CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

The fourth annual meeting of the Canterbury Cricket Association was held last evening, in the City Hotel; the president, Mr E. C. J. Stevens, occupying the chair. The annual financial report was road, showing a debit balance of £9O 19s lOd. The gross proceeds of the Australian matches were £535 17s 2d; expenditure on same, £352 12s 4d. Gross proceeds of Interprovinoial match, £33 8s 7d ; expenditure, £32 17s fid. The statement of assets and liabilities was to the following effect : —Liabilities—Loan, £2OO ; outstanding accounts, £25 19s 4d ; total, £226 19s 4d. Receivable —Balance, £lls 15s fid ; fees outstanding—Christchurch 0.0., £lO j Press 0.0., £5 ; match fees, £4 4a ; total, £134 19s fid. The Chairman moved the adoption of the report. He remarked briefly on the operations of the year. It appeared to him that the ordinary expenses of the association, on the basis of the accounts just presented, were considerably in excess of the ordinary income ; that was to say that unless they obtained a certain amount of extraneous aid from big matches, they were likely to run into debt. It also appeared to him that the main item, and the only one of any magnitude they had to depend upon in the way of economising was that of labor. The account for labor this year (£246 19s) was largely added to by the fact of our having to prepare such an immense number of wickets for the Australian match. If the items were carefully compared it would, he thought, be apparent to members that it was absolutely necessary for the Association to draw in its horns in that direction, even though they might not get quite such good wickets as they could wish to have. With these remarks he had great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report for the past year, Mr Ollivier seconded the motion, and in doing so coincided with the chairman’s opinion that the only material saving they could effect was in the direction of labour. He also remarked that, in his opinion, the work of the caretaker was not altogether satisfactory, and this might be taken into consideration by the ground committee. Mr Watson desired to hear an expression of opinion from the ground committee as to the caretaker’s work for the year. Ho thought it duo to that officer that some further explanation should be _ given, as members would bo naturally disposed to believe he had done his duty in the absence of any proof to the contrary. The Ohairmap, as a member of the ground committee, said the committee wore not prepared to make any charge of inefficiency against the caretaker, but considered that the cost of maintaining the ground was unduly great. Mr Ollivier explained that his remarks anent the caretaker were based on his own observations, Mr Watson personally agreed with the last speaker, but felt that a complaint of the kind should first come through some member of the ground committee. In reply to Mr Morice, The Secretary stated that the item “ £5 for cricket material ’’ was expended in cricket balls and scoring bocks for certain matches during the year. Some discussion ensued on the financial question, and as to how a reduction of the expenditure could bo beat effected, but no resolution on this head was arrived at. The motion to adopt the annual report was ( then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. It was not considered necessary to make any amendments to the existing rules of the association.

The meeting then proceeded to tho election of officers for the ensuing year. Mr E, 0. J. Stevens was re-elected president; Mr Wynn Williams, vice-president; Mr Oondell, hen. secretary and treasurer. A general committee meeting was held subsequently for the election of sub-com-mittees, and the following were elected ; Finance and ground committee: Messrs T. D. Oondell, E, T. A. Fuller, and E. 0. J. Stevens. Match committee: Messrs D. Ashby, E. T. A. Fuller, and GK Watson.