CRICKETERS’ "SMOKER.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4966, 26 April 1926, Page 1

CRICKETERS’ "SMOKER.”

WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION. KAIHERE CELEBRATION. The Kaihere Cricket Club held a smoke concert in the Public Hall on Wednesday evening to celebrate cue winning of the inter-club competition. Mr T. McLoughlin presided, and there were present cricketers from the other clubs, on the Plains: with the exception of Kopua.rahi. , In- proposing a toast to "Sport” Mr B. Nolan said that it was the one thing worth living for.’ It taught endurance, self-control, to take hard knocks, and to use one’s brains. Concluding his iemarks, the speaker deplored the present-day tendency a,mong school children to play basketball ajnd such games instead of the old games of football and cricket. ■ Responding, Mr F. G. Stockwell, den fended the present generation, and contended that when it came to the t’ejst it was found tha.t they could take hard knocks, exercise endurance and self-control as. their fathers had done, despite their intensive training. What was to be deplored, continued the speaker, was the large number who stood on the lines and took no active part in any sport whatever. To be a true sportsma.n was: to put the team before self. In some games self prer dominated, but in these there wasj uot that spirit of comradeship that ruledin games, in which true sportsmen took part.

Mr A. J. McDonald, captain of the, Kaihere team,, proposed the toast of “The Hauraki Plains Cricket Association,” and said that since it ca,me into being three years ago cricket had gone ahead in an amazing manner. It did not yet play first-class cricket, but its improvement was evident by the way the Thames’team was: twice beaten and -the Pukekohe teajn once, in the only • representative matches played. The Plains, mow had a team that could hold its: own with any country club in the province. In his opinion cricket should be fostered 1 in the public schools in New Zealand, as; in Australia.

Pfior .to responding Mr .F. Wallis, secretary of the association, apologised. for the absence; of ’ the president, Mr J. G. Miller, who was detained owing to illness in hife family. Mr Wallis thanked the speaker for his appreciation of. the association’s efforts. No complaints had been received during the season, and everything had gone off very smoothly. It had been unfortunate that there were so few representative matches, blit the association would profit by experience and endeavour early in the season to arrange matches before other associations were booked up. “The Kaihere Cricket Club” was proposed by Mr J. Donaghy (umpire), who congratulated the players on the. way they had played all their games during the season. Throughout the season they had played like men and won like men. Referring to the final match, in which the club had won the Competition by the narrojv margin of two runs after a very dogged fight, the speaker commented on the play of F. Woodbridge, Prince/ A. J. McDonald, and B. Nolan. . . The toast .was: supported by Messrs Stockwell Wallis and responded to by the. club captain, A. J. McDonald. ■' ' A rousing reception was accorded Mr C. S. Foster .when he rose ,to respond to a toast by Mr T. McLoughlin to the N.Z. Dairy Association. Mr Foster traced the .rise of the dairy industry during, the 30 years and the growth of the co-operative factory movement. Dealing. with the operations of the N.Z. Co-operative! Dairy Co., Mr Foster gave some interesting information on the methods adopted to reduce-.the cost of manufacture; and thereby increase the return to the ' suppliers.. In regard to errors that might occur Mr Foster urged, suppliers to point them out to him. as soon a£ possible, so that they could be rectified. It was a, very mistaken idea to presume .that if this was done the supplier’s test, would be read down or z his grading or weight suffer. ; The company would not tolerate this for one moment, and any such act of dishonesty would mean instant dismissal. On Mr Foster sitting down his audience rose and sang ‘‘For he’s a good fellow.” Responding tea by Mir B. Cowdrey to the Hauraki Plains County Council, Cr. T/McLoughlin, riding member, said that the county was constituted in 1920, being prior to then portion of. the Ohinemuri and Thames counties. At, its first meeting th® council, did not own even a sheet' of paper, yet it was> presented with a demand from the Thames Hospital Board for about a thousand pounds. The council had' 110 income at the time, and before its rates started to come in at had debts) amounting to about £7OOO. At that time legislation Was ’passied establishing th® antecedent, liability rate. At that, time a %d rate- was. estimated to wipe out the liability in seven years, but at the fast, meeting of the council it was decided not to collect the antecedent liability rate any longer. When he ha.d bee;n elected a councillor he had only made one promise—to endeavour to get metal, on to the roads'- At, that time a, pea-son took his life in his hands when he 'essayed to journey down Ngarua Road- He had kept, his promise, and to-day the road was metalled.

The speeches were interspersed with "musical items, many of which were deservedly encor&d. Songs were contributed by Messrs F. Woodbridge, N. Torr, F. Ricliardson, D« Mulholland, and J. Jeans; yarns by Mr F. Richardson, and recitations by Mr C. S. Foster,