Cricket Grievances.

Patea Mail, 25 February 1882, Page 3

Cricket Grievances.

A special general meeting of the Patea Cricket Chib was held last evening at the Albion Hotel, in compliance with a requisition from four members, alleging complaints against the general committee and against the match committee. Abont twenty members attended.

Mr H. Contts moved “ That this meeting strongly disapproves of the action of the match committee in their general choice of teams to represent the club, and particularly in the match against Hawera to-morrow.” Mr Baggett seconded. Chairman pointed out, after some delay, that the motion proposed to strongly censure a committee, without any reasons given, and such, a motion could hardly be put to the vote without discussion.

Mr Contts said players had been left out of the team against Hawera that ought to have been included. Mr Black said, as one who signed the requisition, that many members were dissatisfied, and ho expected to hear more said. The teams were so arranged that the less skilful players never got a chance of playing in a match. Mr Rose said players who ought to be included were not asked if they could get off business for a particular match. Mr Tennent, as a member of the match committee, said the grievances were too general to justify a motion of strong censure. Unless specific grievances were alleged, it was difficult to meet complaints of this kind. To call a special meeting for such a purpose was calculated to cause disruption. The usual course of making a specific complaint was to send it to the comnrttce. Every consideration had been before the committee in making the selection for a team against Hawera, and if the committee had to make the choice over again, he believed they would select the same team.

Mr Jacob (captain) asked who should have been chosen, and who should have been displaced. Without such information, he could not understand what it was the dissatified members wanted. Mr Bright said those members who do not play in matches need coaching and bringing out. They have no opportunities.

Mr Jacob was still in the dark as to what particular grievances had prompted this motion of censure. Mr Cowern thought the discussion showed an unreasonable spirit on the part of a few, who elected officers to do their work and then found fault with them on fiivolons grounds. The Club should support their officers, until good cause be shown to the contrary. An amendment of confidence was hardly required, or he would move it. The discussion was continued at length. It was suggested that the proposed censure be modified or withdrawn, but neither was done. Mr Tenncnt thought a withdrawal after discussion would not be fair to the committee. Choirman said the outcome of the discussion appeared to be that a second eleven is needed, and that matches should be arranged for the second team. The motion was put to the vote; 6 being for and 7 against it. The match committee did not vote. The motion was declared lost by 1. It was then resolved, on the motion of Mr Norman, that the lormation of a second eleven be recommended, and that matches for same should be arranged with other clubs. Carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr Tennent, it was also agreed unanimously that at practices the batting time for each be five minutes, with a second five if not bowled out; and that a captain pro. tern be appointed at each practice by those first commencing play. The meeting terminated, and apparently the ventilation of general grievances by a few had led to a better understanding.