HOROWHENUA CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Shannon News, 5 October 1923, Page 3

HOROWHENUA CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Horowhenua Cricket Assn, was held, Wednesday evening, Mr D. S. McKenzie being elected to the chair. AUo present Messrs J. E. Hall (Weraroa), L. W. Fletcher '(Y.M.C.A.), and. the secretary (Mr A. H. Morgan): An apology for non-attendance on account of urgent business was received from the President of the Association, Mr Harold: Hook. BALANCE SHEET. The following balance sheet, showing a credit balance of £5 5s lQd, was submitted.—Balance brought forward £5 Bs,_donation 10s, affiliations £8 Bs, making a total of £l4 6s. Expenditure: Affiliation to MianaWatu £2 2s 7dl, bat 1 . £2 2s 6d, stationery £1 Is, lunch to rep. teams £1 Is, match ball 16s 6d, and sundries bringing the amount to £9 0s 2d; credit balance £5 5s lOd; total £l4 6s. CORRESPONDENCE.

The secretary of a recently formed Paraparaumu Club wrote informing the Association of its formation, and notifying their intention of entering for the senior gradle competitions. The secretary of the Y.M.C.A. Club wrote nominating delegates, and also expressing the opinion that the Shield matches started too late last year and expressing the hope that it would be possible to begin earlier this season. The chairman said in connection with the time of starting matches that the matches could only start when the teams could be got together. Mr Fletcher said that one of the troubles was putting off matches for other fixtures. This had kept the season open much longer last year than would otherwise be the case. • In connection with the Paraparaumu ; nomination, the chairman said it would be' a case for the southern end to deal with. Mr Fletcher asked if It would not be possible to Work the whole district, together instead of cutting it into two districts.

The secretary said that the difficulty would be the amount of travelling necessary. There was already a great amount of this-and such a move as was suggested would add to it considerably. The chairrhan said that such a move would probably have the effect of keeping young players but of the clubs,. He was of the opinion that if the district could have such a number of teams that travelling would! be reduced to a minimum it would be the best thing possible for the Association. ' _ . / TEAMS NOMINATED.

The secretary stated that in all probability Shannon would not be able to put a team in the field. Seven of the players were leaving and it would hardly be possible to carry on. Public Works, however, would almost certainly carry on, so thaf it would be safe to nominate one. team for Shannon. "

The following teams were nominatedY.M.C.A., Weraroa, Paraparaumu and Otaki. It wais decided that the other clubs be written to asking that they nominate as soon as possible. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the coming season:— Patron: Mr A. Dinnie (re-elected).

■President: Mr H. Hook (re-elected). Vice-presidents: Rev. M. BawdenHarris and Messrs J. Kebbell, E. Nash M. Simcox and J. P. Goodwin. Horn, secretary and treasurer:, Mr A. Morgan (re-elected). Selector: Mr J. J. O’Connor. Delegates: Messrs D. S. McKenzie and L. W. Fletcher (Y.M.C.A.); Mr J. E. Hall (Weraroa). OPENING DATE.

It wais decided that the opening day be November 3rd. nominations to close on October l&fch. Rounds for the competitions to he decided at a committee meeting to be held at Shannon on that date. GENERALI. Mr Fletcher brought up the question of the time of matches, saying that when teams. did not have to travel the time should be extended n necessary for half an hour at the end of the unlatch. Ordinarily in the case of a team half an hour late, the other team could claim the game. When a home mlatch was supposed to start at <> tym. a player who was late could hold up a match for just under the half hour, and this time might affect the issue of the giaine. Thei chairman asked how it would be in such cases to leave the matter in the hands of the umpires to say whether an extension should be mlade. The secretary doubted whether this could' be done. The matter would necessitate a new ruile and he suggested that ai notice .of motion should he given. Mr Fletcher said thiait as there was no former rule rescinded ■that should not be necessary.. He thought the umpires could he given power in the matter. What he suggested was that a hard and! fast rule should 1 be made that time lost at the beginning of the game should) he added oh at the end. It might not be necessary to have this extra time, but a case might' arise •\tihere a team which was on the ground) and which had to wait half an hour for the other might under the present ruling lose the match through the loss of time. The following notice of motion was given’.—-That home teams playing in their own town must start at 2 p.m., otherwise time to be-made up at the end of the day.”

UNFINANCIAL MEMBERS. Mr Hall brought up the question of unfinaneial members, and suggested that 'after two matches, only financial members should be allowed to play. Too many players thought they should be allowed to play cricket without paying) and the expense for materials, etc., fell on the remaining members. ! . The Secretary asked if this were not a matter for the individual clubs to deal with.

Mr Hall said the matter was, one

tjilat concerned all the clubs), and therefore concerned the Association. He would suggest that when a member paid his subscription his receipt should be sent to the secretary of the Association, and only these financial members should be allowed to play in matches. , . , ■ The chairman said that the clubs might rely on the Association giving every assistance in this matter, but he considered the mlatter was.one for the clubs. One club at least had dealt with the matter by allowing only financial members to play and this had had the desired effect. Mr Fletcher said that many cases had arisen last year where unflnancial members had been played and it was not fair to the other teams. He was also against substitutes - being brought in at the la®t minute. Where it was unavoidable such substitutes should ha allowed to field only, and not to bat. Where a team was advertised to pbafy- that should be 'the team that should be brought on to the field and not have, perhaps, a good man rung in at the Jast moment. He also considered that "when feu player was unfinaneial jin oine club he should not be allowed to transfer to another. Such a man might be a couple of years in (arrears in his own. club and if allowed to-transfer hifi former club would’ definitely lose this money. The secretary argued that in such fault lay, with the club which had' allowed the player to get into arrears. The chairman said that although some of) the Cluibs had made a rule that all members should be' financial by December Ist, this did not cover arrears and he considered that the Association should) assist in thlese cases'. On the motion) of Mr Fletcher, seconded by Mr Hall, it was decided) that no unfinaneial member of a club be granted a transfer to another club within the Association. O’CONNOR CUP. It was decided that the agfe limit for this trophy should be 15 years, no player having passed his 15th birthday to be eligible. < Hearty votes of thanks to the) chair and to MrWilliam® fur the: use of Mg rooms were carried by acclamation.