CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 218, 20 October 1909, Page 3

CRICKET.

The annual meeting of the Taranaki Association was' held at Eltlium lon Monday. Present: Messrs. Belts (chairman), Sullivan, Baigent, Murray Connor, and McCarthy (secretary). Hie secretary reported a balance in hand of £22 4s 7d. The balance-sheet was adopted. Officers were elected as follow: President, Mr. W. H. McGarry; vicepresidents, the president of each affiliated club; secretary and treasurer, Mr. Sullivan; auditor, Mr. E. Parrott; selection committee, Messrs. Pratt, L. E. Cole, and Sullivan; delegate to New Zealand Cricket Council, Mr J. B. Bekett. It was decided to open the shield fixtures on 9th November. The following were appointed an appeal committee:—Messrs. Betts, McCarthy and Sullivan. Considerable discussion took place whether there should be one division or two. There was a doubt as to how many clubs were joining, it not yet being known whether Opunakc and Manaia would come in, while it was' stated that owing to not having a ground ready until Christmas Normauby would uot come in the first round.' A motion wias su'bjinitted! that there be 'onlyone division, and was met by an amendment that if there are more than six clubs, including Normanliy, there rw' l two divisions, Eltham, Stratford, Kapimga and Toko forming one and the remaining clubs the other. The amendment wns carried. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. Connor, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the retiring secretary, who had held the position for about ten years. Complimentary references were made about the excellent manner in which Mr. McCarthy had carried out his duties and forwarded the interests of the Association during his long term of office. Mr. McCarthy returned thanks for the vote and kind remarks which accompanied it. He expressed bis determination to remain an enthusiastic cricketer so long as he could throw a boll. He gave a brief and interesting resume of the labors of the Association and the struggle which it had to encounter in the past. He explained that the Association was not progressing financially as it should do; it should be self-sup-porting and clubs' should not be backward in paying up their subscriptions. He would always take an interest in the Association and would render all the assistance he could, but bis business did not permit him to retain the post of secretary any longer. He thought it would be in the interests of cricket if the Northern and Southern Associations were amalgamated and again made one. If that were done a team could be got which could make a good show against outside association*, which could not be done under the present j conditions.

Tlie chairman said that the secretary of the Northern Association had told him last vear that his association would he willing to amalgamate. The Northern

Association hroke away for some roas'on or other from the Tarnnaki Association, which was still the Tirauuki Association, and not the South Tara■nakl Association.

Mr. Connor also expressed a wHi I hat imalganration would take place.—Argus.