CRICKET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 148, 1 October 1910, Page 8

CRICKET.

NORTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION, i The annual meeting of the North Taraimiki Cricket Association was held at 1 the Town Hall last night. The president, Mr. W. Bewley, presided. Delegates present were: Messrs. E. Whittle, M. G. Williams, W. C. Weston, W. P. Nicoll (New Plymouth Oiub), Gwillim, Bowles (Athletic Club), W. H. Perham I (Carrington Road Club), F. Turnhuli | (Law Ciub), W. 11. Ward (High School Club), N. 11. Mcls.iac (United Service 1 Club). ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report was read as follows-: — 'The following report was read:—ln presenting its annual report, your committee has much pleasure in congratulating members on tiki increased interest shown in cricket during the past season i as evidenced by the fact that no less | tlian eighteen teams took part in the various competitions under the control of the Association. The attendance of the public at the various matches has been larger than in previous years, and it is to be hoped that opce good wickets and outfields are secured sail greater support and encoura.gtimens will be received from those not actively taking part in matches and thus help to bring, the best of summer games into the prominence it deserves. In the Thursday senior and Saturday competitions, the old practice of allowing only one day i'pr matches was departed' from aivj! two-day contests ■were substituted-.- Owing,, however, to weather conditions, various postponements, and the large amount of travelling necessitated, nea-iiher of these competitions was played to a finish, and consequently many would like to see the one-day matches reverted to. At the close of tiho season, tihe Carrington Road team were leading in the Thursday senior competition, closely followed by the New Plymouth Wanderers, and both teams are to be congratulated on the po-

sitions occupied by 'them. The junior ehaimpionsihiip was won by the Fire Brigade team, and owing to the terms on which this club was admitted to the Association, it will this year ibe necessary for it to compete in the senior division siuouldi it desire to again take part jn Thursday matches. The Saturday competition was also won by thie Fire Brigade team, and its success in 'both cases was dlue in a great measure to the splendid performances, both with bat and ball, of one of its younger members, Mr. Clarke. ' ' The most important went of the season was tihe visit of the Australian team to New Plymouth, .anid your Association is proudi of the fact that its -team of fifteen players put up a most creditable performance in its match against that team, and was robbed of its. chance of gaining victory only by failing light. After a very interesting game, 'and when stuimps. were drawn, the Australians required' 19 runs, with two wickets to fall, to save defeat. Mr. T. R. Southall deserves special mention for his bowling in this EWVtch, his performance in taking eleven wickets for 120 runs against 10 strong a team as our opponents un> doufotedly were speaks for itself, '• 'Your committee greatly regrets that the" Australian match resulted in a heavy loss to the Association and consequently, it© recoup itself, a call of 8s iin titue £( had. to ibe made on the guarantors. As this snatch was only arranged after very considerable trouble it is <to be hoped that local cricketers will have derived soma benefit from seeing the visitors' play. The Association is deeply indleibted to Mr. E. Whittle for his great assistance in adjvaneing the £75 guarantee required! by -the New Zealand' Cricket Council for the match, and your committee again wishes to place on record its high appreciation of his many services dto cridkst. During the Christmas holidays, two (matches were played locally against the. Mamawatu and Wanganui Associations, Ibot'h resulting in easy victories for our team. W) year it is hoped to repay these visits. The president's bat for ithe highest individual score in Robertson Cup matches was won by Mr. A. H. Easell, who also ■wion Mr. Hardy's bat for the highest batting average in the same contest. During the past season efforts have again been made, (but without success, to effect am amalgamation with South Taranaki, but as cricket matters seem to have so little life there, nothing further has been done, and it now seems questionable whether such a re-union •would 1 be in the interests of the large .numlber of players now under your Association. The _ Association is particularly fortuin have as its delegate to the ■Cricket Council Mr. A. Hardiy, and it has much 'to thank him for in the prompt maimer in which he has attended to requirements and for 'the keen interest he still takes in our cricket. 'From present indications, it seems that Saturday cricket this year will he of a higher grade than formerly, while possibly the Thursday players may have difficulty in raising as formidable teams as in the past. Owing to the increasing importance of iSiaturdiay cricket and the number of teams now -playing on thait day; your committee considers that the , Association's rules should be revised and ■ proper provisions made for each competition. It is also thought advisable that separate committee to control each of the contests should this year be appointed!, as the present system has proved umvieldly and generally unsatisfactory. In conclusion, your committee desires to thank those ladies who .gave such great assistance in carrying out arrangements for the iball, also all who have°in I various ways helped the Association either as guarantors or donors of trophies or otherwise, and particularly the New Plymouth, Waitara and Inglewood papers for tihe la-rgja amount of space occupied hv reports of matches, meetings and matters of general interest to cricketers.

The president moved the adoption of the report, saying that one of the most! gratifying fixtures in the past season was the increased interest of the public m the game, primarily due to the improvement of the sports ground in the matter of match ground and practice wickets. The attendance of the public ,d had its effect on the funds of the Association* Mr. Whittle seconded. Mr. Whittle referred to the inclusion of the South. Taranaki men in the team against the Australian eleven, which had considered, and still considered, quite unjustifiable, except in tlie case ol the Toko Club, whose members bad earned places. That club was the only outside club to accept any financial responsibility. Mr. Nicoll also commented on the unsatisfactory state of the Cup fixtures at the end of last season. The matches had not been brought to a conclusion, owing to various causes. It was incorrect to say, as (had been said, that the Camngton Road Club had won, for the Wanderers and Carriagton Road were leading together, nnfl the position was open. These were matters which should have been dealt with in tihe report. The report was adopted.

Tlie balance-sheet showed receipts €207 Is (id, aiul expenditure £lO2 2# !M, leaving a credit balance of £l4 18a Dd. The amount received from the guarantors in making up the loss OH. tlie Australian match was £52 18s 3d. It was pointed out that some of the guarantors had not paid up, altiiomrli they had allowed their names on the guarantee list. Some of this money was collectable, but some was "bad" Assets amounted to £6 8s 6d, including the sums due from defaulting guarantors. The balan?e-she< t was adopted, and a vote of thanks was accorded the guarantors for the assistance. AN IMPORTANT LETTER. ' Mr. A. Hardy, the Association's delegate to the New Zealand Ass6ciation, iWTote to the effect that he would not be able to represent the Association in future. This he sincerely regretted, at» it had been' a pleasure to him. The causes were twofold. In the first place he would be residing away from" Christchurch this season. The" letter continued: "Secondly, the manner in which the Council is run has proved to many delegates that tihe smaller associations are not wanted or considered. The Management Committee consists of the large-centre delegates, and that committee is all-powerful, having too great a power, doing what they like, while the smaller associations look on. The number of delegates present at meeting* of the Council-is evidence that tihe running of the show by the centres has killed their enthusiasm, and they consider it a waste of time attending. The general feeling among the delegates oi the smaller associations is that of secession. Very few matches are given them, and then the small axe asked to contribute half what the large pay, and no hope of recovery by admissions, for, as a general rule, in the smaller towns the clubs are -not financial enough to provide their own grounds, and have to use public reserves. The whole matter is unsatisfactory, indeed, and will never be remedied until an alteration is made in the constitution and powers of the Management Committee. I havA done my best for your Association, but P feel it is only propping up a broken, reed to further attend the meetings, which I would otherwise contrive to do." The president said there | seemed little chance of improvement in the constitution, for the bigger associations had the power to keep themselves at the head of affairs. There was the alternative, of course, of the smaller associations seceding from tihe New Zealand Asaociajtion and farming an association of their own. Upon the motion of Messrs. Whittle and Weston, a resolution was passed appreciative of Mr. Hardy's' services as I delegate, the mover and seconder speaking very highly of his work. | Mr. Hardy's letter was referred to i the incoming committee to deal with. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as followa: President, Mr. W. Bewley (re-elected); -vice-presidents to be nominated by the affiliated clubs; secretary, Mr. T. R. South all; treasurer, Mr. A, H. Steeds; sole selector, Mr. Frank Robertson; auditor, Mr. H. Stocker; delegate to Sports Ground Committee, Mr, E, it-, tie; \ -SUW*' Owing to tihe growth of Saturday cricket, it mis decided to ask the Saturday dubs to nominate a committee to manage the Saturday fixtures. Messrs. Whittle, Clegg, Williams and Perham were elected a Thursday Championship Committee, with the secretary ex-officio. The election of a junior championship ship committee was left to the Manage- . ment Committee. LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP. • The meeting discussed the result off last year's senior championship. Mr. Whittle, a member of the Waradereirs' team (the runners-up) moved that the Cup be awarded to the Carrington Road Club, which had' the highest aggregate Cup points. This was the sportsmanlike course. Mr. Nicoll opposed this, holding the right to extend a sportsmanlike feeling to the Wanderers' team. The president supported Mr. Whittle, and deprecated any further discussion, which tended ,to foster a spirit that was not in the interests of the game, and reafiy prevented its achieving tihe popularity that it should have. The motion waS carried. Mr. Perham thanked the delegates on behalf of the Carrington Road dub. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. The president presented the Robertson Cup to Mr. Peihaaa on behalf of the Carrington Road Club, as the Club at the head of the senior competition last year. He also handed to Mir. Perham the bait presented by Mr. W. C. Weston for the batsman' who made the best averaige in rep. cricket last year. The New Zealand Cricket Council wrote that it could not make any refund to tihe Association in reference to the loss incurred in the Australian match. ■Mr. Whittle gave notice of motion to amend the rules permitting tihe Asso-. ciation to revert to the one-day championship fixtures, on account of the heavy travelling expenses incurred by the two-days' maMiee.-—The meeting was in favor of this course being adopted. The New Zealand Cricket letter in reference to the Cup presented by Lord Bawke for competition amongst the second-class associations, was referred to the committee. It was decided (to offer the Recreation Sports Ground Committee £2O for the use of the ground for the coming season, and Messrs. Southall and Williams were appointed to meet the committee. It was pointed put that it was too late to make any extensive alterations and improvements, such as regrassing, and all that could be done would be the rolling of the ground. Matting would have to be used on the wicket Mr. Whittle renewed his offer to provide the Association's Shield for the schools competition. Mr. H. H. Ward had informed him that he was communicating with the various schools with a view of establishing a schools championship competition.—Mr. Whittle was accorded the thanks of tihe Association. A motion bv Mr. Perham, seconded bv Mr. Southall, prohibiting any alteration of tlie fixtures after the commencement of the first round, provoked I some discussion. It was decided to re- ■ quest the committee to adhere to tha ; fixtures as rigidly as possible. _ Votes of thanks to tihe retiring secretary, the press and the chairman, concluded the business.