CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 145, 18 June 1920, Page 3

CRICKET.

DISTRICT SCHEME ABANDONED! FOR RE-TRIAL OF CIAIB SYSTEM. LIMIT OF THREE YEARS. At an extraordinary meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association last night, it wa» decided, after a lengthy aiscusslon, to abandon the district cricket scneme for three years in favour of the club system. The Chairman (Mr. IJ. B. JUisk) explained that the meeting was an adjourned one to further consider the question of proceeding with the district scheme of cricket under the present boundaries, changing the He said that the secretary (Air. J. 11. Watts) had a suggestion to make. It was that the present Grafton and Parnell districts be combined, and that V.M.C.A. be admitted as a district, the other districts to remain as at present; that this apply only to senior teams, and hold good fof only one season, the old district scheme and boundaries to be reverted to the following Teason, unless the new proposal is again decided on by the delegates. The question was rnlsea that a sub-com-mittee had been appointed to report on a proposed re-adjustment of the boundaries, and Mr. W. McMath explained that the subcommittee had exhaustively considered the matter, but had found it Impossible to get a satisfactory solution, and had consequently no recommendation to make. Mr. N. C. Snedden moved that the Association revert to the club system. He commented on the fact that the sub-com-mittee had been composed mostly of supporters of the district scheme, and they could not find any way jt improving that scheme. Something was undoubtedly wrong would be found in the club system. He felt that the old system had done Its work, and a revival was needed. Either a change in the boundaries so drastic as to create a new scheme was required, and he thought that the club system would meet the case without such drastir dislocation. He did not period of three years, and a consequent Introduction of new blood into the management. He added to his motion that the club system be initiated for a period of. three years, with a limitation to six senior teams, and a proviso that no club be allowed to enter a senior team unless It also had one junior team. Mr. A. Freeman seconded the motion. Mr. E. C. Beale opposed the motion. His feeling was that the introduction of the district scneme had benefited Auckland cricket STeatly, and that the admission of University team as a club team had Introduced a weakness to the scheme. Now that the war changes had weakened the Grafton playing power they wanted a. breaking up of the district scheme. He contended thac it was really the district scheme that had enabled the Association to obtain the coaches, and grounds that had benefited Auckland cricket to such an extent as would never have obtained under the club system. The Unlversty club and the free and easy rules allowed Grafton had sapped the power of the district scheme, and it was helm; further weakened by the V.M.C.A. Club idea, which concentrated on the club to the disadvantage of the game generally. The club Idea, If it became general, would have a more marked effect in the direction of putting the ciub before the game. What he suggested was that the T.M.C.4.. Clulj be admitted as a district team for the next year, because time was too short now for effective re-arrangement, and that immediately on the close of next year the Association get to work either to put the district scheme on a purely district basis or to break np into clubs. Mr. McMath stated that tne matter had been put off from time to time, and he could not see that procrastination would help them. He had been forced against bis convictions to the concluson that the club system now would improve the game, and would better the finance of the Association wbi.'tt would amount to the betterment of tho game in the long run. He could see no other way out of the difficulty, and felt that Mr. Watts' suggestion was really only a modified club system. Mr. Freeman remarked that If anyone could show him how they could get sis purely district teams out of the district scheme he would vote for it, but otherwise he favoured reversion to the club system. Professor Dettman said his experience was that in Australia the district system had made the game, and had proved its advantagiu over the club system. The point was whether the district scheme could be properly applied here. One weakness of the club system was that the juniors did not get their full chance, and another was that the club idea frequently kept good men playing in junior cricket in order to be with their chums. The speaker felt sure that the district scheme could ba revised so that it would re-group the cricketing population to have six district teams, but that could not be done immediately. Meantime, he thought a temporary expedient might be adopted; either a modified form of the district echeme, or of the club system. He thought the meeting should nominate the six senior teams they would have next year Instead of throwIng the question open to indiscriminate nomination of clubs. The chairman, as a convert from the club system to the district scheme, which he strongly advocated, said it was only to be expected that six years of unprecedented stress, such as had been experienced, should hare unsettled cricket, and rendered tho districts uneven. But he felt that organisation in the district clubs would put matters right again. At the moment, however, he felt inclined to compromise, and moved that for next year the districts of Parnell and Grafton be combined and the V M C A Club be given the status as a district cliib" Mr. Rankin seconded this amendment pro forma, but jnentioned that at heart he felt that the admission of V.M.C.A. weakened the district scheme, and that they should really play either on a pure district scheme or revert to clubs. Mr. Graham was against compromise, and strongly favoured the club system, which, he contended, would foster keenness in the players. For that reason he opposed nomination of the clubs, but rather a selection from the clubs which came forward for After Mr. Brown had spoken in favour of the club system, the amendment was pat to the vote and claimed seven supporters as against six opponents. This being less than the three-fifths majority required for a change of the rules, the proposal was declared lost. On the motion to revert to the club system for three years the votinc wa ß nine in favour and four against, and tne proposal was carried °"V < f^ ner motion by Mr- Snedden, it was decided to limit the seniof clubs to six. with a condition that no club should be permitted to play in the seniors, unless Vγ t " Junior team In the field. McMat|T O Dlnn! S orand Dd the 1 Te S creta S 4 eti weS appointed a committee to revise the rulea and report to the Association