CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1932, Page 10

CRICKET.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING HELD. NEW OFFICERS ELECTED. The annual meeting of the -Auckland Cricket Association was held Jast evening At the commencement of the' meeting the ehmrmnn, Mr. F. Earl, referred to the death of Mr. E. Heathcote Williams, the first presitlent of the New Zealand Council, and nil present stood In silence as a mark of respect to his memory. The adoption of the report and balancesheet was moved by Mr. Earl, who said it wns very satisfactory that there was a balance of assets over liabilities of £458 16/. It had to he remembered, however, that on the assets side £506 11/ represented an investment in New Zealand inscribed stock and Was earmarked for certain specific purposes. It had been hoped to wipe off'a debit'balance of £153 at the beginning of last season, but owing to the poor showing of the team in Plunket Shield matches the returns had not been up to expectations. Th» share from the flhield matches and the game against the South Africans had been £150 11/. In order* that the good work of the English coaches might bo .carried on £108 had been found for a coach fund. Registration f«es had tolso been reduced arid Country Week had been initiated. Finances were not UP to expectations buf there was no cause for alarm. The present debit balance stood at £87 8/. It had to be remembered that the Auckland team would go south in the coming season for games against Canterbury and Otago, and possibly Wellington, although the association was under no definite obligation to play the Wellington match.

"Good practice wickets," said Mr. Earl, "were necessary to encourage tho younger players. Players could not -be expected to give their beet unless the wickets and outfields were suitable." In conclusion Mr. Earl congratulated the teams which had won competitions last season. He made fipecial reference to the performance of C. F. W. Allcott In winning both the senior battine and bowling honours. It was decided that the colours of the association should be dark blue and white. It was also decided that a player should receive a representative cap for his first representative game and a blazer for three or more games. Votes of thanks were passed to the umpires and the officebearers of last year.

A notice of motion from the Balmornl Club that every delegate should be entitled to one vote was withdrawn, but a further notice of motion that junior clubs should .select their own delegates to the management committee was carried. The -election of officers resulted:— Patron, Sir-.Tames Coates; president. Mr. P. Enrtf K.C. : vice-presidents, Dr. 11. C. .Bennett. Dr. A. MeGrejror Grant. Messrs. E. C. Beale, Carlton Hay, H. J. Hayward, S. Heskoth, H. C. Jones, R. B. Lusk, E. E. Nalder, C. Rhodes, O. Nicholson, C. W. Anderson: management committee, Dr. H. C, ■ Bennett, Messrs. K. B. Lusk. E. E. Nnlder (elected vice-presidents), P. Shaw (Eden), C. A. Snedden (Grafton), W. J. Coates (North Shore), 3. F. Murray (King's Old Boys). H. Duncan (Parnell). N. C. Snedden (Ponsonby), I». B. Schnauer (University), R. E. Ffater (Y.M.C.A.); hon. secretary, Mr. N. H. -E. Hockin ; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. H. Watts; hon. auditor, Mr. D. R. Garrard.

HIGHER STANDARO WANTED.

NEW SCHEME APPROVED.

" A junior club which enters and maintains in the prescribed manner a' team in the- senior B grade shall have power to link its senior B team with a senior club, and a senior club shall have power to accept such a linking subject to such conditions and restrictions, as tue management committee may from time to time determine." The above motion, framed with the idea of improving the standard of Auckland cricket, was carried at last evening's annual meeting of the.Auckland Cricket Association. " The motion ia in the interests of .cricket generally, and is not put forward for the benefit of any particular dub," said Sir. Iα B. Schnauer in speaking to the motion. The arrangement would bring players into prominence, and they would be made to play where they should. If the scheme did not prove a. success it could easily be dropped.

Mr. A.Le Bhery, of the Point Chevalier Club, said that the scheme in its present form Was too vague. .

Mr. N. C. Snedden (Ponsbnby) said the arrangement would give young players a chance of getting into senior cricket. There were many points for adjustment, but it was only, a,trial.'- The management committee, he .thought, would help in every possible way; ' ' >■ " The opinion that the scheme would not produce the' flesired results was voiced by Mr. A. Winks, of the Papatoetoe Club. In his opinion it overlooked the individual who wns chiefly concerned with the freer atmosphere of the game, and it would not force players to play in the highest grade if they did not desire to do ,so. His club was not in favour of the scheme, biit nevertheless the club was prepared to do its best to support the scheme, if such, wa» the wish of the other clubs. , n