N.Z. CRICKET COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17905, 27 October 1923, Page 16

N.Z. CRICKET COUNCIL.

ANNUAL MEETING. Tho annual meeting of the New Zealand Cricket Council was held, last evening, the following being present: Messrs E. Heathcote Williams (Hastings), president (in the chair), A. Martin (Otago), vice-president, J. S. Barrett (Auckland), R. Twyneham (Auckland), M. 0. Sinclair (Waikato), Dr. P. S. Foster (Hawke's Bay), W. Simpson (Manawatu), A. T. Donnelly (Wairoa), S. F. Wilson (Poverty Bay), D. E. Parton (Wairarapa), Dr. A. Orchard (Bangitikei), H. C. Ridley (Taranaki South), A. E. Byrne (Wellington), R. Fisher (Wellington), D. Reese (Canterbury), K R. Caygill (Canterbury), H. Waters (Ashburton), W. Bottrell (Marlborough). E. E. Luttrell (Nelson), H. E. Lawrence (North Otago), J. F. Peake (Otago), hon. secretary, W. H. Winsor (Otago), and H. M. Taylor (Southland). Apologies were received from Messrs D. Redpath and G. T. Weston. Motion of Condolence. Before prooeeding with the business of the evening, the chairman asked those present to pass a vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr W Itevenish Meares. The latter was an enthusiastic supporter of cricket, and he had done, very good work on the Council. . i The motion was carried in silence, i those present standing. | President's Address, In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president, Air E Heathcote Williams congratulated the local Association on the success of Canterbury in the Pltmket Shield matches, and the Chnstchurch Boys' High School in tke Heathcote Williams Shield matches. Continuing • he said that the event of last season was the. visit of the M.C.C. team. It waa-.-to be regretted that there was a substantial loss to be faced, but the visit was worth while. Many of the members of that, team had distinguished themselves since their return to England, and in this respect he bad io mention the New ZeahinTier, T. C. Lowry. ' Mr Heatheote Williams read a letter which appeared it th* London "Times" which paid glowing tribute *>'' T. C. Lowry. , The Council had learned experience fcy th* tour and might have taved at least £IOOO by curtailment of .overhead expenses. He regretted that the second test matchthat" played at.Lancaster Park—was not finished, for it was an open ouestion whether the M.C.O. would have top. . In connexion with the proMsed i/m of an Australian team, Mr Hea&cote> Williams said it was with rtgret he .had to speak o£ the break, down of negotiations with the Australian Board of Control. However, the management committee had arranged So' visit of a veani from New South .Wales, 4 W& great thanks ▼■»*>•£ Mr Bedpath for the work he had done to this. After all, New South Wales possessed the cream of tfie Australian cricketers, the majority o? the Australian Eleven hailing from Se MoSer State. At the .same £*> W hoped that the incoming committee that the team would not the players would be young' and ©n the frinste of top rank. One reason ofU& to Xr Zealand was the education of young players, and a strong team would submerge even our best aides and minimise pubho interest. , The in-WbVint-congr>tttfiited the comdespite 'the financial mack in the eye," was not deterred ST was making--good .progress with attractions for the coming year. He hoped ffl all "interested 1 Tn the game ,-woSd do their share, and weU-adver-Sthe i3«t of the New South Wales / iStU The fact that the team was J SnV only from New Sputh Wales SbVatea thr necessity of finding aaBemblaut expenses—a very. considerable iteX VBe Sflo teferred'to the possimr of- New Zealand team and JBngland in the (very near fwtnre*r At'present this was a financial impossibility. _WhJe on the matter of finance, Mr Heathcote Williams' roggeste*- the hwtatution of honow membership of the Council at s}4t**l» mi five guineas. He made the stwgertion as,* recommendation to the incoming committee. There were huadredaof men in New ZealaMwho woaWauipport such a proposal, adS, it wMdib** good source of revenue. To the work of the Management Committee and, to the, secretary, Mr J. R-Peake, the president gave the highest praise. .Carrying' on the game, was , nol «a easy teak, all had acquitted tibiinaalTea weQi-. With regard to the Playertl Mr Heatheote Wflliams said sP«3r«* Zealand wer* workers, and ft was essential that men who had to earn their 'daily bread by band of brain should be physically fit, and men could gain that condition by participating in oricEet. He ■ was* strongly against professionals and the yfcfag up of mare timer for cricket than; work could alLow. It was the duty of the Council to not only foster in P tt *. "V,,®?* deavottr to provide oncket m the "outback" parttof th* country, and provide sport for all. Vice-President's Bemazks.

Mr Ju Martin (vice-preßidjnt seconded the adoption of the report. He said that it had been customary to hear that Njew Zealand was not suitable for producing jrood cricketers. The sue* eess in England ol T; 0; Lowry rather tefuted that Ides. It was pleasant to recall the good scores.registered last year, and more especially the keenly contested Canterbury-Wellington match, Which was characterised by dogged and persistent batting. He urged upon the committee the desirability of keeping the possibility of a visit to Australia before the young ylayers, as an incentive to greater efforts and improved ( ' play. He eulogised the work that the Council lad done for cricket in New Zealand, and *aid that) vrhile it was eaf*y;,t4 witieise If wiaabKli natural to make-mistakes; and when a body had * large Ottount of work to do, mistakes were inevitable. He regretted the nqanei&l Joss suffered or. the M.C.C. tour, but the experience gained was worth; yhile, and, farther, the value, of ,th<> T social brotherhood in cricket whjleh Was fostered was invaluable. He drew the attention of the Management Committee -to the coming Exhibition in Dunedin, and expressed a wish that When arranging the dates of interpro-' vineial matches, the Dunedin fixtures ■■ would be synchronised with the date of £*, Exhibition. In conclusion, Mr artin stated that Dunedin would have . one\c* the' best cricket grounds in the j r wcm r comprising sixty-three acres, one of.

f ;*. - 'fetiftt for Officials. *sa2ti£ ? J ß^s e e l » t<» »•■ **** tto P* evl oM »peaker» M&Z*** g*'little to aay. He eulo■|lß|, ** Peace's serrices as secretary, ■3jgy*f a« chairman of the Manage- ¥?*?***"» Wew this value of the WsS&tfr&JtSr**: "petted the Whfm **«* the l m^^mmS l^W i trlbeta to the good i in Anstralia. Mr that there was so! for the. Beatheole Wii.fo repjy to a, ] U to the ]

matches in the past had interfered witii examinations at the schools. However, the prospects this year. were' brighter. It had been suggested to him that a team from South Australia should be invited to New Zealand; but the arrangements with New South Wales already had been made. Mr D. Reese urged the restitution of the programme evolved by the Council some years ago. Then players would ■know for a few years ahead when teams were to visit Australia, and when teams could be expect?d in New Zealand. He spoKe in favour of State teams against those under the control of the Australian Board, and also of the desirability of including young players. The New South Wales proposal was "much more satisfactory iri every way, firstly saving the cost of assembling, and, secondly, saving of 5s a day to players. Mr D. E. Parton spolce most gratefully of the good work of the Council in its efforts to look after the minor associations. As regards the eontribu tions by honorary members, as suggast- [ ed by the president, ho was sure that I there were at least twtr.ty in the Wai rarapa who would become members, an i ! pay that figure. The report and balaiice-sheet, a resume of which has already been published in "The Press," was adopted. Election of Officers. The following officers were elected: — Patron, his Excellency the General, Viscount Jellieoe; president, Mr E. Heathcote Williams; Management Committee, Messrs J. S. Barrett, A. T. Donnelly, E. E. Caygill, D. Reese r and D. Eedpath; lion, treasurer, Mr W. H. Winsor; hon. .secretary, Mr J. I l ' Peake, and hoii. auditor, Mr F. H. Labatt. Mr S. F. Wilson,. who retired from | the committee, wa3 accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his past services. Life Member Elected. Mr J. S. Barrett, who eulogised ths good work of the Hon. Sir Francis Dillon Bell in the past in the cause of cricket, both in England and New 'Zealand, said that he proposed that the gentleman be elected a life member of the Council. Mr Heathcote Williams also paid high tribute to Sir Francis Bell, whose election was carried unanimously.

Alterations to Rules. Mr W. H. Winsor proposed and Mr J: F. Peake seconded the following motion:—That rule 2, subsection c of the Plnnkflet Shield Eules be altered by delating tho last sentence, "Thereafter all teams etc," and substituting- the following .—"Thereafter all matchesshall be arranged so that at least one match in each season shall be played on the ground of each competing team. In the following season where one match was played, two. shall be played." Mr Beese explained that at present Auckland and Otago vdere euff.erting a hardship the motion was to obviate this. The motion was carried unanimously. The chairman said that he thought there should be specal rules in New Zealand governing, test matches baaed on the M.C.O. rules. He moved alterations to Bnle 3, relating to Plunkot Shield and interproiuucial matches, (including Hawke Cup and Heathcote Williams' Shield matches), the rule t6 rtad "all Plunket Shield (or Hawke Cup or Heathcote W illiamß Shield) matches to be played subject to, and in accordance with, the laws of cricket as interpreted and established by tho M.C.C. and ... ;." In reality this deleted the mutual arrangement principle. ■•■.', A In regard to the way' this rule af* fected the preparation of wickets Mr Beese said that he thought New Zealand conditions required that the wickets should be rolled for a longer time than was prescribed in the M.C.G. Bules, but he spoke against 'the use of water on the wickets. He would support the motion if the rolling was extended to 20 minutes' duration instead of the 10 required by. the'M.C.C. Bules.

Mr Bidley agreed that extra rolling would be beneitcial but he doubted it it would prove efficacious ngain3t crumbling. Watering would consolidate the turf and. made the wicket last better over the three days of matches. Mr Beese moved, and Mr Lawrence seconded an amendment that the wicket may be rolled for not exceeding 20 minutes immediately prior to the commencement of each day's play. ; Mr,- A. E. Byrne said he was instructed by the Wellington Association to support the motion as it stood without Mr Reese's amendment. Once they began tinkering with rules there would be no end to it, and they considered that it would be better to stick to the M.C.O. rules straight-out. Mr R. Fisher suggested that the motion'be referred back to the affiliated Associations. After discussion Mr Reese's amendment was carried; that is to say, the M.C.C. rules.are to govern, except that the wickets may be rolled for 20 minutes instead of 10.

Other Business. The application of.the Waiapu Asso ciation for affiliation to the Council was granted, on condition that it/defended th* Hawke Cup (if necessary) at Gisoorne. The chairman moved, and Mr Ridley seconded, that it be a recommendation to the.incoming committee ,that- the colours for the New Zealand team should be changed. Black was rather sombre, and suggested mourning, and the fernleaf could be mounted on a background of more cheerful hue. The motion was carried. The secretary reported that six challenges bad been received for the Hawke Cup—Wairarapa, South Taranaki, Nelson, Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bny, and Manawatu.

Mr Martin spoke strongly in favour of'the continuation of the North-South Island match, and. said he hoped that the Management Committee would keep the matter in view.