CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24985, 20 September 1946, Page 4

CRICKET

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION Critioism of the conduct of cricket in Canterbury during the war was made at the annual meeting of delegates to the Canterbury Cricket Association on Wednesday by Mr L. Mahoney. Although it was stated in the annual report that the game had been kept going satisfactorily, said Mr Mahoney, he felt that the association had not done a great job during the war. Although there was nothing at stake in the representative games played during the war, the same players -had made repeated He did not doubt that they were good enough, but the younger players had been neglected. Over the years, all Canterbury had thought about was winning. That was shown by the players picked during the war period. The need for physical fitness was emphasised by Mr Mahoney, who said it was lacking in Canterbury cricket. Representative players should be given gymnasium training. “If the match against Australia had lasted four days, and they had been hot days, stretchers would have been needed to carry off the Canterbury players,” he said. . Reference to the representative practices was also made by Mr Mahoney. The practices had been poorly attended, he said, players assured of places not turning out very frequently. The keenness had been maintained by the players who did not represent the province. Ih presenting thq annual report and balance-sheet, the chairman, Mr R. H. North, said that the year had been a successful one, Canterbury had reached the top position, and every effort should be made to keep the province there. It should be the aim of every cricketer to help to improve the standard. More coaches would be required in the coming season, when the coaching scheme for •boys would be extended. Mr T. A. Tucker, the treasurer, said, that the. financial position was healthy,' but gave no grounds for complacency. Last season £5OO had come in from three representative matches, while in the coming season there would be only one home match, and the expense of a northern tour would have to be faced. Income from Investments had decreased because of lower rates of interest. The excess of income over expenditure for the year was shown in the balancesheet as £lB6 9s 6d. After considerable discussion. It was decided that the -hours of play in the coming season be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and that two-day matches be played in the first, second, and third grades only. The fixing of opening day was left to the management committee. Officers were elected as follows:—president, Mr R. H. North; vice-presidents, Messrs E. R. Caygill and W. J. V. Hamilton; secretary, .Mr J. C. Saunders; assistant secretary, Mr I. A. Baxter; treasurer, Mr D. T. Ager; management conimittee, Messrs L. A. Butterfield (Sydenham), R. Poore (East Christchurch), C. G. grawford (St. Albans), R. C. Saunders (Old Collegians), D. A. Colville (High School Old Boys), E. A. Sibley (Technical Old Boys), W. E. Mappiebeck (Lancaster Park), E. K. Phillips (West Old Boys), and G. A. Bull (Riccarton); delegates to New Zealand Cricket Council, Messrs Caygill and Crawford; auditors, Messrs P. J. Byrne and J. H. Pickles; honorary medical officer. Dr. A. J. Orchard. At a subsequent meeting of the management committee, Mr D. A. Colville was re-elected chairman.