CRICKET

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25021, 1 November 1946, Page 9

CRICKET

NEW MINOR ASSOCIATION APPLICATION BY HUTT VALLEY RECOMMENDED Should the New Zealand Cricket Council at its annual meeting this evening approve, the Hutt Valley Cricket Association will be granted minor association status Delegates to the biennial conference of the council agreed yesterday to recommend to the annual meeting that Hutt Valley be granted affiliation as a minor association. A deputation comprising Messrs E. J. Aim and H N. Jones waited on the meeting to advance the olaims of the Hutt Valley Association. Hutt Valley was in a unique position said Mr Aim. The population was between 63,000 and 64,000, and was increasing at the rate of 1000 a month. Cricket had advanced rapidly in the last few years, and since all-day Saturday, closing had been introduced, young men who previously played in the Wellington Association’s competitions, were not now going into the city, but were playing in the Hutt Valley His association had 50 teams under its control and could provide between 25 and 30 wickets Within five years it was anticipated that the association would have at least 80 wickets

Hutt Valley did not desire to take part in the Hawke Cup competition, said Mr Aim. Its sole desire was to improve cricket and it felt it could do this by playing matches against other minor associations and poreibly major associations. It had already engaged K. C. James, a former .New Zealand representative as official coach in an endeavour to improve the standard of cricket in its own area, and eventually play its part in improving the standard of cricket in New. Zealand.

The chairman of the Wellington Cricket Association (Mr W M. King) moved that Hutt Valiev’s application be passed on to the New Zealand Cricket Council with a recommendation that it be favourably considered The Hutt Valley Association had done cricket a lot of good in its area, and was deserving of evrev consideration

Mr King’s motion was seconded by Mr J. Newman (Nelson), who said that Hutt Valley should be granted minor association status without qualification. Let them play in the Hawke Cup competition if they so desired With the rapid expansion of population in the valley it was possible that it would become a major association within a few years.

Several other delegates spoke in favour of the motion, all considering that it would be a step in the right direction for improving the standard of cricket in !Vew Zealand. '