ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

THE CRICKET CONTROL MEETS. HARD UP. LEVY ON MEMBERS SUGGESTED. INTERESTING MEETING. TJio annual general mooring of delegates (u dm Wellington Crickct Association was held last evening at tho Chamber of Commerce. Mr. IT. X). 801 l presided. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted.

The President on Finance. In moving the adoption of the report, the chairman stated that he had no pleasure in doing so, as the association had gone to t.lio bad during the season. It, was heavily in debt, and apparently tho efforts to wipe off that debt had not been met with the assistance from cricketers which they deserved. If they looked at the' position seriously they would see that it was a matter of urgency. The value of their assets _wne undoubtedly more or less problematical. He did not wish to preach (o delejatcs, or to convey the impression that he did. not share the liability. . The question was: How could they escape from the position of insolvency in which they found themselves, or from the position in which they found themselves in respect to the three guarantors who had pledge;! their security with faith in the better management that should have obtained? It. would not do to go on in that way, so far as he himself was concerned. ' He could not agree to remain their president, unless they were prepared to put the association in a position more satisfactory to those who were connected with it, and to those who were- behind it. Ho hoped that, Ijefore. tho motion was disposed of, they would endeavour to devise some means of getting out of the difficulty, and placing cricket on such a footing as would make it a pleasure, not only to those who were associated with it, but also to those who were behind it. •The Onus on Cricketcrs. Mr. J. I'. Firth, vice-president, in seconding tho motion, endorsed the remarks of the president, lie was one of those who agreed with a statement in tho report to the effect that cricketers themselves were not as willing as they should bo to support the efforts of tho committee to liquidate the debt, lie referred to tho art union, which had been organised to assist the finances, and added that it was apparently only those not connected with cricket who had helped so far. It was not because cricketers could not afford a shilling or two to lmy tickets—they spent moro than that every week in things that yielded them far less pleasure than a single game of cricketit was because,they had learned to lean too much on outside help for their sport. Had the cricketers themselves lent the assistance that was rightly expected of tl-.em, the association's debt would have been practically extinguished, He did not seo why a' workable scheme could not be evolved to placo the finances 011 a sounder footing. If the cricketers would only subscribe, say a shilling a week, it would soon havo the required effect, and lio himself was willing to do his share, and would hand the treasurer a cheque before ho left.

Good Word for Mr, Saunders. l!r. It. J. Crambio remarked that it was a pleasure for th? active members to see the president among them again. The speaker agreed with tho statements made regarding tho financial position, but considered that there was a pleasing feature of the report in that it had reference to the coach employed. Everyone would agree that the wickets that had been prepared at the Basin Reserve last season were excellent, and while (as the report staled) it was rather early to express an idea as (o the effect of the coaching, he nevertheless ventured the opinion that there was already considerable improvement in tho cricket of the younger players. An Auditor's Opinion. Mr. S. Whitta Thornton (one of tho auditors), after paying a compliment to tho treasurer for tho capital manner in which tho books of the association bad been kept, went on to refer to the financial position. Ho was of the opinion that the association should not rely on tho reciipts of representative matches to cover their expenditure. It was not sound finance when the ordinary revenue was insufficient to cover the ordinary expenditure. If the association could not run its cricket on tile present subscription from clubs, then the subscription should be raised, and, if necessary, the clubs should raise the subscriptions of members. If cricketers could not afford or were unwilling ito pay for their sport, then it was time that they saw the cud of cricket.

Is It The District Scheme? Mr. D. M'Kcnzio expressed the opinion that it was the district scheme that was responsible for a lot of the trouble. Sineo the formation of the district clubs, a number of the old supporters of cricket had been lost to it. Mr. M'Kenzie also informed the meeting that a treasurer of tho. association, who had held office for twelve years, had informed him that the ordinary revenue had never covered the ordinary expenditure.

Mr. if. F. Luckie agreed with .those speakers who had expressed the view that it was tho cricketers themselves who did not givo the necessary support to tho game. To emphasise this, he drew attention to the splendid assistance which tho association had always received in Wellington. In the course of further remarks, Mr. Luckie m'ade the suggestion that tho Plunket Shield competition should be decided every year 011 the linos of the Englisih county championship. In conclusion, he viewed the. position more optimistically than other members of tho association, and considered that tho future of tho association was hopeful ciwugh if cricketers' would only help themselves. v Mr. Burbidge, of tho Certtral Cricket Club, in speaking to the motion, stated that the "colts" who had gono to be coached from his club, were not satisfied with (he coaching, and tho association would hear more about it later. The Idea of a Levy. Mr. Firth, by way of reply to Mr. Thornton, thought that it was a crying shame that the good work that had been done and paid for by cricketers in the summer at the Basin Reserve should bo undone in the winter by footballers and other sports bodies, who (as .Mr. Thornton put it) paid_ for their sport. Professor Kirk endorsed the remarks of tho president and Mr. I'irth.

Mr. A. A. George also spoke. The president thought that .Mr. Firth's scheme of a weekly levy from playing members was well worthy of consideration. "Why should they not pass a resolution at the meeting to make' the levy f lt would not press heavily on anyone. When the report and balance-sheet had been disposed of, tho Rev. M. Bowden Harris (Iltitt) movc-d (on the lines of Mr. Firth's suggestion): "That the associal ion resolves to make a levy of Gd. per week on all playing members of tho clubs of which the . association consist*-, the proceeds to L'o applied to discharge the present debt of the association. I'iic levy is to commence on October 11, 1911. and to continue each week until the cnil of the season. No member in arrear with his levy is to be permitted to play in any match or lo have any privilege until payment. Each club is to be responsible lo the association for the amount of the levy upon its members." There was a good deal of discussion on the motion, and several delegates expressed the opinion that they could not vote on the question without instructions from their clubs. Eventually it was decided that, when tho remaining busino-ss of the meeting had been concluded. the meeting should adjourn until October 18, when the levv could be further discussed. A motion by Mr. A. A. fienrge that a fiuance committee be eleclcd will alw bo discussed at the adiourned meeting. Officers for the Year. A vole of thanks to Mr. C. E. Stevens j [or his services as lion, secretary and treasurer was. carried by. acclamation. I

Tho following office-bearers liave been His Excellency tho Governor; president, -Mr. H. 1). Boll; vicepresident.-. ]Jr. A. K- Newman, Professor Jvirk, and Messrs. 1?. A. "Wright. M.l'., I'. M. B. Fisher, M.l'., K. I'. Bunny, and .1. I'. Firth; vice-president to New Zealand Cricket Couneil, Mr. 11. 1). lie.ll; delegates to New Zealand Cricket Coui(cii, Messrs. J. J]■ U'iHhnns ami C. W. Treweck; hon. secretary .Mr. E. B. Vance; lion, treasurer, Mr. W. S. Hood; lion, audifors, Meshi's. L\ H. Manson anil S. Whitta Thornton; management committee, Messrs. M. Luckie. H. M. Beechey, V. B. Wills, C. 13. llickey, W. A. Pnrlon, W. S. Briee, A. T. Bate, 1). M'Keuzie, ami — Ixjwc.

FJRST MATCH OF SEASON. Tho following team will represent the Hull District Cricket Club in aniutch on tho Butt Ground against the Victoria Cricket Club on .Saturday next. Play commences at 2.15 p.m.:—Aldcrslcy, Borland, Bricc, Ishcrwood, Judd, F. Matthews, Pilcher, I'ringle, A. 11., Pringlc, W.P., Simpson, and Staples.

BOYS' LEAGUE CLUB. Tho annual meeting of tho Wellington Boys' Cricket 1/oague was held last night. Dr. Izard presided, and thero was a tair attendance. Tho annual report remarked that the league was entering upon its sixth year. Tho league was growing and the interest keeping up. The championship contests had beau keen. The baiancc-shect stated that tho receipts had been «£8 175., and tho expenditure X 7 2s. 9d., so that there was a balance of £1 lis. 3d. The -following ollicers wove elected:— President. Dr. Izard; vice-presidents, Messrs. Coloneus, W. Walton, E. Ryan, Mtai's, W. Eglin, and Paul; secretary, Mr, F. M'Clusky; treasurer, Mr. C. K. Dick; committee", Messrs. llowitt, C. Mabin, A. Frew, Christbpherson, N. llassall. RUGBY. SOUTH ISLAND COMBINATION. (By Telegraph.—Fress Association.) Duncdin, September 23. Tho selection of the South Island football team for tho inter-island match is almost completed. The following players have been folected:— Full-back—Scott (Otago). Three-quarters—G utlirio (Canterbury), Lynch (South Canterbury), Burns (Canterbury). Five-eighths—Gray (Canterbury), Irvine (West Coast). Half—Green (Duller). Forwards—Biggar (Southland), Williams and Dalton (West Ccast), Forbes and M'Donald (Marlborough), Paterson (Otago). DOMINION CONTROL 'MEETS. At a meeting of the committee of tho New Zealand Rugby Union last evening Southern thirds were granted permission to play a match with Carterton thirds, as a. curtain-raiser to the South Island v. North Island match on Saturday week. Several players were declared to bo professionals.

CIVIL SERVICE FARRAGO. Some interest is being displayed in the final match of the Civil Service Rugby tournament, which is to be played at Athletic Park on Saturday, .September DO, at 3 p.m. The Public Trust Oflicc (present holders of the T. S. Ronaldson Challenge Cup) play off with the combined Treasury and Advances to Settlers Departments. The promoters state that a good exhibition of football may bo expected. ' The following are the teams:— Treasury and Advances: Morrison, Morality,- Watson, Hickson, .Alley, Dolierty, M'C'ojnisky. Kins'. Gledhill, Macka.v, Hall, Neal, Bradley. Cur'.ayne, Dinnie. Public Trust: Hales, Miller, Fairo, EUift'o, Dwyer, Ryan, Kiddick, I'oananga, Pearcc, M'Kay, Hamilton, Duiulon, Myers, Fawcett, Alexander. Mr. L. Simpson will bo referee. HOUSE TEAMS FOE SATURDAY. Tho following trams w;ll represent Sargood, Son, and Ewcn, Ltd., v. Ross and Glendining, Ltd., a! Athletic Park No. 1 Ground,'oanSpturday'iiext—Sargood, Son, and Ewen, Ltd.: G. V. L.vnex, A. Nicholson, H. Mortenson, 33. Hibbard, E. ,T. Adams, A. Smart, M. Oliver, F. Greon, W. Butler, G. Hollowav, J. Calcinai, T. Heley, A. M'Millau, N. Carter, L. Barl'trop; emergencies, C. Aamodt, 11. I Mil-lington. Ross and Glendining. Ltd.: K. Livick, R. Parton, P.' Swaii, I. Backlin. H. L. Mitchell, T. Young, A. G. Hugh, F. C. Atkinson, F. Jacobson, A. Moore, It. Fitzer, D. Fritz-Jones, G. I'earce, G. Barker, and H. Stott. I I.AWN TENNIS. THE DAVIS CUP. ' Tho ' Australasian Tennis Association is negotiating by cable with America regarding the Davis Cup competition, and it is hoped a suitable date may be fixed iu the course of a few days. ' Tho New Zealand Committee has suggested Deecni- | ber 14. BOXING. . AFFAIR AT WAIPAWA. tUr TeleeraDb.—Press Association.) Waipawa, September 28. In a boxing contest lost night L. O'Halloran defeated- A. Bromwich in fifteen rounds. SCULLING. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright Sydney, September 2G. Hagney, the sculler, is willing to take up Stevenson's challonge, to row a Svcmile raco on the l'arramatta for .£IOO a side, and to allow the New Zealander i'2s for expenses, and an equal division of the gate money. A recent Press Association cable message stated that "H. Stevenson, of Westport," had challenged Arnst to row a live-mile race for tho world's championship. A later telegram from Westport stated no R. Stevenson was known there, but that some time since amongst tho possessions of a mail giving (he name rtf Archibald Brown, who had been arrested for drunkenness, was found a written challonge to Arnst. BOWLS. (By Teleeraph.—Press Association.) Dunjdin, September 28. At a meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Bowling Association to-night' a motion in favour of commencing the annual tournament on December 27 was approved, but it was decided that: the question bo reconsidered in the event o* the Chiist'church centre, which has not vet ccmo to a. definite decision, forwarding an objection within ten days. DUNEDIN HUNT CLUB. (By Telegraph— Press Association.) Ounedin, September 28. A meeting of those interested in the formation of a hunt club was held this evening. There were .'lO present. Mr. S. S. Myers presided, lie stated that t'ho cost of running tho club would bo'about ,£2OO a year. It was resolved that tho subscription l:o 2 guineas per year. Tho chairman also said that iho Dunedin Jockey. Club in former years lind given .£IOO, and lie was sure t'ho club would act; in tho same generous manlier again. A deputation was appointed to wait, on the ccmmittoc of the D.J.C. and ask for financial assistance. Horses had been offered for use. of the huntsmen awl whip. The secretary stated that ho had received IH'omi'vs from about ISO intending members and that the first meet would tako place in February next.

Hrandnn and Johnson insert particulars in our auction columns cf an impnrlaut auction sale of high-class household funiishinjis, upright grand piano, piano player billiard dining-table, etc., etc., «t N'o. 51! Waipapa Koad, llatnitai. to-dav at 1 o'clock sharp. The furniture is advertised as being in excellent order, and as liiero are ovor .'l5O lols the sale will cojiimenco punctually at 1 o'clock. The associated auctioneers will hold a stock sale on Wednesday, October 4, at (lie iSolwar saleyards, ilastertoa.