STANDARD OF CRICKET

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 86, 8 October 1921, Page 9

STANDARD OF CRICKET

NUMBER OF SENIOR TEAMS

INSTRUCTION TO THE COMMITTEE

AN INCREASE TO EIGHT.

By deciding to admit only six teams to the-' senior cricket competition, the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association considered that it was1 acting-in the best interests of the game, but to many delegates the decision had not found favour, particularly in view of the fact that a recommendation had been made at the annual meeting that the number should be increased to eight. Emphatic views on this important matter were expressed at an enthusiastic and largely attended meeting of delegates to the association held in the Chamber of Commerce last evening, for the purpose of considering the following notice of motion:— ',

: That it be an instruction to the Management Committee that,. it shall increase the senior teams to the numIber of eight, for the coming season, 1921-1922. '' : . - Mr. M. F. Luckie, a vice-president of the association, occupied the chair. In moving the ,above motion, Mr. P. B. Broad (University Club) 'referred to the recommendation made at the, annual meeting, and said that this had been regarded :as a direction. Delegates, however, were extremely anxious that the committee should not regard the present proposal as an indication of \yan<t of confidence.

The chairman said that the committee fully appreciated Mr. Broad's last remark, but his ruling was that a recommendation was not a direction.

Mr. Broad' said that when the recommendation was made at the annual meeting, it was understood by, delegates to have been in the nature of 'a mandate.

ANOTHER PROPOSAL.

Mr. D. M'Kenzie stated that he had given the matter a lot .of anxious thought. The whole question;was whether cricket was going to be improved or bad feeling caused in connection with the playing of the game in Wellington. Cricket was especially a social game. The Management Committee's action meant that certain players were going to be taken away from their clubs and forced to join clubs for which .they had no sympathy. It seemed to him that' cricket in Wellington at the present time was in a good position, and He urged that .it should be kept in such a position. As a means to enable,this to be done satisfactorily, he moved an amendment to the effect, that the senior competition be divided into two grades —A and B, the A grade to consist of four teams, and the B grade to consist of six teams; three rounds to be played in the A grade, and two rounds in the B grade; at the end of the season the leading team -in the B grade to have the right to challenge .the lowest team in the A grade for the right to retain its position, a two-days' match to be arranged for this purpose; and the whole position to be reviewed prior to the next annual It was MrJ M'Kenzie's opinion tha four teams in an I A grade, as suggested, would serve to keep up the quality of cricket, while the B grade would assist in'making the competition more interesting. It .was, he thought, a,g6od way out of the trouble, arid a chance for the Management Committee, to keep cricket .lip to standard. There were men in junior cricket who should be playing in the senior cbmpetitioh. It was in the best interests of cricket that he made the proposal.

The Chairman: "Are you not in effect reducing the number of senior teams to four." The six teams in theß grade, Mr. Luckie pointed out,! would riot have a chance of meeting the four teams in the A grade.

Mr. M'Kenzie explained that better cricket would be obtained from two strong teams meeting each other; and similarly from two weaker teams, rather than playing a strong team ' against a weak one. i . ',

At this stage the question arose as to whether ten teams had entered for the senior competition. T?he ■ secretary (Mr. Roy S. Johnston) stated that there were nine entries, the ' new applicants for senior rank being': Victoria College, V.M.C.A., and Boys' Institute. A delegate from the jMarist Club intimated that his club was also entering a senior team; , v i ■ ■ , <

Mr. H. D. Morgan (Johnsonville) described the amendment as the most constructive one which had come before a meeting of delegates. He made an appeal for junior clubs. They should be given a chance. At the present time these clubs could' not get higher than iuniorgrade unless they (left Iheir clubs. The limitation of senior teams would have the effect of losing players each year.

THE COMMITTEE'S BACKBONE.

Mr. C. G. Wilson, chairman of the Management Committee, said that he felt very strongly in regard to the matter. He was rather surprised to hear Mr. M'Kenzie move that amendment. "I ask yon," he said, "whether you have ISO senior players in Wellington, allowing 13 or so for a team ? There is not one of you can cay you have. Then why support anything of the kind?" He admired the Management Committee for having the backbone to stand against the recommendation of the annual meeting. Had ,the committee been weak-kneed it would have been a nice and easy thing to have admitted the eight teams, but it realised, and everyone realised,, that there were not 120 senior players in Wellington.

A delegate: "We have got the makings of them." . ■ i

The committee went for six teams, Mr. Wilson continued. He went on to refer }.o the University' Club. During the war period it had become defunct because the men went to the war. Had not other clubs also lost men? The responsibilities had been left to the officials of the association and others, and now University, which had no responsibility during that period, wanted to come back and taKe senior status. Was it fair? ' . . .

"Voices: "Yes."

Mr. Wilson: "I am surprised. , If you carried the responsibility you would not say so. The club wants to come back without paying anything and without doing anything to show that it can fulfil the requirements of a senior team." He thought,the club had no right to come in on the top rung of the ladder. A delegate: "Question." It had not been decided, said Mr. Wilson, which teams would be admitted. He urged those present to view the matter very carefully, to drop club interest, and cpnsider whether their teams. were worthy of senior status, and how many senior players the) had. He was of opinion that there were not 66 seniors in Wellington. By increasing the number of teams an injustice would be done to the game and to those supporting it.

CLUB'S WAR RECORD,

Mr. Broad was permitted to speak again at this stage, foregoing his right to reply to the motion. He did so, because a direct attack had been madie upon the elub< which he represented.

During the 1913-14 and 1914-15 seasons tlie Victoria College Club had three teams playing. Of the 22 or 23 players comprising the first two teams 17 went to the war. It was, therefore, impossible to carry on. Four members of the first eleven had been killed. The war accounted for 'Varsity's absenoe from cricket. Every cricketer in Wellington, Mr. Broad stated, knew what Mr. Wilson had done for cricket. Mention had been made of his (Mr. Wilson's) efforts, and,those of others who had controlled the game during the war period, "but," said the speaker, "bur burdens were just as heavy in France." It.was quite likely that there were n0t.120 senior players in Wellington, but the whole purpose of the motion was that in the future there would be that number. He was in sympathy with the amendment.

OTHER OPINIONS,

The view was expressed by Mr. P. R. Fulton., a member of the Management Committee, that six teams were ample for the senior competition. Regarding the amendment providing for four A teams a.nd six B teams, he suggested that automatic relegation and promotion should be made. Clubs which were given senior status should, he thought, have at least four teams other than senior. There were not 66 senior players, in Wellington at the present time, and it would be a year or so before the requisite number was obtained. The ■' competition suggested by Mr. M'Kenzi* was only glorified senior and junior. An explanation was made by Mr. W. A. Baker that bis motion t& limit the number of senior teams to six was moved because he realised that the juniors were to be encouraged. A question was asked by Mr. Lawrence- whether, in: the promotion! of1 teams, preference would, be given to clubs having the most teams. The chairman replied to the'effect that.rthore was no rule on the matter; it was' one entirely, for the committee. . Mr. Edimorufe spoke at length,, suggesting that the Management Committeemade an error of judgment. The delay in the closing of entries was hampering the, clubs. Players'' were also being lost, on account of clubs having no senior teams.

Mr. H. E. Burton detailed the action of the Management Committee. A subcommittee had. fully considered the question, and had decided that only six teams could be sustained to improvel the standard of place. Senior teams should be supported by four other teams. A strong appeal for the admission of the University Club was made by Mr. F. JopUn, who thought that if Auckland University could win the championship in Auckland, Victoria College should, be allowed to try and' do the same here. t It would do its best to prove thafc.it was worthy'of senior statue. There was much further disoussian, after which the amendment was defeated by 22 votes to 11, and the (motion earned by 21 votes to 11. A question' was, raised regarding grounds, and the chairman stated tha* this would require the immediate attention of the Management Committee.

JUNIOR COMMITTEE APPOINTED.

Other business of the meeting was the election of a jtfnior championship committee, for this purpose of controlling all grade competitioW under senior. The chairman of this committee had been appointed by the management committee, and four other members were required. \ By having one large committee instead of small committees from each of the lower grades the management committee hadconsidered that better results would be obtained. The following committee was appointed:—Messrs. J. Reid (chairman), H. C. Morton, H. D., Morgahi J. S. Hanna, E. M'Cardell, C. Spearman, N. Griffiths, and J. Lynam. As the management committee did not propose to limit lower-grade entries this season, the^ following notice of. motion was 'npt proceeded with: "That no limitation be placed on the number of teams to be entered by junior or lower grade clubs."