CRICKET UMPIRES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1934, Page 4

CRICKET UMPIRES

ANNUAL MEETING

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES

Men whose playing days are long over but who still retain a deep appreciation for cricket sat round the table at the .annual meeting of the Wellington Cricket Umpires' Association last evening. Mr. W. Toomath presided over a good attendance..

in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, extracts from which have appeared in "The Post," Mr. Toomath said that during the winter the association .had lost two of its members, Messrs. T. Plant and W. J. Chatfield. At his request members 6tood in silence for; a few seoonds as a mark of .respect. The appointments to games, continued Mr. Toomath, hud been well kept throughout the season, • and in view of the association's continued agitation it was pleasing that for the CanterburyWellington i'lunket Shield match one of tlfc umpires was from outside Wellington. It had long been the view of the association that for representative matches in Wellington in which Wellington players were engaged umpires from other centres should be appointed as far as possible and that the services of Wellington umpires should be used for matches outside Wellington. The balance-sheet, Ihe said, required no comment. There was a balance of £3 11s 9d. He thanked the secretary-treasurer (Mr. L. T. Lambert) for the way the report had been put 'before the meeting, Tho annual report and balance-sheet were adopted, and it was agreed' that a special tribute should be, incorporated in the report to the sen-ices of Mr. LamReference was made to the illness of two members, Messrs. S. H. Ferguson and I. Kelliug, and suitable resolutions were recorded. Invited by the chairman to speak, Mr. C. G. Wilson said he felt that the Umpires' Association was doing an enormous amount of good for cricket. As he had said previously, the cricketers of Wellington owed a deep debt of gratitude to the umpires, who gave up their time week after week for cricket. Mr. Wilson said he was pleased to hear Mr. Toomath refer to the question of the appointment of umpires from other centres for' interprovincial matches. He was strongly in favour of outside umpires being appointed; according to their ability, for representative matches in Otago, Auckland, Canterbury, and Wellington. The argument of expense had been raised against the plan,' but only a few pounds were involved and in his view it was well worth the small cost. The following officers were elected:— Patron, Mr. C. A. Richardson; president, Mr. C. G. Wilson; vice-presidents, Messrs. W. J. Stevens, W, A. Armour, 4 L. Holloway, R. G. Ridling, F. M. Renner, CvE. Stevens, W. G. Reid, A. F. Wiren,- H. J. Buck, H. P. F. Blundell, T, Bi-odie, R. F. Steele; chairman, Mr. W. Toomath; lion, secretary-treasurer, Mr. L. T. Lambert; representative on the Wellington Cricket Association, Mr. 11. F. Steele; examination and appointment comrhittee, Meesrs. L. T. Lambert, C. A. Webb. D. L. Burns; management committee, Messrs. D. MeKenzie, D. Rust, E. W. Watts. It was decided to revert to the system of holding fortnightly meetings of the association, instead of having a meeting once a month. •