MERCANTILE LEAGUE

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 3

MERCANTILE LEAGUE

HOURS OF PLAY CHANCED

Enthusiasm ~ of .a .high.,.,order was shown at the annual-meeting .of the Wellington Mercantile Cricket League last night. Mr. J. J. Furlong pfesided. In moving' the; adoption,'of- thi» annual report, and balance-sheet, ; Mr. Furlong reviewed the-past season. } It had bsen .particularly successful,, he said, a total' of Tl teams' having taken part in the club competitions. ivir.Jf'uriong expressed the opinion that .a factor tnat had tended , to' spo»l the play, besides inclement- weather-condi-tions on several occasions, was the bad wickets encountered on .a. few of . the grounds, but the strong representations made to the City Council-consequent upon these conditions, had beeji without success. It, was a waste of time going to that "sacrosanct, body called the parks and reserves committee," -said Mr. Furlong, and the only thing to.be done was to prove to them,.by putting them out of, office at the next municipal election, : that :-the.- Mercantile Cricket League really carried a good. : deal of weight behind it. . ■ ; ' . Reference was made to the cordial relations between the! league and the Rugby Union, which had placed Ath-, letic Park at the- league's disposal during the season. Eulogistic reference was also made to the good work,of-the groundsmen at Athletic Park in. keeping the wicket in such' an' excellent condition. . In conclusion, Mr. Furlong paid''a tribute to the retiring management committee, which had done a tremendous amount of work behind -.-.the scenes. ■ . . . . ' .- ■ ■ ■ ; It -was decided to : commepce all championship games at, 2 p.m. and finish them at 6.15 pjn. .':■■• •. .' On the ground that too great a competitive spirit was creeping into- the matches, a motion was sponsored "by Mr. G. Cox advocating that the points awarded in the inter-club' matches should be reduced to 3 for. a win. and 1 for a draw, but.this was defeated by a large majority. , , .S;. ,■;'.' A motion proposing that the-league should pay all umpires' expenses was adopted and several new Jules,' giving the management committee the powex to suspend any player or. club for-dis-puting an umpire's decision or for any other misconduct, were incorporated in the constitution. ' . The following officers were elected: —Patron, Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P-; president, Mr. D.-'A, Ewen: vice-presidents, Messrs. J. Adams, J. Cable, C.E. Dowland, C. W. Earle, C.M.G., A;'W. Gibson, E. Gornall, E. O. • Hales,- J. H. Halligah, P. L. Laurenson, G.. H. Loney, G. E. Miller.^D.:~Muir; : J- G. MacKenzie, D. McKenzie,: J t O'Sullivan, W. H. Preston, A. >:P> Smith, J. Young, E. D. Martin; .life^members, Messrs. G. Buckman, A.E. Cafe, Hi J. Lawrence, A. C. Croll, B. L. Thompson; secretary, Mr. G. P. Aldridge; hon. treasurer,-Mr.. S. W. Margin; recording secretary, Mr. E. R. Martin; imanagement Committee, Messrs. J. J." Furlong (chairman), N. Aldridge, X. F. Casey, A. A. Jennings, W; R; vKintf, E. R. Martin, S. W. Martin.'J.iMcTVrthur,1 B. F. Whitmore, J. Young;-hon. auditors, Messrs. J. Kelly and C. W. Robinson; hon. solicitor, Mr. C. H.Arndt. - ;