PETONE'S STATUS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 18, 19 October 1936, Page 6

PETONE'S STATUS

W.C.A. AFFILIATION RETAINED

The Petone Cricket Glub is to remain affiliated with the Wellington Cricket Association notwithstanding the recent dissatisfaction expressed by members* of the club at the club's relegation to junior status. This decision was reached at a special meeting of members of the club held on Saturday afternoon in the cricket pavilion at Petone. Although the proposal to affiliate with the Hutt Valley Association was brought forward, the matter was put to the vote, and the majority of those present were found to be in favour of continuing as at present, at least until the end of the season, wjhen the. matter may be viewed in a different light. ■ ■ • ■ ■The Petone Club.: last season, held senior status in cricket, • but a recent decision of : the Wellington • Cricket Association's management committee reduced the club's ranking. The decision of the ■ management committee was appealed against, but the association replied that it would not reconsider its ruling. . . It is considered that a satisfactory reason has not been given as to why the club has been relegated. The club was only sixth out of the eight clubs on the championship ladder. As a result of the association's decision it has lost the opportunity of . gaining many * new members, including a Plunket Shield representative.

;. Three solutions were offered the meeting. The club could remain under the Wellington Cricket Association's jurisdiction as a junior club, join the Hutt Valley Association, or dissolve the club. The position was explained by Mr. H Smith, chairman of the management committee of the club. There was no guarantee, he said, that if they won the second grade competition they would again be promoted.

Mr. M. F. Nicholls said he would not play under the Wellington Cricket ■Association. ' Mr. H. E. Nicholls said he would not play under the Wellington Cricket Association as, a protest against its treatment of the xlub. •

'■ Mr. L. Pointon said it -would b"e: a. pity to see the club go out of existence Until they were certain that the team could not regain senior status. The club had been relegated as a result of lobbying during the off season. Petone had had a raw deal. Mr. M. F. Nicholls moved that the club affiliate with the Hutt Valley Cricket Association this year, but the motion was lost. For this season at least, the club will remain as a junior club' under the jurisdiction -of the W.C.A. , - '

During the afternoon a match was played between married and single members; , " • ■