HOURS OF PLAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 117, 19 May 1937, Page 4

HOURS OF PLAY

HUTT VALLEY CRICKET

"FARCICAL POSITION"

; Speaking at a meeting of the, management committee of the Hutt Valley Cricket Association t last evening Mr. H. N. Jones, the secretary, drew/ attention, to the playing hours at preserit provided by the rules of the association. .. These hours were; quite • inadequate, .said Mr.VJones, who referred to the present, standard of the association's A grade cricket. He said he thought there would liave to be longer playing" time if the: exceptionally large 1 number of draws; recorded last season were to be eliminated.^ ■ :, .■...;.-■' -- ' Whether, it. would be necessary to institute, two-day niatcties or lengthen the hours would be determined in,the future, but' he thought, continued' Mr. Jones,' that it was time the executive' at least considered the. problem and. agreed upon some, recommendations toi the annual meeting. . FAR FROM SATISFACTORY. Mr. F. J. May said that'the-position-was certainly far from satisfactory arid in his opinion there would undoubtedly have to be drastic alterations in, the playing hours. He had played twoday and one-day cricket and he would) certainly not like: .to see the association adopt two-day cricket, even- for ife first grade, At the same time, the present position/ ■ especially 'in- the '-A grade competition, • was farcical.— '■■* '. ' The.acting.chairman,-Mr.-J. E.-Boult, said he realised that: :last season's cricket had revealed a need for longer hours, but he would not like to see'twoday cricket adopted. ; He. agreed with Mr. Jones that the .executive should dis-. cuss the matter and if possible arrive at a solution which might be favourably recommended to the Sinnual meeting. The exceptional growth of the association had greatly improved the standard of play, added Mr. Boult. .-'.- Mr. C. L. W. Elliott quoted the position of players desiring to play- oneday cricket only. Though he realised that two-day cricket did not appear far off, particularly in view of the fact that the Government was planning to increase the population in the Hutt Valley by another • 25,000, he would" not like to see two-day cricket. LONGER HOURS ESSENTIAL. Mr. A.! Hillock said he thought additional hours: of play would: overcome the difficulty- "'■■'. :' . / •■ " : On last season's results longer hours for the A grade team were essential, said Mr. W. Cate.■.'■"■ ' ' '■•• • Mr; Jones: You have all witnessed the growth of- the association and the* resultant improvement in the : standard of play last season. What is going to be the position next season'when in all probability another eight clubs to my knowledge will'be. seeking affiliation? Wickets would cramp some of the games, thus taking much of;the enjoyment out of a game. •■-■ ■ SHORTAGE OF GROUNDS. If, as the secretary had stated, there would be additional teams next season, Mr. May said he thought the ground problem would be an equally difficult problem to.face.. ..'.''. .. " - .'" There would definitely: have to be some improvement in the number of wickets allotted the association if it was to,cater for additional teams, said the chairman. * : ' Further discussion on the hours of play was terminated by the chairman, who accepted a motion that the matter be finalised at a later, meeting. For the benefit of cricket in the Hutt Valley, Mr. Jones suggested that the association, convene a. round-table conference in June; inviting the Hutt, Petone East, and Petone clubs to be represented by three delegates. ..:-. Mr. Boult said'he thought the suggestion was a good one, as it gave cricket bodies an - opportunity of conferring and arriving at mutual arrangements.' '"'•i :. -. . . Messrs. H. N. Jones, J. E. Wilson, and' F.: J. May were elected'to. represent' the Hutt Valley Association. ' Application for affiliation for the 1937-38 season was received from a newly-formed cluh and recommended to the incoming committee.