OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 6054, 7 August 1882, Page 2

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of ti;C cricketers of Dunedin was held in Wain's Hotel qn Saturday evening, for the purpose of discussing the rules of the Otago Cricket Association as lately amended, The president of the Asso ciation (Mr J. P. Maitland) occupied the chair, and there was a very largo attendance, Mr Maitland, In opening the proceedings, remarked that the Otago Association had bppn in existence for six years, and during ail that tin>e had received the continued support of the staunchest crfpksteps who had ever been in Dunedin.-—(Applause.) it had been formed for the purpose of carrying out the arrangements in connection with the interprovincial and other important cricket matches, and acted as the focus of the different cricket ejubs in Dunedin. Ho did not claim perfection for it—-(Mr lI.tLUFAX : Hear, bear,)—but if j there were imper? factions present, and if there had been any diuici}]ty pi carrying out its functions they know very well that it was the cricketers of Dunedin themselves whom they had to thank for such a state of affairs. (Applause.) Ho wished to impress upon cricketers that as the Otago Association had descended to them from the past in no way tarnished by its actions 5 and as it had always been able to maintain its position among the kindred associations of New Zealand very fairly- (hear, hear)— they were now bound to give it a fair, loyal, and honest support.—(Applause.) His connection with the Association had extended over several years, and, although in Ids official capacity as president of the Association ho was generally cognisant of the affairs connected with it, ho had gnjil lately had no idea that there was any disaafefa.ctipn wRh ita pules or working ; at all events complaints had never been brought before either him or the Committee, It was only when the proceedings jp connection with the formation of the Dunedin and Suburban Association were reported in ' the newspapers that it became patent that tirere w; v s a feeling at dissatisfaction with regard to the constitution and the rules of the Otago Association. However, it was not until a system of canvassing had' been inatituH'd in connection with the new Association, and iiutil Mr Cross had had a conference with the Albion Club and was endeavoring to persuade the members of that Club to join his Association, that tills Association began to take steps in the matter. At the hvfe'gestini) of the Albion Club a conference of ’delegates from tua old and now Associations took place, and au a result ocitain amend- f merits of the Otago Association’s rules were suggested, A meeting of the Otago Association" was then he!d ; and these, and even more liberal amendments (as placed before them on J the printed slips) were agreed to, and would come ;nto operatipu on the Ist if September, But oitpr all theip trouble the members of the Otago Association vein doomed to disappointment, for the members of the newlyi'ormed Association took a wrong and unfair course without trying to remedy the evils which they said ousted, for they endeavored to get support for the new Association, which it was intended should take over and carry out tuo functions handed to the Otago Association by the cnckcims of Dunedin. — (Hear, hear, and cries of “No.”) Vcry well, lie was glad to hear gentlemen saying no. Ho had only read the reports, and it seemed to him that certain functions wore intended to be usurped,

Mr Hallifax; Not at all. Mr Maitland continued : He was glad to I hear that “no,” but failed to see how it could bo supported. Ho thought the course pursued by the new Association was an unfair one', and that was where he was at issue with those gentlemen. There was no hard-and-fast programme in connection with this meeting—(laughter) —and, so far as he knew, there were no cut-and-dried resolutions in the hands of any gentleman in the room, except the one he intended to move himself.--(Applause.) The greatest freedom would bo allowed for discussion, and he did not flunk it would, bo necessary feu- him to admonish them to avoid all personalities.— (Hoar, hear.) The proposition he had to place before them was--“That the constitution and rules of the Otago Cricket Association, as lately amended, are generally acceptable to the cricketers of Dunedin.”—(“No” from Mr Hallifax.) A word of explanation, He asked the meeting to support the resolution just in the way that the leader of a Ministry would ask his supporters to support Idm. If the alterations in the main -were acceptable the meeting should so declare, and then set to work to make alterations in matters of detail, as appeared desirable. Notice of motion had been given to limit the choice of Selection and Challenge Cup Committees to the delegates of subscribing clubs ; and the suggested alteration had his hearty support.—(Applause.) Mr M. Cohex seconded the resolution. In times past he heard complaints about the Otago Association. He bad heard them in the cricket-field and out of it, but they had never been given utterance to or brought before the Association in a proper manner.— (Hear, hear.) At the Association meetings these g umblers were always conspicuous by their absence. If there were any grounds for dissatisfaction, it was the fault of those clubs who failed to instruct their delegates, or of the delegates who, if they knew the wishes of their chilis, failed to give them expression.—(Hear, hear.) The action taken by the Albion Club was a ver, commendable one, for they saw where there was room for improvement, and recommended accordingly. The Committee at once took their suggestions into consideration, and, except in one instance, had adopted them almost without alteration. These amendments might have been agreed to years and years ago if the parties concerned had gone the right way about it. As it was. no one could lay the blame at the door of the Otago Association; it was the fault of those who had neglected their duty in not pointing out where it was necessary to make amendments, Mr Hallifax thought the chairman had taken a very singular course in proposing the resolution. The rules should be dealt with seriatim. The Chairman* explained that this could be done after his motion was put. Mr Hallifax : Your resolution ties the hands of the cricketers here this evening.— (Cries of “No” and “Chair.”) He would move—“ That the rules do not meet the views of the meeting.” At the same time, he wished it to bo understood that he was not actuated by any feeling of antagonism to the Association, He wanted to have the rules considered on their merits, Mr J. Harris seconded. Mr J. Allen, who had moved that the rules be considered tn-riaiirn, withdrew his motion temporarily, saying that it was desirable, after the attitude Mr Hallifax had taken up, to press the chairman’s motion to a division, A vote having been taken, and the motion declared to have been earned by a substantial majority, the rules were considered seriatim. There was some discussion on rule 2, giving more than one delegate to clubs of over thirty members, but it was ultimately adopted as printed. The rest of the rules were adopted without alteration with the exception of Nos. 5 and 0, which it was agreed to alter in the direction of limiting the choice of Selection and Challenge Cup Committees to delegates from subscribing clubs. A motion to reduce the subscription to a shilling per member was negatived. Mr Rose asked leave to move tiie following resolution : —“That it is objectionable for any body of cricketers, whether a club, society, union, or other organisation, to embody in its rules any provision which may be interpreted to imply any interference with the functions of the Otago Cricketers’ Association, and especially with the functions of the Match Committee.” “That a copy of this resolution be forwarded by the chairman to the secretary of the Dunedin Suburban Association.” Mr Hamer seconded. The Chairman ruled that such a motion was not in order, Mr Rose, to put himself in order, moved the resolution by way of an addition to the rules, with the second part of it excised. Messrs James Allen, Collinson, .Spring, Wathen, and others expressed the opinion that the purpose aimed at by the mover would bo attained when the Press reported, as doubtless they would, that at this meeting a pretty general feeling was shown that if the new Association, in contradiction of their repeated assurances, acted in a spirit of antagonism to this Association in relation to interprovincial or intercolonial cricket matches, it would be necessary to take some action. All the speakers counselled the withdrawal of the motion as unnecessary at this juncture, and as likely to increase the existing irritation in local cricketing circles. Eventually it was decided that “it is undesirable at present to express any opinion on the subject.” Mr Mead wav, the secretary, intimated that tho Association had decided to offer a challenge cup, of the value of ten guineas, for competition by junior clubs. A vote of thanks to the chairman was moved by Mr W. J. Moore and carried by acclamation.