CRICKET

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 September 1933, Page 12

CRICKET

BRIGHTER CAMB. [per press association.! ' CHRISTCHURCH, September 16. The Canterbury Cricket Association has decided to call a special meeting of delegates to discuss the introduction of one-day competition matches instead of two, aud the awarding to the fielding side of one run for every maiden over bowled, as urged in the proposals by W. H. Winsor, the idea being to brighten the game. AUCKLAND UMPIRES. AUCKLAND, September 14. The Auckland Cricket Umpires’ Assciation has unanimously decided to disband. One member said the root of the trouble was the desire of the Cricket Association to get rid of some of the older and allegedly ineffiicent umpires. Moreover, the umpires were dissatisfied in that they had been overlooked in the selection for the test match against the Englishmen, at Auckland, when Wanganui and Christchurch men had been chosen over their heads. There had recently been a dispute over certain recommendations by the Cricket Association, including the suggested payment of senior umpires of 5s per day. Some considered that a- degradation. ■ • The secretary .of .the Cricket Association said it was taking steps to reconstruct the Umpires’ Association on a different basis. REEFTON CLUB MEETING. '4 z [our own correspondent.] REEFTON, September 15. The annual meeting' of the Reefton Cricket Club was held on Thursday. Present: Messrs 0. Collins, C. Chandler, E. Chandler, R. Chandler, H. Foremn, P. Scott, H. Kearns, J. Goodyer, T. McKenzie, W. Blom. Mr Winchester occupied the chair. A letter of condolence was sent to Mrs Breidstadt.

The report of W. Blom regarding last year’s cricket season was adopted. Election of officers resulted: Patron, Mrs Breidstadt; president, Mr Winchester; vice-presidents: Messrs Bea, J. Irving, McKane, Dr. Marshall; secretary, Mr W. Blom; treasurer, Mr H. Foreman; captain, Mr P. Scott; vicecaptain, Mr McKenzie; selection committee: Messrs Scott, Foreman and Blom; executive committee: Messrs Kearns, Chandler, Collins, Hunt, Foreman, Scott, McKenzie, Blom, and Winchester. The membership fee was fixed at 5-. Mr Wiliams was re-elected umpire and Mr Cutbush scorer. It was resolved that the Secretary, write to the Waiuta and Ikamatua clubs regarding playing at Greymouth. On the opening day, October S, a Married v. Single match will be played. KUMARA CLUB The annual meeting of the Kumara Cricket Club was held on Tuesday. Mr. 11. Hamer presided over a large attendance.

The secretary’s report was read and adopted. It stated: — It is not a matter of great difficulty to write a report of a club’s affairs when these are healthy, and everything is going with a swing, but it is another matter when the club is battling against adversity and when the bottom drops out of the concern. Unfortunately such a position arose during the course of last season, but we can take credit for the fact that the Committee continued to function and endeavoured to retrieve the position as much as possible. The fact that ten general meetings were held demonstrates that the Committee did not lie down .to the misfortunes which crept .over the chib last year. The chief difficulty, was, of course, the finding of travelling expenses. The majority of I the players, would not, or could not, pay, and as the club’s revenue had dwindled, no help was forthcoming ■ and there was no alternative than the withdrawal from the competition. This, of course, affected the interest of both players and supporters. Another factor was the lack of gear for practice, owing to the emptiness of the exchequer. An effort was made to raise funds by means of a euchre tournament, but this resulted in a loss. The dances, too, were run at a loss, and compared very unfavourably with the results of the previous season, the takings averaging but 8/-, which did not pay the rent. As will be seen by the financial statement we still owe the amount of £4/14/-, and our cash in hand amounts to £l/15/-. It is understood that a donation was made to the club by Mr. J. Hassen, but this amount of £1 has not yet been paid in by whoever received it. It is regarded as an asset, and therefore,, it is hoped that such will be paid into the club’s account where it rightly belongs. It is depressing to dwell too much on the past,—what about the future? The future lies in the hands of the members themselves. The secretary and Committee can do nothing alone. The principle that should guide everyone without exception is that if one desires the sport he should be prepared to pay for it. A keen lover of cricket should be prepared to cycle to his game if he was unable to raise a fare, and if he was not keen enough to do that, but was content to sit back and allow others to pay for his sport, he was not of much account, and should cut out cricket and take up tiddly-winks. There is no doubt that there is some fine material in the club and it should be possible to field a strong eleven, but I think that we should start as we mean to go on. It would strengthen our position if it was decided to allow no player to play until he was financial. Make this a rigid rule and we would know where we stand. We have to face facts. Gear has to be purchased and paid for and that cannot be done unless members’ subs are forthcoming. Me should decide, too, what is to be done about travelling, should we consider nominating a team for competition. From our last year's experience it is evident that, players themselves will have to foot the bill if they wish to travel. A. suggestion was made last season that Camerons should combine with Kumara, but this did not come to anything. The mattei might well be considered again should it be found impossible to run a team ourselves. Another idea might bo considered if the players are keen enough. That is to cut out competition games and form two elevens on the lines of the Pirates and Rivals Clubs, so that-a game could be played each Sunday on the home ground. A series of say 8 or 10 games could be played and perhaps a trophy might be forthcoming from a local sportsman. The game is the thing, and if the idea was taken up seriously, and the two teams formed of fairly even

strength, some attractive cricket could be played and the interest of tne people sustained. The matches would have to be played seriously, and players would have to give of their best, and if this was done, the club could be built up strongly again. We are losing support accorded us in the past, through Vice-Presidents sub-, scriptions, and I would like to thank those who so helped us* financially and tried to encourage the sport. Before concluding, I would like to thank the ladies of the refreshment room, especially Mesdames. Sinclair, Seebeck and Cooper, for supplying refreshments; also Mesdames. McNabb and Cooper fur serving afternoon tea to visiting teams, which was appreciated by both visitors and players in the short season that the club functioned. Messrs. Peever and Gilbert paid' tributes to the secretary for the able manner in which he had carried out his duties for the past season, also for the able way he reported on the season’s work, and moved that such be recorded in the minutes. This ivas carried by acclamation. The. balanco sheet was read _ and showed a debit balance, but with a few cash assets to come in, would show a 'small credit. The balance sheet was adopted.

Election of officers resulted:—President, Mr. J. A. Peever; Vice-Presi-dents, Messrs. Wise, F. McGrath, J. Keating, J. Hurren, T. Walker, J. Stewart, J. McFarlane, R. Ford, R. Castles, J. Reedy, H. Stubbs, J. Murphy, A. B. Spiers, W. Inglis, Hearne, H. Hamer,. Dr. Page, and Rev. Hamilton; Secretary-Treasurer, R. W. Cooper (re-elected); Committee, Messrs. J. Gilbert, Greatbatch, A. McNabb, A. Sinclair; Club Capt., A. Greatbatch; Ground Committee, Messrs. A. Sinclair, H. Sinclair, N. McGrath, A. A’Court, L. Cooper; Custodian, A. Sinclair; Scorer, A. McNabb; Umpire, D. McLean; Social Committee, Vice-Presidents and Gem eral Committee; Delegate, R. Cooper. Field Capt., Vice Capt., and Selectors were left over till a later date. Mr. Peever moved that September 30 be the time allowed for members to be financial and that the subscription be same as last season.—Seconded by A; Sinclair, and carried. On the motion of Messrs. Greatbatch and Cooper the Vice-Presidents’ fees were fixed at 5/-.

Messrs. Cooper, McLean apd Greatbatch were invited to inspect ground and report so as the secretary could write to Unemployment Board for labour for work to be done. Mr. McLean moved and Mr. Gilbert seconded that the secretary write to the Fire Brigade regarding use of room for meetings for coming season. —Carried.