CRICKET DISPUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 60, 10 February 1925, Page 3

CRICKET DISPUTE

DELEGATES OR MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE. QUESTION OF RULES. Tho rulos governing local cricket and its management, which aro admitted by members of tho association to bo faulty and obtuse, have boeu tho cause of considerable discussion at recent meotings of the governing body. At last week's meeting of tho management committee tho chairman (Mr F. J. Oakley) had ruled two members of the committee ineligible to vote on a motion deferring consideration of tho protest which had been lodged by tho Railway Club against any championship points being awarded to Old Boys, the winners of tho game in which these two club 3 had recently participated, on the grounds that the latter club had played two unregistered members. The chairman's action had been governed by the rule which states that no delegate is eligible to vote if it is unfinancial with tho association, he maintaining that, although members of the committee, they were, nevertheless, delegates under the reading of tho rule.

As the outcome of v its recent meeting, the Old Boys' Club entered a formal objection to the chairman's ruling that they wero still delegates of the Old Boys' Club—which was unfinancial with the association —whereas they contended that they were no longer delegates, but members of the management committee and eligible to vote on any question that came up for consideration so long as they complied with the attendance clause, and that the fact that the club for which they played was not financial at the time had no bearing on the case. Mr Oakley explained that he had not refused to allow Mr Bennett and the Old Boys' delegates to vote. They had voted on the matter before tho meeting and he had merely ruled the Old Boys' delegates (Messrs Brace and Hope) out of order on the grounds that the club they represented was unfinancial. Mr Bennett, however, had been elected to the committee ex officio as treasurer to tho association and had been quite eligible to vote. He, further, took exception to the statement made by Mr Bennett at the mooting of the Old Boys' Club relative to the . High School Club being unfinancial and allowed to vote. Such was quite incorrect, for High School had paid its does on December 1, Mr Bennett signing tho receipt. Explaining his action in ruling out tho Old Boys delegates on the grounds he had adopted, the chairman staled that he had not been aware at the time that there was equal voting on the motion, otherwise ho would have exercised his casting vote. Messr3 Brace and Hope explained that they had assumed that Mr Bennett had been included as an Old Boy delegate under the chairman's ruling. Mr Bennett, they felt, had considered he had been likewise included. The chairman reiterated his remarks to the effect that Mr Bennett had not been included, ho being an official of the association. Referring to the clauso contained in tho letter relative to attendances, the chairman stated that he failed to see just what tho club referred to and under what rule such a statement was' lodged. A general discussion ensued relative to tho terms "delegate" and "member" and the interpretation of the rules in general, opinions differing. Mr Anderson maintained that, if the committee was composed of delegates, each club should bo represented on the management committee. The confusion in the interpretation of the word "association" and its composition was, no doubt, due. he added, to the fact that some years ago the association had been composed of two delegates from each of the affiliated clubs and the rules had not been amended to meet the present conditions relative to tho election of the management committee. The chairman maintained that he had given a ruling wherein he had held that the association was composed of delegates from tho clubs, and an expression of opinion disagreeing with such would amount to a vote of censure. He failed to find a rule governing the matter at issue and accordingly could not accept such a protest. He further explained that a motion disagreeing with his ruling could be brought forward but it would not alter tho position. Step3' wero then taken to expedite the consideration of the Railway Club's protost and the original counter-protest lodged by Old Boys and, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr Hubbard, it was decided that, in view of the possibility of Mr Anderson not being present at the meoting of the committee on the 16th inst.. the protests bo considered at a special meeting of tho committee to be held to-morrow evening. The chairman stated that he had been of tlie fixed opinion that all the senior clubs should bo represented at the meeting when the protests wero considered. Mr Smith was accordingly appointed delegate for tho R.S.A. Club vice Mr R. T. Inman who has left the district, and will thus "be given the opportunity of attending. The election of a treasurer was, however, hold over till noxt meeting, the secretary to carry out the duties pending such appointment.