CRICKET SEASON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 258, 28 September 1935, Page 6

CRICKET SEASON

PREPARATIONS AFOOT. GOVERNING BODY MEETS. With an important season ahead, the programme of activities including Hawke Cup challenge matches— the local association being the holders of the trophy and the Dominion championship where the minor cricketing associations are concerned—and a visit from the English eleven in January, matters were put in train last evening for the entry upon the 1935-36 season by the holding of the annual meeting of the Manawatu Cricket Association. The chairman of last year’s management committee (Mr A. M. Ongley) presided over a large and enthusiastic attendance of club delegates. The clubs represented were:—Palmerston, Old Boys, United. City Council. Y.M.C.A., High School, Massey College, Kiwi, P.D.C. and Technical : School, while the Feilding and Horowhenua Sub-Associations and the Umpires’ Association were also , represented. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. E. Mnnsford (president), F. J. Oakley. W. E. Norris, B. J. Jacobs and Nichol (Foxton Sub-Association).

The report (previously published) and balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr J. R. Hardie, , the balance-sheet showing a credit of £37 19s lOd on the year’s operations, while the accumulated fund stood at £l6O 4s Id. In speaking to the report, Mr Ongley remarked that there was much tor congratulation when one looked back on the past season. From a cricketing point of view it had been particularly successful, for the Manawatu representatives had met, with the exception of Waikato, all the strong associations in the Dominion, and, after fulfilling all challenges, had retained pos- j session of the Hawke Cup. and had won the right to be considered the strongest minor association in New Zealand. Apart from the success of j its representatives in the representative engagements, its inclusions in the Town v. Country match had shown that they were fully the equal of Plunket Shield players, and that con-

tontion had been fully borne out later in the season when a strong Wellington team had visited Palmerston 'North. Indeed, in his 31 years’ experience of local cricket, he felt that the standard of the game had reached its highest pinnacle last season. While, some of the associations had possibly experienced difficulties, the Manawatu Association had prospered, while the two sub-associations, Feilding and Horowhenua, had conducted their own competition (matches successfully and had prospered. It was pleasing that in addition to the high pinnacle which had been reached on the playing field, , the finances of the association had slso leached their highest point, and that happy state of affairs had been attributable to one gentleman and one only. , Mr It. A. Brace. When Mr Brace had ] ! taken over the duties of secretary the • i finances of the association had been I at a low ebb, but by careful nursing ] he had built them up. However, if all j I the suggestions which had been ad- , vanced for the incoming season were j carried out, his difficulties would be I greater than ever. In connection with , jthe visit of the M.C.C. team, the

association -would have to find its guarantee of £125, while there would be fees in connection with the proposed coach. If all the schemes were carried out the secretary would have a very hard row to hoe. However, everything pointed to a successful season, for puhlic interest had awakened, and the presence of tho Hawke Cup would maintain the interest of the players, vylule the association had not been able to keep in touch with tho sub-' associations ns much as possible, the suggestion that the Goldfinch and Cousins Cup lie devoted for competition among the sub-associations and bouthein Hawke’s Bay, if acted upon, would bring all into closer touch and remedy that defect. The association nad been fortunate in forming an Umpires Association last season, and it nad proved to be a great success for jt had filled a long felt want. It would ho welcome news to the players to <?ain that the Umpires’ Association would be again functioning this year, concluded the chairman. Mr Hardie endorsed the chairman’s remarks, particularly in respect to tlie L°f e j el i < i es to Brace, and congratu- „! d the association on the splendid season it had experienced. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers for the incoming season resuJted : —Patron, Mr j Mr I d aS w Ar' 1 ' / re : e, „ ecte <l); president, Mr A. E. Mansford (re-elected); chair--I'la n, r ’management committee, Mr f- + • Ong ley (rc-elected); vice-presi-dents, Messrs T. R. Hodder, W.PegL. Fitzherbert, B. J. Jacobs, I’. J. Oakley, W. B. Cameron, J. Hodgens and E.-Houlihan; secretary and treasurer, Mr It. A. Brace (re-elected); delegate to New Zealand Cricket Association, Mr H. M. Chrystal (re-elect-cd); honorary auditor, Mr K. S. Glendinning (re-elected); management comnnttee, Messrs W. H. Wilson, E. Weir, J. R. Hardie, G. Griggs, G. Dawick, ft' "• ,y erry (High School representative), N. Gallichan (Horowhenua SubAssociation). Referring to the suggested Goldfinch and Cousins Cup competition, the chairman explained that, if the eubassociations and the Southern Hawke’s Bay Association were favourable to it, a conference would be called to draw up regulations and frame rules governing the competition. Mr T. Donaldson (Feilding) explained that the annual meeting of the Feilding Association had not yet been held, but the members had discussed the proposal and had viewed it very favourably. Mr R. S. Redward (Kiwi Club), in urging that the ground fees of junior B teams be reduced, stressed the indifferent- wicket players in that grade had been called upon to play on, and moved that it lie a recommendation that the ground fees for junior B teams be reduced from 8s 3d to 5s 6d per match. Mr E. Weir supported Mr Redward in his contention and the chairnmn stated that the matter would be considered by the incoming management committee.

The chairman asked whether the clubs were desirous of introducing the higher wickets into the lower grades this season.

Mr 11. A. Stone (United) stated that his club would not be in favour of it on the ground of expense, for it would mean the- replacement of the material in the possession of the club. The chairman explained that that atI titu.de would probably govern the acjtion of the management committee.

Referring to the opening date, the * chairman was oi>tiniistic that it would be possible to enter upon activities on October 19. However, the matter would be definitely determined by the management committee. Mr Redward paid a tribute to the valuable services rendered to cricket locallv, particularly in the Wednesday and junior competitions, by Mr J. A. ] McGavin, of the Combined Services 1 ( Club, who had been transferred from b Palmerston North, and he moved that!-, a letter expressing the association’s ap-! f preciation be forwarded to Mr Me-!, Gavin. 1 The chairman supported the speaker, jj stating that Mr McGavin had been ; ] largely responsible for bringing into A cricket many young men as members] of the Combined Services Club, while I 1 he had been a real enthusiast. It was ! decided to adopt Mr Redward’s sugges- j * tion. . 0