CROQUET COUNCIL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 44, 21 January 1936, Page 10

CROQUET COUNCIL

NEW ZEALAND MEETING. A SOUND POSITION. With a record number of players taking part, the New Zealand croquet championships, which will occupy nearly a fortnight, will open in Palmerston North at 9 a.m. to-morrow. Eleven greens will he in use—five at Northern, tour at Takaro, and. two at Manawatu. Complete arrangements have been made for the control of this important fixture with Mrs W. R. Mayes as tournament manager. Preliminary to tlie championships, the annual meeting of the New Zealand Croquet Council was held to-day, Captain IP. L. Hartnell, of New Plymouth, presiding over a large attendance.

The chairman cordially welcomed the delegates and visitors, expressing the hope that the meeting would be instructive and helpful. Executive oifcers present were: Mrs It. J. Hamilton (vice-president), Mrs W. S. Austin (lion, secretary), Mrs W. E. Caldow (lion, assistant secretary), Mrs A. Rhodes-Williams (hon. treasurer), Mr A. G. F. Itoss (New Zealand referee) and Mrs G. 13. Bartlett (liandicapper). Councillors present were: Mr A. G. F. Boss (Canterbury), Mr A. T. Gibbs (South Taranaki), Mesdames Keesing (Auckland), Hopkins (Hawke’s Bay), Crawford (Wanganui), Boocock (West Coast), Meikle (South Auckland), McLennan (South Canterbury), Mayes (Manawatu). Dalglcish (Otago), Clark (Taranaki), Bassett (Wairarapa), Austin (Wellington) and Caldow (representing clubs). GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP. Congratulating members upon another successful year of operations, tile committee submitted the annual report as follows: “The total membership of the Dominion organisation, computed from the membership lists from associations, is 6163, and is distributed as follows: Auckland 932; South Auckland 553; Canterbury 514; South Canterbury 354 ; Hawke’s Bay 314 ; Manawatu 303; Nelson 98; Otago 402; Southland 215 ; Taranaki 151; South Taranaki 246; Wairarapa 92; Wanganui 251; Wellington 534; West Coast 111; representative clubs, North Auckland, 03. Sixteen new clubs have been admitted to affiliation. This substantial increase in membership is a very clear indication that interest in the sport is being well maintained and that steady progress is being made. Intimation of still further additions would seem to indicate that the close of this season’s activities will find the membership well in the vicinity of 6000. “At the annual meeting held at Auckland in March last, Mr A. G. F. Ross tendered his resignation as editor of the Gazette, finding it impossible to continue in that capacity because of the demands made upon his time by private business. The council very regretfully learned of his decision. Mr Ross had brought a profound knowledge of the game, experience as a player of a very high order, and enthusiasm for the advancement of the sport, into the project, and during the difficult stages of initiation spared no effort to produce a publication which would be a valuable asset to the sport. The council here expresses its deep appreciation of the great service rendered to the sport by Mr Ross. Mrs A. Rhodes-AVilliams was unanimously elected to succeed Mr Ross as editormanager of the Gazette. “In accordance witli the change of date effected at the annual meeting in March last, the council’s year for financial purposes ended on July 31. The balance-sheet thus covers the working of a period of eight months, November 36 to July 31. A notice of motion for an increase in the levy to the amount of 3d per each associate has been placed before associations. The specific purpose to which the additional revenue accruing from such increase would be devoted has been stated in the proposal. AUSTRALIAN TOUR, “The invitation of the Victorian Association for a visit to Australia was duly accepted and a team of four players left New Zealand on January 10, 1935, to compete in the championships, and the Macßobertson Shield contest. The representative team consisted of Mrs V. E. Caldow (Wellington), Mrs IV. N. Corbet (Dunedin), Captain F. L. Hartnell (New Plymouth) and Mr H. P. Stratton (Hawke’s Bay). The manager of the team, Captain F. L. Hartnell, furnished the council with a full report on the team’s visit, also a balance-sheet setting forth in detail the expenditure of the credit note of £75 supplied to him by the council for the expenses of the team while in Australia. The voluntary subscriptions from associations proved inadequate to meet the full expenses incurred, and the lion, treasurer’s statement at the time of the team’s return disclosed a deficit of £27 8s 6d. Several associations very kindly came to the assistance of the council, and the second of the two statements issued showed a reduction, but that £l9 6s still remained to be met. A further contribution of £1 10s 6d from Canterbury and a gift of £lO from a generous interested friend of the sport; by whose expressed desire her name is not published, has now reduced the deficit to the amount of £7 15s 6d.”

“The council acknowledges its great indebtedness to all managers and as-sistant-managers of tournaments and also to all the clubs who so generously placed their lawns at the disposal of the council for the period of time taken by the carrying through of the tournaments and competitions. TOURNAMENT PLAY.

“The principal event cf the season was the Dominion championships. The English players, Colonel du Pre, Mr E. Ward Pet ley and Mr K. Poulter, who were competing in the teste in Australia, thus had an opportunity to compete in our championships. This participation by three of England’s leading players aroused great interest throughout the organisation, and the games in- which they took part were watched by large crowds of interested spectators. The English players visited various centres in the Dominion and everywhere their exhibition games were watched with gieat enthusiasm by local players. Colonel du Pre’s tour through the South Island made excellent propaganda for the sport. The thanks of players right throughout the Dominion are due to these English-friends, who so willingly and so generously sacrificed their time for sight-seeing, which was all too brief, in order that they might place their knowledge, their experience aiid their skill at the disposal of the followers of the'sport in this country. “The X.Y.Z. system of running off the handicap singles was given a trial at the Dominion championship meeting, but after much careful deliberation it has been decided to revert to the previous method of playing this event. A meiPs championship event has been included in the North and South Island championships, but with the stipulation that there must be eight entries or the event will not be played. The re-arrangement of several of the dates for provincial tournaments was successfully accomplished, and it would seem that the present order makes for an arrangement which allows for only a minimum amount of over-lapping. ' The English gold and silver medals for 1934 and 1935, present-

ed by the English association, arrived in New Zealand some months ago. Theso will bo duly presented as convenient for the winners at the Dominion and the South Island' meetings. A new system of compiling handicap lists, suggested by the president (Captain F. L. Hartnell) has been experimented with by several association bandicappers. SUCCESS OF ACTIVITIES.

“A trophy, in compliance with the conditions of the country clubs’ competition was forwarded to Otago Association at the beginning of the season for competition amongst the Central Otago group. These clubs, on account of great distances, cannot take part ill the inter-club competitions arranged by their association. The conditions governing this competition are in the hands of all associations. The executive committee has been most diligent in the affairs of the Dominion organisation throughout the year —all business to be transacted being carried through by the tardy method of correspondence. When it is considered that the various members of the executive are so widely distributed over New Zealand (from the point of view of representation an excellent feature) it speaks in no uncertain way of the interest and enthusiasm of the members of the executive that so great an amount of business is able to be brought so speedily to a successful completion. In conclusion, the committee would again congratulate members on the success which has attended all activities, and would solicit on behalf of their successors a continuation of that hearty support from all ‘sections of the organisation, which has contributed so largely and so signally to the successful conduct of the general business throughout their term of office.”

No definite advice had yet been received concerning' the projected visit by an Australian team, commented the president, but it might possibly eventuate next year, through a call at New Zealand when they ’were en route to England. T[ie report was adopted on his motion, and it was decided that the small financial deficit remaining on the Australian tour of last year should be met by the four players themselves. The financial position of the council, according to the very latest figures, was shown to be exceptionally strong, the accumulated funds now totalling £389 7s 7d, including £125 on fixed deposit. The surplus over working expenses for the bare six months had been £lO5 12s sd. Application was made by the. Rotorua Club for affiliation direct with the New Zealand Council, on account of its comparatively isolated position in the South Auckland Association. The latter advised that it had reluctantly consented to this course of action, and consequently the matter was referred to the executive with a recomnienda tion that the application he "ranted unless circumstances dictated to the contrary.