CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 15

CRICKET.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING HELD. GAME MAKES GOOD PROGRESS. The annual meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association was held last evening, Mr. F. Earl, K.C., presiding over a large attendance of delegates. The forty-fourth annual report stated the cricketing public and supporters of the game in Auckland had every reason to feel satisfied with the progress the] game had made arid the results achieved j during the season 1926-27, and in view of the distinct advance which had lately been apparent in the cricket of the Auckland district, and in that of the Dominion, still better results in the future were confidently looked for. The game was arousing greater interest than ever among the youth of the district, and much enthusiasm was being shown. Consequently, a further increase in the number of associated clubs and in the attendance at. inter-club and representative matches was to be expected. Cham pionship matches were played m five grades, and also a secondary schools grade. The winners were as follows: — Senior grade, Eden; senior B grade, Eden and North Shore, equal; second grade, A section, Y.M.C.A. and North Shore, equal; second grade, B section, Akarana; third grade, Epsom; fourth grade, Herald ; secondary schools. Mount Albert Grammar School. l'he Auckland representative teain won all three mterprovinciai matches, and with them the Plunket Shield Auckland beat Canterbury by five wickets, Otago by 142 runs, and Wellington by three wickets The match against the touring Melbourne team was drawn, Auckland scoring 284 and 171, and Melbourne 308 and 104 foi six wickets Congratulations were tendered to C F W Allcott, C. C Dacre and J. E .Mills on their inclusion in the first New Zealand cricket team to visit England The various grounds had been improved during the season, and there was every prospect of further improvement during the coming season. The deaths of Sir Henry Brett and Mr R. J Clark had removed two very keen supporters of the game, lhe former had left a bequest of £4OO to the association. During the winter the rules had been revised along the lines of those in force in New South Wales. The Otago and Canterbury representative teams would visit Auckland during the coming season, while the match against Wellington would be played in Welling ton, probably in January. The public could also look forward to a match against the Australian team which is to visit the Dominion m February next. In reviewing the balance-sheet the chairman said the association had started the year with a debit of £6O 8s Bd, and had finished with a debit of £45 16s 4d. This did not look a good result, but considering the whole of the expenses of the Southern tour had been met, and that £125 had been paid to New Zealand Cricket, Limited, the financial opera tions were better than they had been before. The legacy of £4OO left to the association by Sir Henry Brett had come at a most opportune time. There was an excess of assets over liabilities of £504 3s 6d, a position the association had never been in before. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. ♦The following officers- were elected:— Patrons. Sir James Coates and Mr. N. T Williams; president, Mr. F Earl, K C.; vice-presidents, Dr. H. C. Bennett, Dr A. McGregor Grant. Messrs G T. Bayly, G F. Francis, C. W. Garrard, Carlton Hay. H. Hay ward, S. Hesketh, R B Lusk, E „E Nalder, A N Snedden; management committee, Messrs E. C Beale (Eden), G Jackson (North Shore), R W Dow (Parnell), H. Horspool (Grafton), J H Miller (Y.M.C.A.), W J Smeeton (Uni versity), N C. Snedden (Ponsonbv). J W Bennett (secondary schools). D V Moore (primary schools), and Messrs I Nalder, Hay and Lusk (vice-presidents); hon secretary ,Mr N H E Hoekin; hon. treasurer, Mr. J H Watts; life "members, Messrs Carlton Hay and K J Ohlson; hon auditor, Mr. P hj,. Fraser. A vote of thanks was accorded Mr. E. C Beale for the work he had done during the past season, especially in connce- , tion with the revision of the rules On the motion of Mr N C. Snedden it was decided thai a lettei should lie written to the Mayer. Mr G Baildon, expressing appreciation of his efforts, and also'those of the Parks Committee, in supplying playing areas and in improving the condition of tho playing .areas at present in use, and pointing out the present need of a playing-field in the Epsom district, and assuring him of the whole-hearted support of cricketers and the cricket-loving public of Auck land in any proposition he might bring forward in converting that ground into a playing area.