SENIOR STATUS AT LAST

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12249, 22 September 1925, Page 9

SENIOR STATUS AT LAST

’VARSITY AND KILBIRNIE WELLINGTON CRICKET ASSOCIATION MEET IMPORTANT BUSINESS The annual meeting tff the Wellington Cricket Association was held last evening, Mr M. F. Luckie presiding. A large gathering of delegates, representing the affiliated clubs of the association, were present. The chairman, in rboving the adoption of last season's report and balance-sheet, congratulated the members of the association upon the great advance made in cricket during the last season. Although the representative team had not been quite so successful as til© i>revious season, yet they had defeated both the Victorian eleven and the present Plunket •Shield holders, Otago, while club cricket throughout all grades had undoubtedly made a considerable advancement. '‘The popularity of the game and the enthusiasm of the players are in no degree on the wane," said Mr Luckie. There was every indication that the coming season would be even more successful, both from a financial and a playing point of view, as over. 1000 players would be participating in club competitions. A further notable advancement was the completion of the splendid new pavilion at the Basin Reserve, which not only, made the Basin Reserve undoubtedly the finest equipped cricket ground in the Dominion, but also presented an adequate means by which players might associate with one another off the actual playing field thus fostering the true cricket spirit of good fellowship. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —Patron, His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson); president, Sir Francis Bell, K.C. (re-elected); vice-presidents, Sir John P. Luke, His Worship the Mayor (Mr C. J. B. Norwood), Dr. McBvedy, Colonel Potter, Rev. Father Gilbert, Professor Mackenzie, Messrs J. P. Firth, C.M.G., M. F. Luckie, E. P. Bunny, A. F. Wiren, R. A .Wright, M.P., W. E. Bethune, H. Hall, John Caughley, H. Brice, H. Ryder, T. -R. Cresswell, E. O. Hales, S. TJttley, S. Jacobs, E. W. Hunt, L. T. Watkins, A. F. Roberts, lan Duncan, D. A. Ewen. M. T. J. Thurman, A. Martin, J. H. Murdoch, and H. Amos; hon. secretary, Mr Robert Darroch (re-elected); hon. treasurer, Mr F. W. Martin, (re-elected); management committee, Messrs C. G. Wilson, A. Ronaldson, H. M. McGirr, B. S. Salmon, J. Hutchings, H. J. Buck, W. S. Brice, and P. B. Broad; hon. auditors, Messrs C. E. Stevens and James Mclntosh. CHAMPIONSHIP GRADES Mr C. G. Wilson then rose to propose the following motion? — “That the senior championship matches during the 1925-26 season be played us follow I—“That A and B. grades be deleted, in place thereof one round of five matches be played, in which all clubs participate. , ■ “On the completion of this round of matches, the four leading teams to play off for the premiership, the remaining six teams being drawn to play one another during the Currency of this competition." , In support of the motion, Mr Wilson stated that his long cricket experience bad led him to believe, that if the asso«ciation favoured the proposal as recommended by the special meeting: of. delegates, namely, that the ten senior teams bo graded into two sections; the. A grade to consist of 6 teams and the B grade of 4i teams, including University and Kilbtrnie, then he was firmly of the opin- i ion that an injury would be done to tho standard of Wellington cricket, which would never bo repaired inside of five ; years at the very least. Certainly by the reccommended grading, University and Kilbirnie would be taised to so-called senior status, yet the fact remained thut they would be only playing in a glorified junior grade, with but little prospect of any marked improvement. Also many players would obtain absolutely fictitious averages by playing against mediocre players. On tho other hand, should tlie proposal of playing all the senior teams together for the' first five matches, be adopted, then the 'Varsity and Kilbirnie clubs would be afforded a fair opportunity of displaying their ability. Wellington cricketers at the present time should consider very carefully before deciding to take any step likely to be detrimental to. the standard of play. Mr Wilson's motion was supported by Messrs H. R. Buck, W. S. Brice, J. Hutchings, and H. M. McGirr, and upon being put to the vote of the meeting was earned unanimously. The proposal of Mr P. B. Broad —“That the management, committee may make such rules from time to time as it thinks fit prescribing the qualifications for membership of fjjiy affiliated club," after much discussion, was finally lost.^ On the motion of Mr C. G. Wilson, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Cook for his welcome donation oft, a handsome shield for the senior championship competition.