OTAGO CRICKET UMPIRES' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14156, 7 March 1908, Page 12

OTAGO CRICKET UMPIRES' ASSOCIATION.

SOCIAL EVENING. The Otago-Criokct Umpires' Association held a social evening in the Carlton Rooms iast evening. There was a gathering representative of cricketers and of other sports, and Mr G. Nelson (president •. of the Umpires' Association) presided. ■•In .proposing the.toast of "The Otago Cricket Association," Mr Nelson' said rho thanks of cricketers were due to the association for the manner in which it had helped on the interests of the game. This, considering tho state of tho association's finances was to be considered all tho mora praiseworthy, Tho association was further to be thanked for tending a team north during tho past season The probability was that the associations' in the other centres, if they had been in a similar position in regard to finance, would Have . allowed the trip 10 have fallen through. Mr C. 11. Smith, in responding to the toast of the association, said he ivould like to express his appreciation of the good work undertaken by the Umpires' Association. On behalf of cricketers generally he ' could say that they reposed tho fullest 'confidence in the Umpires' Association. They knew tho meinbers of that association to be straightforward and honourable men, who would no more think of givine a wrong decision than thoy would of flying. Umpires might make mistakes on occasions, but what man did not make mistakes? The service that had been rendered to cricket generally by the Umpires'. Association was certainly very highly appreciated. It was gratifying to see how th 0 members of tho association, Saturday alter Saturday, volunteered their services in the interests of the game. In regard to the acceptance ot umpires decisions by th 0 older members' of tho game, there might have been unfortunate occasions where decisions were ' not accepted in the way they should have been, but he did not think that senior players were accustomed to questioning the ! decisions of umpires. In regard to 'th& question of one-day matches, ho.did not think it advisablo to institute such a, system It ; would be extremely .detrimental to onoket. In many instances it would in all probability result in some members of a team not being, given an • opportunity of batting, and that certainly would not tend to sustain interest in the R imo. Hi ■ might say that a team had just been organised to take part in a cricket match next Wednesday which should prove highly interesting. The team would be oho of veterans, and would include his Worship the Mayor, an ex-president of the Chamber of Comerce, and the chairman of the Stock ' Exchange. In conclusion, the Cricket Afsociation had the fullest confidence in the : Umpires' Association,' and thanked■ that body for the assistance giver in pushing forward the grand old game. J .Mr Hamel, in proposing the toa6t of "Aftiliated Clubs," remarked that it. would be a good thing if umpires'-decisions, were accepted in the 6ame spirit by senior ■ players as by junior players, who set a good example in that respect. Taking the game all round, however, players gave the umpires every assistance in their efforts. Mr A. Bagley proposed the toast of Utago Representatives, Past and Present," and 111 doing so gave 6ome interestins '' reminiscences. . .

.Messrs R. Harper and Siedeberg responded. Mr Siedobe.rg had something lo say about umpiring in general. The- umpiring; in Dunedin, he said, was at times ted, but one fact to be remembered was that they had two,or three umpires in Uunedm who. would compare with anyone m I\ew Zealand. As to the Otago representative match with Auckland, the umpiring on that opusion was vile, and the Auckland men were of the same opinion on the matter. , . • .. '•'■

oln proposing the. toast of "Kindreil Sports, Mr 1 H. Campbell said cricketer. ■ had much to thank the Otago Rugby Union lor in taking over the Carisbrook Ground'. Alio Amateur Ground Company had been sL H. op r"i""? ¥ the sround **«f ■■' wnl »\ °{ the 0 - R ' F -U.. cricket would notreceive that amount of attention should receive, but the company wai ultimately convinced that the grourin would ' be looked after, and he confidently ffig oUT the ground byaRFU. was tho very best 'thing hat wSe kV6 Tt h r e 1 6d f ° r &''"° **£ as a ■ 5 /? t0 h * Messrs J. Burt (football); and' Austin fo-mnaitics), '-.■■■ <■•' During the evening a splendid musical programme was presented. The arrange hands, of Mr D*Smyth (sedretary). ,