OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18052, 28 September 1920, Page 8

OTAGO CRICKET ASSOCIATION

The ;mnual meeting of the Otago toickob Atbociatiozi was held Just uight, when thero was a very Lugo atU-ndancu of The president (Mr A. Martin) occupied this chair. Jii moving thu udoplion ol the unuual report and baiaucu sliest the ehainnan siii«l that their crickctors hatl maintained their inlejott in the game right up lo the end of thu .seat-on. Trams luitl visited Wyndham, the (joldlields, North Utugo, ami Owaka. The team which had visited Owaka hiul IkiU a memorable trip. They had been greatly impressed by the cutinißinam shown by the Owaka cricketcre. The players at Owaka loved the game, and were doing their utmost to foster it> chiefly for the take oi the boys who were growing up in the district. During the past season their ericket had gone ahe-ad, in spik* of jidYcrce circumstances and the bad weather experienced at the beginning of the reason. They could, he was Mire, look forward with a great deal of optimism to the owning season. They anticipated that teams from Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury * would visit ))imcdin this season. The visit of these teams would give a great impetus to the game, and it behoved players to go in for plenty of practice and get themselves lit. If they would put their shoulders to the wheel he had no doubt that their players would acquit themselves well on the cricket fields thte season. They looked forward to the time when they would be free of debt—free from the incubus which had bo long held them back. He was glad to Bay. that there was every prospect that this debt would eoon bn wiped out. According to their balance sheet, they had a debt of some £200, but with the promises they had ho believed that they would pee themselves out of debt very shortly.—("Hoar, hear.") He had to particularly thank Messrs C. 13. Smith and L. .Joel for their work in collecting money to assist in liquidating the debt.— (Applause!) They hoped beioro long to do something for school cricket. If they could not afford to engage a professional coach, they might try to make some arrangement whereby the older cricketers could visit the schools and stimulate the interest of the boys in their great summer pastime. It had been common talk for some time that there were too many senior teams. That would be a matter for the incoming oommifctee to consider, probably if they had fewer teams the competition would be keener, and a greater incentive would be given to the younger playere to try to get into the senior teams— (Applause.) MrHS. J- Clark seconded the motiou, which was

carried. Mr G. A. Wychcrley moved:—"That the necessary alterations be in the rules to admit of the general business of the as-soclation being conducted by a committee consisting of the president and five members, to be appointed bj* what is at present known as the Executive Committee, the smaller committco to report to the executive at- Btafccd intervals." Mr J. itamsden seconded the motion. Mr Clark mov<jd as an amendment: "That the necessary alterations be made in the rules to provide ior grade cricket being controlled by a committee consisting of the president and five members." Mr F. Binnie seconded the amendment. Both amendment and motion were defeated. The election of officers resulted as follows: — President, Mr Crosby Morris; vice-presidents-Messrs A. Martin, J. J. Clark, L. J. Joel, C. Todd; secretary and treasurer, Mr E. S. Wilson; committee- -Messrs J. llobson, L. Casey, E. Rowlands, A. Galland,* A. Resiicnux, G. A. Wychcrley, A. W. Alloo, J. H(dg, F. Binney, E. A. Xicol; j auditors—Messrs G. Pickard and G. G. Austin. ; It was decided to recommended the executive | to open the season on October 00. Mr Robson said that he had to move, on behalf of the Dunedin Club—" That it be a recommendation to the executive that there should be not more than six senior teams this year." He thought that, with fewer teams, there would bo an increase in the interest in the game, and that their cricket would be improved. Mr Restieaux seconded the motion. Mr Dunn said he was not in favour of the proposal. The Chairman said that, if one of the teams dropped out there wouid then be an uneven number. It would not be in the interests of the game that a team should have a bye, and if one team would drop out it looked as ii another team, would have to be taken out to make an even number* Mr Haig said the bigger the competition the better he liked it. He did not think eight senior teams were too many. Mr Wycherley said he intended to support - the motion. He could not agree with the contention that the larger the number of teams the stronger the cricket* With fewer senior teams the lower grades would automatically be strengthened. After further discussion the motion was carried by 11 votes to 8. Mr W. Higgins said in faoe of the motion just carried he considered that no club should have moro than one senior. team. He would move that it be a recommendation to the executive that no club should be allowed to enter more than one senior team. Mr Casey seconded the motion. Mr Con" Cameron said he would strenuously oppose the motion. He took it that the Management Oommittee would select the six strongest elevens, irrespective of whether two came irom the sdrae club. Mr Restieaux said there was no doubt about it that they had not sufficient senior players to make up eight senior teams. The motion was lost, eight voting for it and 11 against. The Chairman mentioned they had to remember that if . the Carisbrook Club had entered , only one team it would have easily been the strongest in the competition. The club, however, had entered two teams in the general interests ol the game.— (Hear- hear.) : Mr Wycherley moved—"That this meeting is of tlw opinion that a oommitteo comprising representatives of the sports bodies concerned should be formed lor the purpose of assisting the Reserves Committee of the City Council in the matter of grounds for the use of such bodice." Mr Robson seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Nichol said he would like to suggest that the executive should take into consideration the question of inaugurating a competition for youths under 18 years of age. The secretary read the following telegram he had received from Mr J. Peake, of Christehurch: " Otago advise unable to arrange £1000 for two matches against English team- Could they guarantee £600, one match. There is a strong probability tour being financed if Otago comes in. Must have definite reply Tuesday." Mr Winsor also telegraphed from Christchurch: u Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury have found guarantee of £1000 each for two matches." Mr. .Restieaux moved that the action of the executive' in declining any guarantee be approved. , He said that in their financial position they coulc not consider the proposal ; Anyway he did nol approve of the English team at all.—(Hear, hear.] Tli» first thing the players of an English toair did when they came here was to dissociate themselves from the local players. They could get a first class team if they desired it from Australia.— (Hear, hear.) Mr Robson seconded the motion, which wa< carried.