0CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22068, 26 September 1933, Page 14

OCRICKET

ALBION CLUB : ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Albion Cricket Club was held in the North Ground pavilion last evening. The president (Mr J. J. Clark) was in the chair and there was an enthusiastic attendance. -

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance, sheet, said that it was the sixty-eighth annual meeting of the club, which was a record *n Australia and New Zealand, and as, the years went on the club's position was improving. It was appropriate that the meeting that night should be held on the North Ground, where the Albion teams had played for half a century. He said that last year had been a very trying one for the committee on account of financial difficulties which had been accentuated by the Government in its introduction of the sales tax and other legislation which meant an additional cost of 30 per cent, on material. Last season had been a very successful one from a j playing point of view. The senior, team had showed up particularly well, and might have won the competition had it not. been for the bad weather conditions. The club's ground had been kept in good condition, thanks to the Reserves Department of the City CouncH, and the conditions for practice this season should be improved considerably as the result of the club obtaining practice wickets in the enclosure of the majn ground at Logan Park. The club was particularly fortunate in having the services of their old friend, Mr J. Clark Baker, as n coach, under whose guidance /the iunior members of the club had shown Considerable improvement. ■ He referred to, the serious effect which sectional clnhs were having on the game, pointing out that juniors were taken in hand by the club and afterwards passed on to secondary schools and, perhaps, the University, where their services were lost. ,He thought that it was a matter that should be taken up by the Otago Cricket Association.' The coming of sectional clubs had had; a serious effect on cricket in other centres- ',

Mr L. J. Joel, in seconding the, motion, said that he was .sorry to see the club not as strong financially as in other years, but still there were times when the club had been in-a worse position, not only in this respect but for players also. He referred to the. difficulty of the younger players passing on to the secondary schools and later playing for University, High School Old Boys, and Christian Brothers, and this position had been made clear to the association when these clubs -had applied for senior status. He was of the opinion, however, that this difficulty would be overcome to some extent by cricketers playing for the, club with facilities in the district in which they resided. He thought, that the club had good reason to be proud of its position and that need have no worries,as to the future.---- ; .::■'■:■';"' -:,'.-.;« :' '";-.-

Mr H. J. Duncan also commented oxi] the teams' performance during the past season* and said that the winning of the fielding trophy by the Frst. Eleven was thoroughly deserved. .He referred to the excellent services rendered to the club by the secretary (Mr H. J. Greenfield), and stressed' the necessity for constant practice by the 'junior members as he was convinced the material was there, and only needed developing: / ,-*- The report "was adopted. •

, The following. office-bearers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Sir James Allen; president, Mr J. J. Clark; L. J. Joel, H: J. Duncan, P. Williams, W. G. Pickard, H. H. S. White, J. H. M'Phee, J. Baker, W. Strachan; J. Abbott, W. A. Divers R. M'Kinlay, C. Hart, J. Wallace, A. Rice, F. N. Binney, G. Wilson, H. Siedeberg,, J; Shepherd, V. Robinson, D* Tannoek, Nevis Cameron, B. Ferguson, Murray Thompson, and Dr Reid; honorary secretary, Mr H. J. Greenfield; honorary 'treasurer^:Mr S. Duncan; J., Barron, W. ' Vorrath, J. A. Murray,, H. Miller, M. Walkenshaw, L. , Henderson, W. Riach, ;: li. Smith, and W, S. Cowie; auditors,,, Messrs,J...H., ; Duncan;,'..an'd..,.J. Samuel; i delegates to the Otago Cricket Association—Messrs F. N. Binney, H. J. Greenfield and D, Reid; delegate to, the Otago.' Boys/ Cricket Association, Mr. C. Conley; delegate to the Sports Protection League, Mr V. Robinson; Selection Com- - mittee, ,'Messrs •H. vYorrath and J; dark Baker; club captain, Mr ,'H.' Vorrath ['; deputy, club captain, Mr J., Barron. ~,? A , special, trophy presented ,by., Mr Murray Thompson, the only, surviving foundation member of the v club, was awarded to Langford Smith, the most ■ improved senior player! » W. B'a'zih secured Mr W. Strachan's trophy for the most > improved junior player. ;:'The services rendered to the club by the <secretary were acknowledged by a presentation made by the chairman. October 7 was fixed as. the opening day of the season. ".."■".- A short discussion ensued on the question of representation on the governing body, and the meeting considered that clubs should have fuller representation on the executive. :-..-',' Four new members; in Messrs D. H. Leigh, T. French, J. Smaill and W. Wilden, were proposed for membership. • The • chairman appealed to those present- to do all in their power to assist the benefit arranged for Mr Alick Downes, who had done yeoman service for the game. : • ~ Votes of thanks were accorded the Otago;Cricket Association, the umpires, Mri W. . Divers .for.the .use;of his", room for meetings, Mr J. Knox for his careful preparation of wickets at , Logan Park, the club captain (Mr H. Vorrath) and the club coach (Mr J. Clark Baker). A length of. wire competition, inaugurated to augment the club's funds, was won by Mr L. B. Falconer (47J inches).