CRICKET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24413, 26 September 1940, Page 5

CRICKET

OTAGO ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES SOUND FINANCIAL POSITION The sixty-fourth annual meeting of the Otago Cricket Association was held last night. The president (Mr A. H. Allen) occupied the chair, and there was a large attendance of delegates from the various Clubs. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman said that the report was a particularly full one. He referred to the death of their old and highly esteemed friend. Mr J. M. Fraser, whose name, he said, would be found amongst their records for good work for very many years. He would say without fear of contradiction that they had never had a greater stalwart in the game than Mr Fraser, as a player, an administrator, an enthusiast and a supporter of the finances of the association. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect. , . , The speaker referred to Country Week. He thought that this form of competition had been of great value, not only to the players from the country, but also to the city players. He said that it was unfortunate that the time for the games was not suitable. They had never yet had a full representation from the various counties. Last year only three teams had competed, whereas they had expected six. He hoped that in the future there would be a greater representation than in the past. The Endowment Fund Mr Allen devoted some time to discussing the Endowment Fund of the association. He had noticed from the reports of the annual meetings of various clubthat it had been suggested contributions -to the fund should be suspended in the meantime. He strongly disagreed with this idea. He thought would be a retrograde step. If it were adopted, it would prove one of the bard est knocks Otago cricket had had tor many years. Not less than five' y e^. s th aß a the association had been faced With a debit of several hundred pounds, with no assets at all. Then the Endowment Fund halMi launched and they had made im ail -iheir- leeway. v They had 9d fir Credit with the fund, and also a credit* of' £7l 2s 3d profit on the year from-Income and expenditure. There was in addition, a sum of £l5O due by ciuns and from ground fees. They would sec, therefore, that they had a reserve of £B4O, and no debts at all. From a _deblt of £3OO. five years ago they had a credit that dav of approximately £Boo.—(Applause.) He did not think anv player would seriously want to go back to the old order of things, and he personally looked forward to the day when , they would be able to do even more for me game. As they knew, they had set them selves to raise a sum of £2OOO. • Mr Allen paid a tribute to the support given to the association by followers of the game, and said that ground members had contributed £ISOO since the inauguration of the ground membership scheme to meet current expenses, etc. Cricket In War-time The speaker stressed the need for keeping the game alive for the duration of war, so that when their soldiers returned home they would find that those at home had held the fort, so far as the game of cricket was concerned. The development of cricket amongst the juniors was, to his mind, a matter of importance. They were now doing without paid coaches. They had had local players doing a certain amount of coaching, but last year these coaches had done the work gratuitously. A great service would be rendered to the game If they paid all the attention they could to junior players, and also boys at school. Their home-coming soldiers would, as a consequence, find the game thriving on their return.—(Applause.) Mr F. Binney seconded the motion. Mr A.' Gr. Valentine mentioned that the excellent record of the North-East Valley Club, which had won the intermediate competition three years in- succession, liaci unfortunately been omitted from the annual report. He thought that the NorthEast Valley Club had a praiseworthy record to its credit.—(Applause.) , The motion was carried. ■ Changes of Constitution On the motion of Mr W. S. Armitage., It was decided that life members should

be entitled to the same privileges as members of the General Committee, other than attending and voting at meetings of the committee. It was also decided, on the motion of Mr D. A Solomon, to create the position of an immediate past president. Election of Officers

The following officers were appointed:— President. Mr F, Binney; immediate past president. Mr A- H. Allen; vice-presidents —Messrs W. B Brinsley (senior), D. A. Solomon, W. A, Rowland, and Dr Reid; committee—Messrs A. C. Holden. J. A. Robson, H. Harvey, E. H. Downes, A. G Valentine. W. G. McClymont, E. Hayes, G G. Austin. L. J. Groves, T. Hushes; ground members' representatives on the committee—Messrs C. R. Gaylor, H D. Kerr. J McMullan. W. S. Armitage. and J. M Kennedy: secretary and treasurer. Mr E. S. Wilson; hon auditors. Messrs R. Rayner and W. G. Pickard. Congratulatory The new chairman (Mr Binney) referred to the excellent service Mr Allen had rendered the game during his four years of office, and said that a suitable minute had been prepared so that they could place on record their appreciation of his work in the Interests of the association, particularly In connection with financial matters. Several speakers paid a tribute to the fine work Mr Allen had done for cricket, and the minute was adopted with loud applause. Opening of the Season It was decided to leave the date of the opening of the season to the incoming committee One or Two-day Matches, Mr Valentine moved that the question of playing one or two-day matches be referred to the incoming committee. Mr Rowland moved as an amendment that it be a recommendation from the delegates that all senior matches be of two days' duration and juniors of one day Mr Valentine’s motion was lost by a narrow majority, and Mr Rowland’s amendment carried by a large majority Mr Rowland then moved that all matches stop at 6 o’clock, and on a count of hands the chairman stated that the voting was equal With 15 votes for and against. It was finally decided that the time of closing be 6 o’clock for two-day matches and 6.30 for one-day matches Endowment Fund Mr O. G. Stevens moved that contributions to the Endowment Fund be suspended for the current year. The chairmen said that notice of motion was required to make an alteration on the lines suggepted.