CRICKET UMPIRES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1928, Page 15

CRICKET UMPIRES

NORTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. MEMBERS’ ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the North Taranaki Umpires’ Association was held last night, Mr. J. Brown presiding over a small attendance. The first annual report of the association drew attention to the fact that the association came into being last November, Mr. J. Brown being elected chairman and Mr. J. Muir Thomson secretary. The membership gradually grew to ten, all of whom showed a keen interest at first. Some of them, however, forgot that when they joined the association they had an obligation to perform in keeping the appointment to which they had been assigned. In some eases the association was notified that umpires could not fulfil their engagements, but in other eases it was not. Some umpires would put in one Saturday on a two-day match, and disappear the next Saturday, no notice being given. ' During the season the Umpires’ and Cricket Associations came to a deadlock over an incident in the Hawke Cup mate]* with Wanganui. The umpire appointed to the match was unable to carry on for the last day of the match, and an outsider went on in his place instead of a member of the Umpires’ Association being asked to take the field. The Umpires’ Association took strong exception to the action of the Cricket Association, and partly decided to disband, but the Cricket Association gave an understanding that it would not happen again. The Umpires’ Association accordingly buried its grievance and carried on. During the season the following umpired for matches outside olub games: Messrs Sarten, Gibson, Thomson, Berg, Brown, Blake and Braund. It was decided that all members of the association should pass a test, and that test should be the same as set by the Wellington Association. Owing to it being so late in the season the matter was held over, and it was resolved to adopt the rules of the Wellington Association. New members were earnestly requested to notify the secretary or else arrange for a substitute if they were unable to fulfil appointments. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed that the receipts amounted to £1 5s and the expenses to 12s 6d, leaving a credit balance of 12s fid. The report and financial statement were adopted. The chairman reported that two umpires in South Taranaki were anxious to give themselves official status by joining the North Taranaki Umpires’ Association, as there was no association in Hawera. It was decided to accept their membership. On the motion of Mr. C. 0. Berg it was resolved to recommend all clubs to appoint an official adult scorer. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Chairman, Mr. J. Brown; honorary secretary, Mr. J. Muir Thomson; delegate to management committee of the North Taranaki Cricket Division, Mr. V. Elliot; appointment committee, Messrs C. 0. Berg and J. M. Thomson. Several copies of the rules of the Wellington Umpires’ Association were forwarded by the latter body, together with a letter congratulating the North Taranaki umpires on forming themselves into an association. On the motion of Mr. Berg it was resolved to recommend the Cricket Association to ask each club to locate •nd nominate two umpires if possible. The hope was expressed that by this means the membership of the Umpires’ Association might be materially increased.