ONE SENIOR GRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1929, Page 6

ONE SENIOR GRADE

SOUTH TARANAKI CRICKET. MEETING REJECTS NEW PROPOSAL. The delegates to the South Taranaki Division of the Taranaki Cricket Association on Friday night rejected a proposal to grade the teams in the senior competition. The subject was introduced by the president (Mr. H. R. Penny), who said that the Okaiawa Club had recommend.: ed its delegates to support the proposal, but they recognised that there were two sides to the question. Mr. C. Massey (Stratford) said the Stratford Club was against the proposal, its argument being that players put into a B arade would lose heart 1 and teams wouki drop out. It would be better for young players to go on without grading. He moved that all the teams play in the one competition. Mr. C. Mcl. Young (Stratford) seconded the motion. Mr. H. D. Hughes (Okaiawa) moved an amendment that two grades be made. He said that with all tne teams playing together the cricket competition was enjoyable in its .social aspect. But. it was necessary to make cricket more popular and productive of more revenue, and the public could only be induced, to support cricket if good matches; were, provided. With two grades and four teams- in each grade the standard of play would be improved. Mr. L. A. Jennings (Hawera) seconded the amendment. Mr. Young said the object of cricket was not to'raise finance. If the teams were kept as before interest' would be far keener than in the case of two errades playing. The younger players would lose interest if they were placed in a B grade. Though grading might improve the standard of play for representative cricket, that was less important than it was to encourage the younger players. Mr. Hughes replied that young players in weak teams were discouraged by failMr. C. E. Betts (Kaponga) said that the best thing over done for cricket in the district was the Hawera club’s action last year in placing two fairly even teams in the competition. The poorer players must play with better players in order to improve. Kaponga had had a bad time last Beason, but its players were not discouraged and would do better this year. Mr. W. W. Thomas (Hawera High School) said the best thing they could do for cricket would be to revive the junior competition, and he .understood that several clubs would be ready _to field junior teams this year. The High School would enter two teams if that were done. The president said that if junior teams could be- found the advocates of grading would perhaps give way. Mr. L. Walker (Old Boys) stated that Old Boys hoped to be able to field a junior team if the junior competition were established. Old Boys, however, favoured the grading system, being of the opinion that it would enable two-day matches to be played. Mr. B. Malone (secretary) remarked that the Hawera Club would find it difficult to place two senior teams in the field, his own opinion being that the club would have to enter its best team for the competition" instead of dividing its good players between two teams. While the grading system worked well enough iu the large centres of population, where there were so many good teams that a o-ood player could always find a place, he thought grading would not improve matters in South Taranaki. The establishment of the junior competition would do. more than anything else to help cricket. Mr. J. Neilson (Hawera) said that the Hawera Club was rather in favour of grading, as he was himself. The game would be improved if four teams could play two-day matches in the A grade, and there was no reason why. the B o-rade should not be successful, as some of the B players would be better than others and thus their contest would be full of interest. While he favoured trading, he the difficulties of other clubs and; .ilietefore would not press for grading.: 7 s . Mr. Jennings sakl-ithat the place to improve cricket wits-’ in the schools. The primary and secondary schools could do a »reat deal for'the .gfime if the masters <-ave their tinie to .coaching the pupils. ° The amendment'wins • lost and the motion in favour of, retaining the system of one grade was carried.

CYCLIST AND CAR COLLIDE. A dislocated shoulder and abrasions to the head and body were received by James Johnston, a farmer of Fraser Road, when the bicycle he was riding collided with a motor-car driven by Frederick H. Palmer, Hastings Road, Matapu, about half a chain on the Hawera side of the intersection of Glover and Turuturu ou Saturday afternoon. It is said ~ the ear was being driven along Glover., Road and that the eyelist, who was, also . travelling along Glover Road, intended to turn into Turuturu Road.,; When the collision occurred the cyclist was thrown on to the bonnet of the r ear,, and the impact smashed the windscreen. The cycle was badly damaged. The injured man, who was attended by Dr. W. F. Buist, was removed to the Halwera Hospital, where inquiry last night qlicitcd that he was progressing satisfactorily. RADIO CONCERT AT HAWERA. AN ATTRACTIVE PROGRAMME. A perusal of the programme published in the Daily News for the radio broadcast concert to-night in the opera House, Hawera, will show the care taken by the committee to see that patrons shall be given an evening that will please all tastes. Artists from Hawera, Eltham, New Plymouth and Stratford have promised assistance, and the result is a fist that, combined with the object of

the concert, will' ensure a full house; therefore, a satisfactory return to the promoters. Songs are-to 'be given by. Miss Constance -Reilly, Miss Mary Barnes, Mrs. J. A. 1 Rankin (Eltham), Mr. Baird, Mr. Harold Ackroyd, Mr. Bellringer and Mr. Macdonald (New Plymouth). A specially fine number will be the great chorus with solo and'recitative, ‘‘O.Sing to God” by a choir of ladies’ voices under the baton of Miss Daisy Reilly, and sole® by Miss C. Reilly, Miss 0. Grindrod and Mrs. Sunderland. The Hawera Orchestral Society will contribute two selections, and the Melody Four Male Quartette will sing twice. Violin solos will be contributed by Miss B. Sturrock and recitations by Miss M. Insfone. An orchestral quartette, Mr. and Mrs. Bonetti, Miss D. Hawkins and Mr. N. Lester —and a haka by the Hawera Savage Club, will complete a fine programme. It will be a concert well worth while, and patrons should book at once at Miss Blake's. CARLYLE CYCLING CLUB. GUNN WINS KAKARAMEA RACE. The Carlyle Cycle Club held its weekly race on Saturday from Patea to Kakaramea and back three times, a distance of 24 miles. The day was fine but a fair southerly wind was blowing, making the home run hard riding. H. Gunn won easily after stopping for cramp during the second lap and rubbing himself down before continuing. At the first turn in Patea Poingdestre and Old led, followed by Gunn, Gordon and lose. At the second turn Gunn appeared first, followed by Poingdestre and Old, from whom he was drawing away. The scratch men .appeared five minutes later, all in a bunch. The home lap saw Gunn win by 100 yards from Poingdestre, with Old 300 yards away 'third.. Starters and their handicaps were: — H. Guiin (Smin) ■■ 1 D. Poingdestre (13min) ' 2 W. Olds (13min) ..: ; 3 Also started—W. Gordon (6}min), O. Close (6Jmin), A. Clarkson (4min), A; Fentonby (4min), M. Quayle (2£min), J. Julian (2Jmin), W. Beer (IJmin, second fastest time), R. Clarkson 45sec), T. Maule (scr, fastest time), 67min 53 sec. A Wanganui to Patea road race will be held next Saturday. GENERAL ITEMS. The monthly meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was held on Thursday afternoon. Mrs. E. S. Emmitt presided over an attendance- of 19. Arrangements were made to celebrate “Cradle Roll Day” on October 31. A social afternoon is to be held at the residence of Mrs. Ashton, Albion Street, on Thursday, October 3, when donations will be received for the “Million Shilling Fund.” The Mount Egmont Alpine Club is meeting with considerable response to its announcement of the proposed trip to Mr. Cook during the Christmas holidays. Already over 70 names have been received of those desiring information, and it is anticipated that a large party will make 'the trip. It is recognised that this presents a wonderful opportunity to make this fascinating tour. Applications will close with the secretary, Mr. T. F. McKenzie, this evening.

Owing to the boisterous weather on Friday evening the old-time dance at Manaia in aid of the Waimate Horticultural Society’s funds was not very well attended, although every preparation had been made for a large gathering. It was somewhat of a disappointment to the ladies’ committee, who had gone to a great deal of. trouble in decorating the tables and stage and providing an excellent supper, to meet with a sparse attendance of dancers. Those who were present spent a happy evening dancing to music played by Mr. C. W. Abbott (piano) and Mr. J. Cosgrove (accordeon). Mrs. B. -Badland and Mr. L. Hughes supervised dancing. PERSONAL. A motion expressing sympathy with Mrs. E. A. Washer in her illness was passed at Saturday’s meeting of the Egniont A. and P. Association. The chairman, Mr. W. McL’Dowie, said that Mrs. Washer, who was one of the association's keenest supporters, had recently undergone a serious operation and he was sure members would all wish her a speedy recovery, . . Resolutions of sympathy with the relatives of the late Clement Allen and with Mr. A; Thomas, Matapu, in the death of his brother, were passed at the annual meeting on Friday night of the South Taranaki Division of the Taranaki Cricket Association. Resolutions expressing sympathy with the relatives of the late Mrs. E. Williams- and the late Mr. G. D. Smith, wore passed at Saturday’s, meeting of the Egmont A. and P. 'Association.