NORTH TARANAKI CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1930, Page 3

NORTH TARANAKI CRICKET

AFFAIRS OF THE DIVISION PROGRESS DURING PAST YEAR. BUSINESS AT ANNUAL AIEETING. The annual meeting of the northern division of the Taranaki Cricket Association was held in. New Plymouth last night. Air. C. G. Bottrill presided over an attendance of 50 delegates. The annual report, as previously published, was adopted. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed a reduction of the bank overdraft from £92 to £73. Among the receipts the chief items were .ground fees £95, capitation fees £26, affiliation fees £l3, coach fund £l2, AI.C.C. match £286, Taranaki Association receipts £72. The chief items of expenditure were ground expenses £194 (Tukapo £66, Pukekura Park £9O, Western Park £37), AI.C.C. match £245, Taranaki Association payments £47. In moving the adoption of the report and balancelsLiet, Air. A. J. Papps congratulated the officers of the division on the year’s work. From the balance-sheet it appeared that the finances had improved to the extent of £32. Last season was most successful, both from the point of view of club competitions and the fine showing of the Taranaki team against the AI.C.C. There were good omens for the future. Mr. Bottrill explained that during the year the association had been able to wipe off an old-standing debt of £4O to the sportsground committee at a reduced sum. It was now in the position of owing no one a farthing -with the exception of the overdraft at the . bank. That overdraft had been reduced considerably during the year. A debt of £3O on the coach fund had been paid, and £35 worth of matting had been bought, so members could sec that the association had done reasonably welt He hoped that after the ensuing year it would be able to show, a balance-sheet with no overdraft at all. The report of the primary schools representative (Air. A. D. Train) stated that.at the annual meeting of the Primary Schools Sports Association it was decided that the cricket competition should be played in only one round, to be drawn for the third term of the year,'in place of two rounds, as .in former seasons. This was considered necessary owing to the fact that the first term of the year was found overcrowded with school games, owing to full time having to be given to swimming and athletic sports. The competition for the ’Whittle Shield was very even, the winner being West End, which led Central by one point in the aggregate. On December 7 a representative team from the north went to Hawera to suffer defeat by the South, in an interesting game by 8 runs. Though the play of both teams proved a little patchy, there was every evidence that good material was coming forward in both ends of the province. The association wished to -place on record its appreciation of the support rendered by the parent body., and hoped to develop the game along the best lines during the coming season. A deputation from the Primary School Sports Association waited on the meeting with a request that primary school games might be played on Pukekura Park oh Friday afternoons. Previously, said Mr. Train, the matches had been played at the Tukapo ground. They had often found it in the hands of the groundsman, and the wickets wore not the best available. The primary schools thought that if they were granted the use of. Pukekura Park every care would, be taken with the park and the boys would be given an opportunity of reaching a high standard of play. If they were given the privilege of using the ground they would give every undertaking to treat it will full respect, and would make every endeavour to make the best use of it. Air. Train referred to the fact that he was retiring from the executive, and thanked the association for its consideration for the primary schools. The executive decided that it grant the use of the park provided that no objection was raised by the superintendent. Alessrs. Gilbert and Nicol! were to interview Air. Horton. OFFICERS APPOINTED. Officers for 'the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Dr. E. F. Fookes; vice-presidents, six were elected; executive committee, Alessrs. C. G. Bottrill, G. W. Haughton, T. H. Bates, H. W. Brown, P. Sheppard, P. Hawkins and R. O‘Dowda (junior representative) ; secretary, Air. H. J. Abram; Air. A. Jackson; hon. auditors, Alessrs. Duff and- Wynyard; representatives on sportsground committee, Alessrs. D. F. C. Saxton and AV. P. Nicoll; chairman of Taranaki Association, Air. T. H. Bates; junior vice-chairman of Taranaki Association, Mr. D. F. C. Saxton; delegates to Taranaki Association, Alessrs. C. G. Bottrill, .AV. P. Nicoll and V. Duff. Reference to the retirement of Air. Saxton from the position of secretary of the Taranaki Association was made by Air. Bottrill. He was satisfied that the association could not have found a better secretary if it hail searched the country. He personally was very grateftil to the work Air. Saxton had done. On the motion of the chairman an appreciation of Air. Saxton’s services was placed on record.

Ou behalf ’of the AVaitara club, Air. Ddwsett pointed out that there had been faults in the drawing of junior fixtures last season. He asked that the execu-tive-give the matter its attention during the coming season. Air. Pruden explained that difficulties had been encountered in drawing the junior fixtures because of the re-grading of a team after matches had begun, the entry at a late stage of au extra junior team, and the fact that the High School teams and holidays had to be considered. The Waitara club entered an objection to any increase in capitation fees. Air. Dowsett offered to donate a cup to the association for junior play. The chairman, in accepting the offer, explained that the Whittle Cup was for junior play, and he asked Air. Dowsctt's permission for the executive to allot his cup for another competition. The question of umpiring was raised by Air. C. O. Berg. Unless clubs would come to the assistance of the Umpires’ Association by nominating members to assist, he said, the association would not be able to carry on. He appealed to them to nominate supporters and members who would help with .the duties instead of simply watching play from the bank. : At a subsequent meeting of the executive Air. Bottrill was elected chairman.