CRICKET.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16612, 11 December 1919, Page 5

CRICKET.

NORTH TARANAKI ASSOCIATION.

A QUESTION OF (PROTESTS.

FREE AND FRANK DISCUSSION,

Two protests regarding the pci sonncl of teams played by tho New i'Jymoutn j Club came before a meeting ox trio I North Taranaki Cricket Association at the Soldiers’ Club on Wednesday night ! mid gave rise to a long discussion, in its course various causes of dissatisfaction held by several clubs and tactions wfcre ventilated, and, it is hoped, the friction that was apparent. ndl not bo allowed to prejudice cricket prospects in tho district An attendance of 19 delegates and ofbeuds presided over by -Mr. E. Wluttlo. Iho clubs represented won : x'ew i tjmoutli, Old Roys, Inglewood, breezing Works, Albion, Waircka, High .School Tho Waircka Club entered n protest a-minst tho New Plymouth Club in connection with the match played on Thursday, November HO, on tho ground that tho opposing team includ--IJd Saturday players, which they claimed was contrary to rule 10 oi too association, (“Should any club enter more than one team in any one championship, no player shall play fqr more than one of such teams during tho season except with the consent of tho committee.”) Tho Inglewood Club entered a similar protest against tno Now Plymouth Club in connection with tho inatell played last .Saturday. At this stage tho treasurer (Mr. d. Willis) said it was his duty to draw attention to rule 15, which provided that a club whose subscription to Dio association was not paid within. II days of demand should be disqualified from taking part in championship matches, and its members debarred from speaking and voting at meetings of the association.

The’ president said lie would rule that, ns tho season had been commenced by not adhering closely to tho rules, every delegate present that night would have tho right to speak and vote.

In reply to a question the hon. secretary said that every club but Inglewood had duly paid its subscription, and that Inglewood hail paid tho day after their protest was lodged.

Tho president, speaking of tho protests, expressed regret that a spirit sucii as was shown by them bad entered into cricket tins season, in view of the great difficulties that bad to be faced in getting the game re-start-ed. Because of the uncertainty of the prospects at tho beginning of tho season they had been willing to waive tho rules altogether and expected the same sporting spirit to ho shown in Hio play. Referring to the question of rules that had been raised lie drew attention to rule 8 regulating play bv one player for more tiian one cl nix, which stated that the purpose was not to prevent any player from taking part in both Thursday and Saturday cricket. Mr. “Willis drew attention to the arrangement made at the annual meeting for separate Thursday and Saturday competitions. Ho claimed that ear'll was a championship competition. Mr. B, IT. Qnilliam moved that belli protests bo not sustained. He said that, leaving out examination of

rules, it bad boon tho custom for a number of years for players to take part in both Thursday and Saturday matches if they were in a position to do so. Ho recognised that this might cause dissatisfaction on the part of some other players. Mr. 0. liorg seconded tho motion pro forma.

Mr. Darlow (Inglewood), in the course of some remarks, said that, if it was upheld that notwithstanding tho fact of there being two competitions (Thursday and Saturday) there was only one championship, it would have to bo sustained that a serious breach of tho rules had been committed by the New Plymouth Club by playing members of one team in another team. Mr. G. 11. Saunders said Mr. Darlow was confusing tho Robertson trophy witli tile championships. Mr. Qnilliam contended that Mr. Harlow’s argument, if correct, meant there was no championship at all this season—-and therefore no breach of championship rules—because tho association had not at its annual ruling decided on only one championship for the season, while rule one required it to decide what championships should be competed for during the incoming season.

Mr. Darlow averred that Inglewood wore willing to take a boating if good sportsmanship was ; shown by tbeir opponents. In tho first match against New Plymouth Inglewood had won by a narrow margin, in the second and third matches Now Plymouth had dropped Thursday players to put in Saturday players simply for tho purpose of beating Inglewood. Some oT tho New Plymouth Thursday players bad taken strong exception to being dropped. Tiio president: “This is most unfair.”

Mr. Stainton: “I rise to a point of order. ; Tho speaker has no right to discuss tho Now Plymouth Club.” Mr. Darlow; “That is what wo take strong exception to. It is ‘pot hunting’ and - nothing else. . . I don’t know of any other club that wants the cup but New Plymouth.” Mr. Willis hero rose to a point of order and asked for a withdrawal of tho remark.

The president said that _Mr. Harlow’s remarks wore a reflection on tho selection committee of the New Plymouth Club. Ho was one of the Thursday players who had not gone to Inglewood. Ho had not been dropped for a Saturday player but had been unable to go. Mr. Willis commenced to make some remarks about playing in tho Thursday team.

Mr. Derg; “And you turned down tho B team.”

Mr. Willis: “Because I could not piny.” Mr. Borg; “Because you wore not captain.” The president: “This is not cricket at all.’

Mr. Willis said the Inglewood Club bad ctnoo nothing to help cricket in North Taranaki—ho enumerated several failures to comply with tho rules—and because one club was enthusiastic enough to do its best to help Thursday cricket they wore tailed pot hunters. Mr. Borg, as a delegate from the New Plymouth Club, said that, tho team was not selected by a committee but by one man.

Tho president; “There was a committee appointed for tho purpose.” Mr. Qnilliam objected to tho internal affairs of tho Now Plymouth Club being brought before the meeting, but Mr. Berg added that most of the New Plymouth Chib's Saturday ami Thursday men supported Inglewood in this matter.

The president again recalled the fact that at the annual meeting it had been agreed to relax the rules in order to get tho game going. Sir. Darlotv: ‘'AVo iiad no notification.”

Tho president: ‘‘You wore not represented at tho meeting.” It was mentioned that a committee consisting of the president and Messrs. Hot trill and Qinlliam was revising the rules.

During further discussion Mr. Harlow said that feeling was very strong in Inglewood and ho did not know whether his dab wnald ho prepared to recognise that they wore playing under no rales.

Messrs. Roper and Vale, tho delegates of tho Albion Club, spoke in a cheerful strain. They wanted tholrost players to bo put in the field against them so that they might pet practiceMr. Qnilliam, in replying as tho mover, remarked that tho internal affairs of tho New Plymouth Club were, to a great extent responsible for tho trouble, there being evident dissatisfaction on tho part of some members. Mr. Bottrill pointed out that in 191-1 the High School played a team in tho Thursday competition and in the Saturday competition, and it was the same team. No objection waa raised. Ho held that the association was bound by this precedent. The motion that the protests he not sustained was then put to the meeting and carried by 11 votes to 6. The president announced that tho honorary secretary (Mr. Staintou) had just intimated that he wished to resign as from that night, and he expressed regret. A number of similar expressions of regret wore made by delegates, and eventually Mr. -Stainton was induced to overlook tho mfitters which had caused him to take the step and withdraw iiis resignation. Cordial applause, indicated that those present appreciated the value of his services in the position. After this the forgive, and forget spirit appeared to reign generally concern ing the matters which had been under discussion. GROUND FEES. Letters of protest were received from tho Freezing Works and AVaireka Clubs in regard to a circular from tho secretary of t?io association notifying that a, ground fee of Cd per senior player should bo collected at each match on behalf of tho association. ... An explanation of tho position was made at tho, meeting, it being pointed out that this was a continuation of a system initiated some years ago by tho New Plymouth Cricket Club, which was under tho control of tho association. Tho money so collected from tho toirn players was devoted to tho upkeep of tho grounds. At the present time an effort was being made to got together a fund in order that the grounds might bo improved for next season. The president remarked that for tho same fund cash subscriptions amounting to about £4O had been collected and a number of cricketers had nromised to giro £5 a year for fi“rrcc years. A motion was carried confirming tho action of tho secretary in sending out tho circular and referring the matter back to the objecting chibs for their further consideration. MISCELLANEOUS. In connection with tho meeting of tho North Taranaki and Nomad elevens at the end of this month it was decided that the match should be played

in Pukckura Park on matting, and that a charge of Is should be made for admission, ladies and schoolboys being exempt. A committee consisting of Messrs, Whittle, Stainton, Saunders, and Osborne was appointed to make all arrangements in connection with the match including the preparation of tho ground. It was decided that the championship committee should bo empowered to deal with regrading of players. In rosnonso to a suggestion of the Old Bays’ Club, conveyed by Mr. Quilliain, it was decided to recommend to clubs that an effort should be made for an incoming batsman fo pass an outgoing batsman between the wicket

and tho pavilion in order that timo might not bo wasted. TRIAL MATCH POSTPONED. It was decided that tho A. and B. trial match announced for Saturday should bo postponed to tho following Saturday and that the match between Old Boys and Freezing 'Works should bo played in Pukekura Park on Saturday of the present week.