CRICKETERS AWAKE FROM WINTER REST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17647, 21 September 1925, Page 4

CRICKETERS AWAKE FROM WINTER REST.

ASSOCIATION HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual general meeting: of delegates to the Canterbury Cricket Association teas held on Saturday night. Mr D. Reese presiding over a good attendance. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. In moving the adoption of the annua! report and balance-sheet the chairman said that the most remarkable fact about the past year was that the association had suddenly found itself rich after an existence of about fifty j'ears. The money raised was to be used for rhe further extension of the system of coaching players and the general development of the game in the province. The foundation fund was one that not only present but future cricketers should Bealouslj' safeguard. The idea of the foundation fund had first been mooted by Mr R. R. Ward when he was treasurer. For some years only small contributions to the fund were received and then a bequest was made to the fund under the will of the late Mr D. Redpath on condition that an equivalent sum was raised by the association. This had spurred the association to raise money with the result that a wonderful sum of money was recentl3 T collected. On© question that had to be considered was how far they should extend the coaching of players. They had a coach for the schoolboys and it seemed e pity that the coaching whs not carried on after the boys left school. However, the question of the appointment, of a second coach was a big one, and, although the association now had money, they should live within their means and endeavour to build up the foundation fund still further for the future developmezit of the game. Personally he thought It would be better to adopt some ss3-stem of ground bowlers. This wou2d be cheap. It would probably not cost more than £IOO per unnum. The ground bowlers could move round giving say two nights a week to each club. This system would give the players first-class bowling, and would help to carry on the work of coaching after the boys had passed through the hands of Mr Shaeklook. There was also the question of improving the wickets. A lot could be done In the direction if the practice wickets were rolled regularly.

Another question that he would like the meeting to discuss was that of the colours of the Canterbury eleven. Up to 335 7 the Canterbury colours wen* navy blue. Then the New Zealand Cricket Council took up the matter of arranging the colours of the various provinces and it was found that Canterbury and Auckland had the same colours. Then Canterbury adopted the present colours of broad black and narrow red stripes. These, however, were the colours of the Canterbury Bowling Club, And one could not tell a representative cricketer from a, bowler. (Daughter.) He thought they should adopt distinctive colours, such as broad red and black bands. The report And balance-sheet were adopted after a short discussion. COACHING OF PRATERS. With regard to the question of employing ground bowlers, Mr R. H. North said he thought that each club should select a number of plaj'ers to be coached. Mr J. S. Barrett mo’/ed: " That it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that ground howlers should be engaged, paid and allocated to the various clubs on certain nights of the week, details of the scheme to be left to the committee.” Mr Barrett said he thought that they would find this the most important move in Canterbury cricket for some years, and that it would improve the game. The chairman said it was hoped to get bowlers** of the type of Cunnnigham, M’Beath-and Read to move round among the clubs. A sum of £IOO a year should provide for six bowlers two nights a Mr Barrett's motion that the matter should be referred to the committee was carried and the question of improving the wickets was also referred to the REPRESENTATIVE COLOURS. Referring to the Canterbury colours, Mr W. Simpson said that the red stripe a distance the caps looked to be all black. Mr W. R. Patrick Asked if it would not be possible to have the colours registered and protected. A delegate paid that three colours could be registered, but not two. Mr Slmpeon: You could get over that by registering a white monogram. The question of the representative colours was referred to the committee. ERECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr D. Reese; vice-presidents, Messrs R. B. Ward and W. Simpson; general committee, Messrs M. O. Sinclair, W. 11. Wlnsor, W. R. Patrick. W. R. King, A. R. Henderson, E. A. Gasscn, R. H. North; honorary treasurer, Mr D. V. Smith; honorary secretary, Mr E. E. Ruttreil; honorary assistant secretary, Mr R. C. Blunt; delegates to the New Zealand Cricket Council, Messrs E. R. Cayglll and D. Reese; honorary auditors, Messrs T. Newburgh and A. E. Byrne.

THE KELKCTOfiS APPOINTED. When the question of the appointment of » selector or selectorr, for the Canterbury team came up, Mr W. H. Winsor moved that one selector should be appointed, as was the case last year. Mr W. R. Patrick (last year's selector) moved as an amendment that three selectors should be appointed for a change. Mr W. R. King said that he was fn favour of one selector, provided Mr Patrick could act again. The chairman: Does it depend on the Mr King said he was in favour of one selector provided a good man was available. Otherwise he was in favour of three. Mr Barrett: You would have three unsuitable ones. (Daughter.) Mr Patrtck said he was available for election as selector, but he would prefer to have three. He thought the players would be better satisfied if there were three selectors. It was decided that there- should be three selectors, and Messrs Patrick, A. T. Donnelly and E. R. Caygill were apTIIE COMING SEASON. With reference to the coming season, Mr Barrett said that in many ways it promised to be a unique one. A New Zealand team was to be sent to Ausand it was hoped to get the Australian eleven to play here on their wav to England. New 2k.../and cricketers' won Id thus have an opportunity of plaj’tng against the best in the world. The New Zealand team was to leave for Australia on November 20, but unfortunately, on Account of the very bad weather, the opportunities for practice ■would be «© HmiWd before then that lie thought it would be a good idea If the selectors picked out those who had & chance of getting into the New Zealand and also th*> Canterbury team, and got them to practice on a concrete wicket. Practice on a concrete wicket, would be very' valuable for players who were to face an Australian tour. Unless something of this sort were done there would be very little chance of the players setting into form before they left for Australia. The chairman said ho thought Mr Barrett’« idea warn o. good one. From all account© it would be the middle of October before they were able to get on to tho grounds.

NEED FOR UMPIRES. On behalf of the Canterbury Umpires' Association, Mr A. V. Belsten thanked the Cricket Association for their help last *»e*eon. He hoped that when any members ol clubs ceased to be players the clubs would forward their names to the Umpires' Association, no that an attempt could be made to get them interested in umpiring. More umpires were badly needed. At present the work was left to a few. MISCELLANEOUS. Mr Patrick moved and Mr E. A. Gaseon seconded that semi-finals and a final should be abolished in connection with the senior competition. Mr W. R. King moved as an amendment that the general committee should define at the start of the season how the senior competition v.'as to be run, either with semi-finals and a final or otherwise. „ _ Mr Wand seconded the amendment, which was carried. Mr E. R- Caygill moved that as the association now had funds, the committee be asked to consider the advisability of remitting part of the affiliation fees of clubs. Mr Simpson said he was against reducing fees. Thore appeared to be an opinion that now the association had some money they were millionaires. There was plenty they could do with the money. in reply to a question, the chairman said that at present the affiliation fees were £5 a year for. senior clubs and £2 for Junior. Mr Winsor said that a reduction jprould be of practically no value to the clubs, and if the fees were once reduced they would be very hard to increase again. The motion was lost.

Mr A. E. Byrne referred to the question of byes in the competitions, and said he hoped that the incoming committee would endeavour to avoid byes in any of the grades this year. Mr R. C. Biunt said that the whole trouble last year was lack of grounds. Mr D. V. Smith said that the clubs should find grounds. It was not a matter for the association. Mr Byrne said he did not wish to move a motion on the matter. He was prepared to leave it to the judgment of the committee. The Mairehau Club wrote withdrawing from the association's competitions on account of the loss of several of its best players. The letter was received. The St Albans Club wrote forwarding the following motion, carried at its annual meeting:—"This meeting considers that the time has now arrived when the association should take over the liability of the ground rent and allocate the same to clubs on a team basis.” Mr A. T. Donnelly said that, as the Haglby Park Ground Committee had been given a certain sum of money out of the money recently raised lor cricket, he thought that, the matter should not he discussed that night. It was a matter for the committee. . It was decided to refer the matter to the committee.