STRIKE OF UMPIRES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 186, 11 September 1914, Page 2

STRIKE OF UMPIRES.

BROKEN B¥_XRICKET LEAGUE.

, The latest novelty in cricket comes from Bradford, England, in the form of a strike of umpires, following on a serious attempt to introduce a trades union organisation. The '' Athletic News" thus reports the trouble and how it was quickly ended: — '' The parties concerned are the- umpires connected with the Bi-adford Cricket League, now the leading cricket combination in the district. At the beginning of this season' the umpires formed themselves into what they called the 'Bradford League of Umpires Union,'' arid all the umpi res connected with the league joined save one. There was no bringing this exception into line, so on July 6 a letter was sent to the committee of the Bradford Cricket League by the secretary of the Umpires' Union asking that they should deal with the recalcitrant umpire, and' adding, 'lf lie is allowed to officiate as umpire again before joining the union there will be no more umpires for the rest of the season, as they will not allow this thing to go on any further.'

"The League Committee were not to be intiriiidated. Instead of at once obeying the dictates of the Umpires' Union, they passed a resolution condemning the tone of the letter, and regretting the threat contained therein, whilst they, determined to adhere to the appointments they had made. Moreover, the Umpires' Union were informed that steps would be taken to fill' up vacancies for the rest of the season, and that if any members of the union desired appointments they must make special application, and also intimate that they would act loyally by the cricket league. This had the effect of at once breaking the back of the union, which had presumed to make threats. "Out of 59 umpires affected 39 immediately applied for appointments and gave the necessary undertaking, whilst later eight others did likewise, and were reinstated. This left a dozen still 'on strike,' but the Cricket • Committee, having advertised for other umpires, have no less than 60 applicants for the positions vacant."