THE CRICKET SQUABBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1912, Page 2

THE CRICKET SQUABBLE.

ATTITUDE OF THE BOABO. (Received 10.50 a,m.) SYDNEY, this day. South Australia declines tq.be represeser.ted at the meeting of the Board of Control ic Sydney to-morrow, complaining of the Board's departing from the ..rr.ingement to hold its meetings alternately in Melbourne and Sydney. This U the third successive meeting in Sydney. A special meeting of the New South Wjipj Cricket Association has been called for Tuesday to consider a motion that 11-,? New South Wales delegates to the Board have forfeited the confidence of the Association. In the Tnterview in Sydney laat.week Noble gave it as his opinion that the BoaTcS in appointing a i'preventative; fctd" Yidtaled its own constitution. He was strongh opposed to the personnel of the--p-resent Board because they have had sis years or thereabouts to bring everybody into line, and to legislate for cricket, and in that time they cannot • be' credited with one single act of cbnriliation.' "Instead of that," continued Noble, "they have held the pistol of coercion at the heads of the players, without ceasing, and have gradually taken away the privileges left to the players at the time the Board was first constituted. A bttle tactful government would have solved all the difficulties; yet the Board's methods have resulted in a non - representative team being chosen to "po to England to fight for Australia in the first -of a series of Imperial triangular contests. I saw an interview in a newspaper .the other day, where it was stated that the cricketers should show a little patriotism for their country. I have waited to see the Board show some, too. but I haven't noticed any of it yet, T don't want to make any reference to the appointment of Laver or to fins nee, which one paper in an undignified way referred to as 'after the pelf,' because they are outside the question at issue. Tii? main issue is. Has the Board the power to appoint a secretary or representative?-! think it has not. No doubt the cricketers have made mistakes in tactics and in bringing irrelevant issues beforp the public, but that does not get away from the fact that, the players have the rijrht to appoint the manager, and thf Board, by appointing a representative. ros evaded its own rules bv taking away ttie only privilege that ij left to th* plovers. This clause-giving-the players i>" rr-r to select their own manager was inserted in the constitution at the instnnee of the South Australian Cricket Association. The snirit and the letter of this clause has b»rn violated by the majority of the Board, as diselbsed by its. appointment of a representative. What is the nse of giving the players the Tiiht of appointing a manager if the BoTd appoints a representative who as-siirrtes the duties of a manaeer, thus making tbe latter superfluous?"