CRICKET “RAID”

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 31, 31 October 1932, Page 11

CRICKET “RAID”

Lancashire Association DOMINION PLAYERS Cost to New Zealand By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Oct. 29. In a letter to the newspapers, Mr. D. Reese, ex-presideut of the New Zealand Cricket Association, refers in strong terms to the raid by Lancashire on Dominion cricket. “For some considerable time,” writes Mr. Reese, “I have been tempted to express views that I am sure must be shared by many people in the Dominion. When the first New Zealand cricket team went to England, who thought that within five years four of our leading players would have been enticed to take up positions in England, and thus grievously defeat the whole purpose of such tours'’’ The latest overtures to a fifth New Zealand player must compel the attention of the authorities of the game, apart from all other considerations', which are serious enough in themselves.

“The Monetary Cost.’’

The monetary cost to New Zealand is an important matter. With Merritt aud Blunt each having two tours to England, and Dacre aud Cromb one each, all at the expense of the New Zealand Cricket Council and its supporters, it is safe to say that the total cost of these four players alone was not less than £5OOO. It surely cannot be expected that this exodus should be allowed to continue unchecked!

“Less than a year ago the New Zealand Cricket Council, with praiseworthy courage, took steps to protect New Zealand cricket, aud it now appears imperative that the Canterbury Cricket Association should take some action to protect Canterbury cricket. It is intolerable that a New Zealand player should act as intermediary for Lancashire League clubs. “The strongly developed commercialism of the Lancashire Rugby League and the Lancashire Cricket League, with unabashed enticement of leading players from various parts of the world, is not only totally out of keeping with the ideals that have governed our national games until now, but constitutes a menace to national standards and the prestige of cricket and. Rugby in every part of the Empire.”

The letter concludes: “The seriousness of this raid on our cricketers is sufficient justification for my speaking so plainly and suggesting to the cricket authorities that appropriate measures should be taken.”

Reply by Merritt.

Merritt, replying to Mr. Reese, denies that he has been in any xvay instrumental in persuading New Zealand players to go to England, and says that whatever the Lancashire League has done is no fault of his. He received a cablegram to A. W. Roberts simply because the league knew his address and did not know that of Roberts. Merritt declared that he Was sorry to see players from hero going away, but it was a necessity in most cases. There was nothing in New Zealand to hold players, and. unless there was something, ho could foresee that players would continue being asked to go and xvould continue going. These times were not like ordinary times. It xvas to be regretted that one bad. to go to England, to earn a salary. SUPPORT FOR MR. REESE Views of C. 0. Dacre Dominion Special Service. Auckland, Oct. 30. Interviewed at Auckland, C. C. Dacre (Gloucestershire and North Shore) said he was fully in sympathy with the views expressed by Mr. Reese. In his opinion New Zealand players should be given every opportunity to develop their game whether in the Dominion or abroad and subsequently their services should be available for the benefit of New Zealand cricket. “We have plenty of good young players here, particularly batsmen,” said Dacre, “and what is chiefly needed is coaching by players of experience, particularly in other branches of the game.”