With Bat and Ball

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 22

With Bat and Ball

By "Not Out."

The decision to postpone the opening of the season for a week caused keen disappointment among many Mercantile League cricketers. There can bo no doubt, however, that the decision was a wise one under the circumstances. The week's spell will do the grounds an. immense amount of good. Especially should this bo the case at Athletic Park, where the young grass is coming along splendidly.

Sixty-seven teams will be iri the field this season under the Mercantile League banner. Of this'number only two, D.I.C. and Sargoods, wove playing when the League commenced operations as far back as the 1921-22 season, and during the years since then there has been a period when even these two clubs found it impossible to enter a team. In the earlier days of the League, one grade was sufficient. So great has been the growth of the League, however, that today seven grades are required to cater for the number of teams affiliated.

In the 1922-23 season two well-known clubs, Whitcombe. and Tombs and Macky Logans, joined the League. Theso were followed a year later by Cowans and Nivens. Then came such, well-known clubs as Colonial Motors, Odlins, Cables, Stewarts, Todds, Customs, Pastimes, Dalgetys, and Harbour Board. Unfortunately for many of theso clubs which have supplied colourful pages in tho League's history, the economic depression with its resultant retrenchment seriously depleted their playing strengths, and ultimately was the cause of their withdrawal from participation in this friendly form of business rivalry.

Exceptional progress has been made by tho Mercantile* League during the last few years. There is no doubt that the type of cricket provided is extremely popular among business houses and is becoming increasingly so. Then, again, sound, intelligent administration has played its part in moulding together such a solid organisation.

Looking back over the years Mings to mind many able administrators, such as Messrs. D. Muir, A. 0. Croll, E. Thompson, P. Laurenson, J. Young, J. Adams, V. ,T. Evans, J. A. Rait, A. A. Jennings, E. Gornall, and B. Haddon. Theso men, who wore responsible for a most successful beginning, were followed by other excellent organisers, of whom Messrs. .T. Cunningham, J. T. Ewan, E. Cottrell, H. J. Lawrence, B. G. Yates, S. W. Martin, G. B. Mann, F. Shaw, and N. E. Nassell were the more prominent. Some of them are still connected with the administration of the game, under tho present chairman, Mr. J. J. Furlong. The amount of foresight shown by these early officers, both individually and collectively, in the interests of the League is evidenced by the fact that until this year, when it was considered that certain amendments should be made which would be in keeping with recent expansion, the rules and minor amendments drafted by these men had stood the test of time for practically thirteen years. Tho transaction of j business must have linen difficult during tho early years of tho League's existence. Every club was represented on the executive committee, with the result that this body <=non became mi"ivieldv. Debates irpre numerous, aucl

LEAGUE GROWTH AND ADMINISTRATION

often acrimonious in character. Despite these hindrances, the affairs of the League were prosecuted with a degree of diligence and method. Eecent yejais have seen steady improvement in administration methods made necessary by the over-increasing desire for, good, clean, healthy sport, so that today the Mercantile League has an organisation well in keeping with its valued aims and objects.