MR WARNER APOLOGISES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1715, 11 January 1905, Page 58

MR WARNER APOLOGISES.

REFLECTIONS) ON AUSTRALIAN CRICKET AUTHORITIES. M VRYLEBONE CLUB NOT RESPONSIBLE. 7 t will be remembered that iii a series of *" contributions to the “Westminster Gazette/-’ both during and subsequent to the recent tour to Australia by the Marylebone Club’s cricket team, Mr P. R Warner the captain of the team, made many reflections upon the conduct of Australian cricket authorities and Australian cripket crowds. The gravest of these charges was formulated on July 30th last v when Mr Warner, in attempting to explain the financial loss that had attended the trip, declared that the cricket authorities here had broken faith with the Marylebone Club by issuing special members’ tickets for the visitors’ matches, and thus reducing the amount of revenue to be divided among the parties concerned. Prompt denials were given by the New South Wales Cricket Association, the trustees of the Sydney Cricket Ground, and the committee of the Melbourne Club- and on November 21st a letter from Mr Bowden, the secretary of the Cricket Association, contradicting the statement, was published in the ‘‘Westminster Gazette.” In this connection, Mr Bowden has now received the following letters from Mr Warner and from Mr F. E. Lacev, the secretary of the Marylebone Cricket Club. The letters sufficiently explain themselves. Mr Warner writes: “Dear Sir, —The letters you wrote on behalf .of the New South Wales Association to the secretary of the Marylebone Cricket Club and to the editor of the ‘Westminster Gazette’ with reference to an article of mine in the ‘Westminster Gazette’ of July 30th, 1304, have been shown hie. The part, of the article to which exception has been taken is that dealing with the election of members to the Sydney Cricket Ground. You will believe me, I trust, when I say that the remarks that I made in relation to the election of members were made in good faith —that is, not rashly, and caring not whether they were true or false but honestly believing them to be true. The statements were made ion vrhar I thought at the time was good authority, but, in face of your denial of them, I am delighted te withdraw wliat I wrote. It is always, I think, pleasant to apologise when one has made a mistake and I do so now, with the very greatest pleasure. At the same time I would like to point out that the Marylebone Club cannot be held responsible for any opinion of mine, written at a time when the tour of the Marylebone Cricket Club Eleven was long over. I wrote in my private capacity, and not as captain of the eleven, and anything I may have written does not in any way reflect the opinion of the Marylebone Club. “Knowing, as I do, the g">od feedings existing between' the Marylebone Club and the cricket authorities or Australia, I should regret extremely if any words of mine were to tend in any way. however small, to lessen that good feeling.

“There is one .other matter on which T should like to say something, and that

is with reference to my criticisms of the Sydney crowd during the fourth test match in my book. In the chapter on the fourth test match I wrote ‘Anyone who has played in a test match in Sydney may consider himself thoroughly salted, and*fit to play before an audience from the infernal regions.’ I understand that this sentence has been objected to, but it was written more in fun than in seriousness, as a reference to the next sentence, ‘But, seriously, etc./ will show. Still, as they have, I understand, caused pain in some quarters, I will see that they are withdrawn in the next edition of the book. The last thing in the world that I wish to do is to cause any illfeeling between Englisnmen and Australians, more especially as the kindness and hospitality I received in every part of Australia will always remain one of the pleasantest memories of the tour. Cricket is far too great a game to squabble about, however slight!j', and the history of England and Australia has been enriched by so much that is splendid in the most splendid of all games that I trust your association will accept this letter in the spirit in which it is written, and believe that no one is more anxious to increase the already good feeling existing between the cricketers of England and Australia than I am. I shall be obliged if you would give, this letter publicity, both by reading it to your association and by publishing it in the leading Sydney newspapers.” Mr Lacey’s letter is as follows: ‘‘Dear Sir:—l beg to inform you that your letter of October 17th was read to my committee yesterday. I am sending a letter to the ‘Westminster Gazette/ in which the accuracy of Mr Warner’s statement of July 30tli last, is denied. As, however, a letter to this effect appeared in that paper last night, the editor may regard the matter as closed. At the meeting Mr Warner expressed his regret that he bad published a statement on information which, in the face of letters received from you, from the Melbourne Cricket Club, and from the .-ydney Cricket Ground trustees, must be regarded. as incorrect. I am desired, nevertheless, to point out that on July 30th, 1901, Mr Warner was not representing the Marylebone Club, and that this club cannot accept any responsibility whatever for any opinion he then held, or for any statements he then made.” it is to be hoped that, with this, the incident will be regarded as closed.