SPORT AND DEFAULTERS

Southland Times, Issue 18930, 2 May 1923, Page 5

SPORT AND DEFAULTERS

SHIRKER BARRED BY CRICKET COUNCIL. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, April 30. The New Zealand Cricket Council tonight decided to advise all affiliated associations to debar military defaulters from playing in matches under their control The general secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association wrote as follows:—In accordance with the decision made by the Dominion Executive Committee of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association I am directed to place before you the question of military defaulters and their connection with amateur sport in New Zealand, jnd to request that your Association seriously consider whether such people should oe allowed to participate in view of their failure to aid the Empire in its hour of r-eed. •

Mr F. Wilson said that at the meeting of the West Coast Football Association ths letter had been received, as it was not possible to handle it. The British Empire was again trading with the Germans and things had altered. The Association had been in sympathy with the Returned Soldiers’ Association, but it could do nothing. The chairman (Mr J. S. Barrett): ‘1 take it that this letter does not want to debar anybody who has not been deprived of his civil rights.” It was an extremely difficult thing to sort out the defaulters, but he was sure that there was not a member present, who was not in sympathy with the proposal. Mr G. T. Weeton thought the Council ought to take action. He did not see why the members should not deal with the letter. Personally he would not play cricket with a military defaulter. The “military people had been good to sport and, with certain exceptions, the men who were well enough to play cricket, were well enough to fight.” At the chairman’s suggestion, Mr Weston moved that the Council should recommend to all associations affiliated with it, that ' military defaulters should pot be allowed to play in competitions. The motion was first made to include only defaulters, who had been deprived of their civil rights. A member asked if it were true that English football teams had played against German teams this season.

Mr Weston: I would sooner play against a Gernian team than a military defaulter. Mr H. M. Taylor: Will that, resolution apply to lads not turning up to drill. The chairman: “Yes.”

Mr H. S. Lawrence said that the military authorities had not been fair to boys, who played on Saturday afternoons. They had been compelled to drill on Saturdays, and personally hg would not like to have to do it. He thought that the parades had Icen arranged badly. The chairman said that when Colonel Young was approached in regard to parades, he had done his best for the sport. The boys only had to attend about two Saturday parade*- in the year. “If they are keen they will make soldiers and good cricketers,” he said. The motion was carried. _____