“NOT CRICKET”

Southland Times, Issue 19814, 10 March 1926, Page 6

“NOT CRICKET”

UNSPORTSMANLIKE TACTICS ALLEGED INQUIRY BY ASSOCIATION. The executive of the Southland Cricket Association held a special meeting at the Showgrounds last evening for the purpose of holding an inquiry into certain unpleasant incidents which are alleged to have occurred during the progress of the UnionAppleby senior match on February 17 last. The president of the association (Mr R. M. Strang) occupied the chair, while there were also present Dr Stanley Brown, Messrs A. E. Wish, Pt Shaw, W. Lenihan, J. Fogarty, P. McCallum, N. Poole, W. Johns and the secretary (Mr G. Corbett). Prior to the commencement of the business the chairman outlined the reasons which had led to the meeting being called, and said that with all due deference to the Press representatives present he was of opinion that the inquiry should be held in committee for obvious reasons.

Mr e P. Shaw seconded the chairman’s motion.

Mr Wish remarked that he would move an amendment to have the meeting conducted openly. He contended that the association should let the public and the cricketers themselves see that it was out to improve the sport and he considered that they could rely on the Press to treat the matter as it should be treated. If that were done no harm would result to anyone. Personally he had no time for meetings behind closed doors, and so far as cricket was concerned he was afraid there had been too much of that sort of thing in the past. Mr P. McCallum seconded Mr Wish’s amendment, which on the vote was carried by four votes to three, the chairman refraining from voting. The secretary then read a letter received from the secretary of the Union Club stating that he regretted to report that during the progress of the Union-Appleby senior game on February 17 last several unpleasant incidents had taken place, and expressing the hope that the association would take such action as would prevent such occurrences in the future. The secretary of the club also stated that the captain of the team regretted his action in going on to the field of play during the progress of the match and extended his apologies for having done so.

The chairman asked the meeting to extend a fair hearing to the several witnesses who would be called during the evening, and suggested that after all the available evidence had been heard the executive should give its decision in an impartial manner. , _

Evidence was given by Messrs A. E. Wish, J. Olliver, R. Abercrombie, F. Watson, A. Hamilton, T. Groves, A. Poole and C. Dixon. It was stated that in the course of the match the feeling between the two contestants was somewhat tense and culminated in strained relations becoming evident towards the close of the second day’s play. Some of the witnesses contended that the culminating point was reached when certain references were made by some players reflecting on the ability of one of the umpires, and also at a later stage when the Union Club’s captain walked on to the playing area and stated that he was going to act as umpire. However, his intrusion was resented by some of the Appleby players, who consequently were alleged to have made some unfair references. One of the umpires informed the meeting that he had had occasion to utter a warning to two players on account of what he considered were uncalled for remarks. Charges of heckling players were also made by witnesses for the Union Club, while Appleby representatives maintained that so far as they were concerned there was nothing in . the nature of deliberate action to provoke their opponents. At the conclusion of the evidence the executive went into committee to review the evidence adduced and subsequently on resuming in open meeting passed a resolution on the motion of Mr Shaw instructing the chairman and the secretary to forward a letter to both clubs concerned calling attention to the allegations of unsportsmanlike action and reminding them that if incidents such as had been reported occurred in the future and they were reported to the association drastic action would be taken to bring offenders to book.

It was also decided that efforts should be made to resuscitate an umpires’ association, which it was felt would no doubt move many of the present difficulties if they were accorded the full support of the association.