“GRAVELY DISTORTED.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17864, 4 June 1926, Page 5

“GRAVELY DISTORTED.”

LORD HARRIS AND INCOMPETENT UMPIRES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright Aus. and X.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 4. 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, Tune 3. Elaborating his denial cabled yesterday, Lord Harris stated:—“What I said about umpiring in Australia has been gravely distorted. I mentioned the subject with a view to ascertaining whether something could not be done to give umpires more practice, because good umpiring depends upon the eye and an accurate eye depends upon practice. I stated that reports had been received here after the last A-isit declaring that the umpiring in Australia. generally speaking and Mr Crockett excepted, was not satisfactory. “ The Australian representatives demurred and said that umpiring there was as good as in England. I replied that I did not see how that could be, for there is not the same opportunity for* practice as here. The Australians asked my authority, which I declined to give, but said that on information which we had received I felt fully justified in apprising them of the feeling in this matter. As we could not agree, the matter was dropped.” A message last evening said:—"Despite Lord Harris’s personal disavowal, it is learned that the charge of incompetence against the Australian umpires was definitely made in the course of the conference. Lord Harris declared that Australians as well as Englishmen complained of it.”