AUCKLAND RETURNS TO ATTACK AGAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18092, 28 February 1927, Page 9

AUCKLAND RETURNS TO ATTACK AGAIN.

“THE DOMINANCE OF SOUTHERN INFLUENCES.” (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, February; 27. In an article under the caption of “Wake Up. Auckland,” “Actseon” wrote in the “Auckland Star” eight o’clock edition last night: “Following on the season's provincial cricket matches the New Zealand cricket team has been selected, and Auckland players have again had scant recognition from the southern selectors, being overlooked for players in Canterbury (Merritt) and Wellington (Dempster), who were not deemed good enough for their own provincial teams. It is time Auckland entered on a steady fight for recognition. “The Flunket Shield averages this year tell a sorrowful talc to Aucklanders, the holders, by' conquest, of the trophy, and at the same time practically the most despised of the provinces in the matter of recognition of its players by the selectors of the New Zealand team. On the field the Auckland team has won a barren victory, for the real honours have been awarded to Wellington and Canterbury. The list of the twenty leading batsmen and twelve chief bowlers (excluding professionals), gives Auckland and Wellington six batsmen each, and Canterbury and Otago three each, while Auckland and Otago claim three each of the best bowlers and Wellington and Canterbury' two apiece. Yet the (representative) team selected for England contains six Wellington, four Canterbury’ and three Auckland players, with one from Otago, and, to, make this combination effective, the selectors have included a professional, an immature and untried youth, and a young batsman whose form has proved extremelydisappointing.

“The moral of x it all for Auckland is that the local association in future must make itself heard in the New Zealand Council and consistently push the claims of the province and the provincial players, regardless of other claims. It is pcYhaps not ‘cricket’ nor especially decorous, but it appears to be the only effective method of meeting the oppressive political domination of Wellington and Canterbury. For instance. it must net again allow itself to be fobbed off with the. sophistry that selectors do not ‘represent’ any province, and sit mute and helpless while the balance of power in the selection of a New Zealand team is given to two notably keen partisans like the captains of the Wellington and Canterbury teams. Again, the nominations of another province should be deemed a proper subject for scrutiny' instead of being considered merely a matter between the other province and the council. Just now the Wellington papers are asking why Auckland did not raise the question of Badcock's eligibility when he was first nominated. It is obvious that the time has arrived for Auckland to wake up and to exercise a ceaseless vigilance on matters pertaining to cricket.”