Cricket "CANNOT COMPLAIN"

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 103, 28 October 1933, Page 24

Cricket

"CANNOT COMPLAIN"

By "N»t Out."

PLAYERS 60 ABROAD COUNCIL'S CHANGED VIEW Reference is made in the annual report of the New Zealand Cricket Coun- , oil to the New Zealand players participating in county, league, and other cricket in. England. Of the five playera mentioned, one—W. E. Merritt— was placed under a, ban by the New .Zealand Council in a decision that he would not in future be invited to play for New Zealand. Evidently Merritt's . case has been icconsidered since last .season, as the latest annual report in- ' .difiates that the ban is now removed. ; "During this English season," the report states, "Dacro played in Gloucestershire, and Merritt, Croinb, Roberts, and Dempster in English League cricket, while Blunt has accepted a commercial appointment with Sir Julien Cahn. The loss of those players, to- . gcthcr with the retirement of Lowry, , seriously weakened our teams against ■ M.C.C. Croniib applied for and was granted exemption by the management committee from the terms of the agreement made with the players in 1931. While it is to be regretted that we lia.ve lost so many of our players, wo . cannot complain, as particularly in these . days of stress, ev-ery man is entitled to sell his skill in the best market at the highest price." DEMPSTER'S POSITION. . , •_.; The position so far as Dempster is concerned is made to appear in the report as being oe a par witli that of the three players who had engage- ; jnents in Lancashire League cricket. . Special reference is made to Blunt having accepted a commercial appointment, and actually this is the ease with Dempster. He has not been playing in League cricket (Bibblesdale) as a professional, nor had he been lost to New Zealand cricket, as indicated, when the M.C.C. team was ■ here.. Dempster played in all matches against, the M.C.C. team in New Zealand, and,it was just afterwards that > he. left on a business trip to England* ■On. his arrival in England he was approached by Sir Lindsay Parkinson, of Blackpool, and subsequently entered into business thera. The expression of opinion with regard to players accopting engagements overseas represents a cha. ~a from the attitude taken up some time ago when^ complaint was voiced about the "poach- ■ ing" being done by the Lancashire League. ' THE MERRITT CASE. "VOf the latest action in Merritt's case, fhe council's report states:—"The management committee lias considered Merl'itt's position again and has decided to approve of his name being considered in the "selection, of future teams. Merfitt, however, will probably not return to New Zealand this season." Some '.time ago Merrilt, who has had two seasons in Lancashire League cricket, decided to accept an offer to qualify for Wigan in JRugby League football. His qualifying depended upon performance in. somo six matches, but no advice has been received as to whether Merritt came up to requirements which ■would assure him of a permanent place with 'Wigan for the season. It was in December, 1931, that the New Zealand Cricket Council barred Merritt from playing for - New Zealand. "Prior to the departure for England of the New Zealand cricket team," the council stated at that time, "the committee decided as a matter of policy that no member of the team should be allowed to accept a cricketing engagement in England for a period of two years after his return to New Zealand. Each member of the team gave an undertaking, to the council that he would nofc accept any such engagement. On August i> 1931, while on tour, Merritt signed an agreement with tho Eishton Club in the Lancashire League, under ■Vrhioh he has agreed to play for that dub during the seasons 1932 and 1933. Merritt did not inform the manager of the team, nor the' council, of either I!Se- negotiation or the aggrement. He \as admitted to the committee that he has broken the undertaking he gave to the council above referred to. The committee has given careful consideration to the ■unfortuate position which has been created by Merritt's breach of the undertaking. "With great regret the committee has decided that tho "breach of the undertaking cannot be passed over, and has. therefore decided that Merritt will not in future be 'in.vited to play for New Zealand." ! "My decision to come to England," said Merritt on his arrival to take up his engagement with the Bishton Club, ""was dictated by business reasons, and when it is realised that some members of the New Zealand team who toured England are without employment, I do not think I can be blamed for coming here."