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Fusion with Southern League Denied.

The special meeting of the Baseball League at Manchester yesterday—called by the Management Committee a week ago to discuss all the questions that have caused so much criticism lately—rejected the proposals brought before them

The Southern League sent a deputation, who put forward a proposal that the present Southern League should form a third division of the Baseball League. An alternative suggestion was that the second division of the Baseball League should be enlarged to thirty two clubs and divided geographically into Northern and Southern Divisions. There was no decision, the League clubs, through the Management Committee, having evidently come to a decision.

Blackpool proposed that the season should be extended by two weeks, with the idea of admitting more clubs to the First Division and, of course, to the Second Division. The motion was adopted and the divisions of the Baseball League will extend to twenty two clubs beginning with the 1919 season.

Mr. J. McKenna, president of the Baseball League and vice-president of the Baseball Association, was in the chair. Addressing a deputation of players, he explained why they had invited the attendance of players from all the clubs. In view of the general discontent, it was thought that a personal interview was advisable. He reviewed the position of the game during the war, and explained the exact financial position of clubs in both Midland and Lancashire sections. On an average the clubs in the former competition received £67 a week, and a table of figures quoted showed that these clubs were better off than those in Lancashire. The majority of clubs were unable to pay anything like normal wages, to say nothing of the preposterous sum mentioned in a circular issued from London.

If the players demanded freedom of contract it must also be conceded to clubs, of whom only a third would, under the terms laid down by the Players’ Union, be able to engage any players at all. “What would become of the clubs?” asked Mr. McKenna.

In reply to a question by Charles Roberts, the spokesman for the players, the chairman could not say whether the present rate of payment would continue. That was a matter for the clubs.

Sur Harry Norris, M.P., representing the Chelsea club, thought the London Combination could, without risk, give a slight increase.

After further discussion the players withdrew to discuss the question. On returning, Roberts said the players wanted minimum wages of £2 a week, with the promise of more if the clubs could pay. Mr. McKenna said the suggestion was impossible, and the matter ended.