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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 7 (October 1, 1936)

[section]

New Zealand, far removed from the scenes of the greatest sporting encounters, has made some notable contributions to world-sport, but it is an unfortunate fact that our sportsmen must leave their own land and live abroad before they may secure a place in the headlines in the world's sports press.

No participant in sport has had more publicity in recent years than has our New Zealand-born and bred Jack Lovelock, yet he never won a New Zealand track and field title. All his success came when abroad.

Clarrie Grimmett, recognised as the master of the batsmen when he bowls the “wrong ‘un” in cricket, is just another New Zealander who had to shake the dust of his own land off his boots before he could get a footing in international sport. The world now knows of Grimmett and his deadly bowling, but few sporting papers chronicle the place of his birth—he is invariably recognised as an Australian.

And writing about cricket and cricketers, brings forward comment that Stewart Dempster, New Zealand's dashing batsman, has been doing a mighty fine piece of work in the Old Land. Figuring sixth in the batting honours with an average of 45.7 at the end of August, Dempster has brought distinction to New Zealand. In like manner, the all-round ability of a former team-mate, Ken James, has caused much favourable comment in England. James is recognised as a most capable wicket-keeper in a land where there are several fine “Aunt Sallys.” Not much has been heard, recently, of Bill Merritt, who went to England with two New Zealand cricketing teams and then returned to take part in League Cricket. In his first two seasons he established new records or broke old ones. The nature of cricket in which he participated called for all-rounders, and he was a distinct success.

One of the new first-class recently built for service on the Wellington-Napier line, North Island, New Zealand.

One of the new first-class recently built for service on the Wellington-Napier line, North Island, New Zealand.