Empire Cricket Booklet

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DEAN ALLEN

had not called for tenders for the contract, or brought up the matter for cabinet discussion, and neglected even to send the contract to the office of the attorney general for perusal. What aggravated matters was that the first intimation of the contract appeared in the press before Sivewright's colleagues had been notified. Merriman, Sauer and Rose-Innes were outraged, and as a consequence of their pressure Cape Railways cancelled the contract in November. 41 Logan promptly brought a suit for breach of contract against the Cape government for £50 000, and was ultimately awarded £5 000 in damages. Such was the fall-out from the controversy that in April 1893 Rhodes resigned to form a new ministry that excluded the three 'malcontents' as well as Sivewright. The contract debate and stance of the liberals underscored the fact that colonial South Africans like Rhodes, Sivewright and indeed Logan were true opportunists, who took advantage of every opportunity presented to them. Discretion and accountability did not feature high on their list of priorities as they made a success of creating their own wealth as well as their own 'empires'. As prime minister of the Cape, Cecil Rhodes offered his support to the first cricket tour to England by a South African team in 1894 and it was important for Logan, with political aspirations of his own, to be involved in the project. At a public meeting at the Commercial Exchange, Cape Town, on 9 February 1894, his pledge of £500 towards the tour, previously shrouded in mystery, was revealed. As reported by the South African Review: With the public meeting of cricketers and others interested in the sending of a South African cricket team to England next season ... it is hoped that Western Province sportsmen and public men and Cape Town merchants will rally round and show what the shank end can do ... The Hon. Cecil Rhodes will set the example and has kindly undertaken to attend and preside, and give his support to the project. If the Western Province can raise £1,000 guarantee, and if the Transvaal Union keep their promise to raise another Politics and Colonial Tours

£1,000, the other unions should easily, between them, raise another £500, which, together with the £500 already guaranteed, will complete the required total sum of £3,000 to ensure full expenses of the tour. 4 2 The '£500 already guaranteed' referred to Logan's offer, which was revealed at the meeting. Evidently, he timed his patronage of the tour to promote his ambitions of parliamentary election as well as his personal status. In 1892, he had stood unsuccessfully for the Cape Legislative Assembly in the Worcester constituency, and he was again a candidate in 1894, this time securing election. According to what Harry Cadwallader, the secretary of the South African Cricket Association (SACA), told the meeting, Logan had wished that 'his name should not be disclosed until after the General Election was over, as he did not wish it to be supposed that politics would be mixed up with sport (laughter and cheers). Mr. Logan wished to have no political bribery in the concern.' Significantly, Logan's offer of support for the 1894 tour was not without conditions. By helping guarantee the venture, Logan had hoped to 'buy' influence within the administration of South African cricket and as such expected some control over team selection as well as the management of the tour to England. 4 3 However, the Cape's cricket administrators were keen to retain control and upset Logan, for whom the coloured vote was important, by refusing to include in the tour party the coloured player, 'Krom' Hendricks, along with Charles Mills, the Surrey professional. After a meeting of the Western Province Cricket Union (WPCU) on 8 March 1894, it was announced that W. V. Simkins, president of the South African Rugby Football Board, would manage the touring team. Logan was not even consulted. He had wanted his close ally within SACA, Harry Cadwallader, to be manager, and according to the Cape Times had offered his £500 guarantee with this condition attached. 44 Three days before the meeting, according to the Cape Argus, Logan had sent a telegram to Cadwallader stating that 'it was impossible for him to attend the meeting, and evidently his presence was not desired. He was heartily sick of the whole business, and if he were to have anything to do in the matter, must have his stipulation respected.' 45 For his part, Cadwallader