Merit attention before the third of June (4)
I believe the answer is:
earn
'merit' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'attention before the third of june' is the wordplay.
'attention' becomes 'ear' (having someone's ear is having their attention).
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'the third of june' becomes 'n' (rrd letter of 'june').
'ear'+'n'='EARN'
(Other definitions for earn that I've seen before include "Bring home" , "Merit through work or effort" , "Attain" , "Secure" , "Pull in" .)