BOYS’ TEAM TO TOUR AUSTRALIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 257, 17 August 1950, Page 2

BOYS’ TEAM TO TOUR AUSTRALIA

HOCKEY

COMMENT ON CHANGE OF MANAGER ® . ' (P.A.) AUCKLAND, August IG. ' Objection was taken by Mr S. Cole, of Auckland, to a report from Christchurch, that, because he was “not now available,” he had been superseded as manager of the New Zealand schoolboy hockey team to tour Australia by Mr E. S. Hobson, of the Christchurch Boys’ High School. “I made it a condition of my appointment that the team of boys of under 16 years should be accompanied by a woman chaperon, and 1 offered to pay Mrs Cole’s fare to Sydney /so that she might act in that capacity,” Mr Cole said. “This condition was accepted by the New Zealand Hockey Association and my appointment as manager was confirmed. “HoAvever, in later correspondence the New South Wales Hockey Association objected to a woman being associated with the team in any capacity and pressed the point so vigorously that the New Zealand Association revoked its decision. When it was sug gested to me that I, too, should change my attitude, I refused,” Mr Cole said. “My experience convinces me that it is foolish to send young boys on tour to a strange country for as long as three weeks without chaperonage by a woman. “The New Zealand Association asked me to stand down and Mr Hobson was appointed in my place. It is inaccurate to say that Mr Hobson was appointed because I was not available.”