HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 160, 7 July 1909, Page 7

HOCKEY.

Mr D. Manson, Vice-President of the New Zealand Hockey Association, is now on a short visit to Auckland. In conversation with him on Canterbury's objection to give Auckland a guarantee for a match at Christchureb, he thought Canterbury should give £ 10, but further mentioned that if Auckland had anything like their strongest team on tout they should play for the shield.

The all-important topic in hockey circles at the present time is the deadlock between the Hockey and Referees' Association. The rupture between the two bodies has reached a more acute stage than was ever anticipated. Tonight, representatives of both Associations hold a conference, and it is to be hoped they will deal with the matter satisfactorily. A brief explanation of the contretemps may not be out of place. On Monday, 21st June, Mr Robinson sent in his resignation to the Referees' Association, this being clearly in order, and the Referees' secretary notified the secretary of the Hockey Association Now, this resignation is well known to be the outcome of dissatisfaction by Mr Robinson as to the matches he has been appointed to by the Auckland Hockey Association.

On Tuesday night, when making the appointments of referees, the Association were acquainted with the fact oi the resignation by the secretary, also by the referees' delegate, and despite this fact, selected Him, an ex-member of that body, to control the most important fixture played this season, over the heads of several members of the Association, who were equally qualified to control the game. The Referees' secretary notified the Hockey Association that if the appointment remained, trouble would arise, and acting upon this the Hockey Association held a special meeting to consider the case on the Friday night preceding the match. Not withstanding that the Association had a full and lucid account of the position, they adhered to Mr Robinson's appointment on the ground that the referees' delegate at Tuesday's meeting did not object. The delegate states that be did object. Why in common reasoning such a decision could be arrived at when the position was so clearly put before them is hard to understand. This was most unjust to the referees, and the Association were then notified that no referees would take the field on Saturday, and this was carried into eect. On the following Tuesday, the. Association held a meeting, excluding the Press, and again discussed the question. But from the resolution carried, ft is clearly evidenced that the Friday night's business was completely ignored. This, in itself, was practically an admission of error on their part- The Referees' Association considered the resolution on the Wednesday evening, but were perfectly satisfied that the Association could not have been under any misapprehension after having the position so clearly put before them on the Friday night. The reply sent by the Referees to the resolution was evidently not considered by the Association at Thursday's mwtinjr, for they appointed as referees the cxmember of the Referees' Association (who had taken so much exception to the Auckland Hockey Association's appointments throughout the season), and in addition members of the North Shore Hockcv Club.

The inclemency of the weather saved the Hockey Association from a rather unfortunate position. It is just as \w>ll the matches did not eventuate, as no matter how conscientious the referees of the various games might have been, a considerable amount of ill-feeling would probably have accrued, e.g., Giafion v. Ponsonby (Wrigley, referee); a win to the former woulri place that teum in the first four for the final round, whereas a defeat would have placed Xortii Shore in that position. This is simpiy aa illustration of what might have occurred.

A conference will be held this evening between the executive officers of the two associations, and the whole question discussed, with the view of an amicalblp settlement.

A meeting of the management committee of the Auckland Hockey Association was held last night, Mr. W. Coleman (president) being in the chair. In respect of a letter from the New Zealand Hockey Association, touching the matches for tne New Zealand Association' 3 challenge shield, it was decided to play Taranaki on August 7, and the other associations after the Southern ■tour.

The itinerary for the Southern tour is now almost mapped. The team, by present arrangements, leave Auckland an August 10, meet Wangamii on the 12th, Wellington on the 14th, Canterbury 10th, Dunedin 21st, Southland 20th, Miinawatu 28th, arriving back on the 29th. This programme may be modified. Jf a boat can .bo arranged to leave New Plymouth on August 28, a match will be played there on that date. In that event the team would leave Auckland a day sooner, Manawatu being played on August 11. It was decided that it would be impossible to play at Nelson, owing to extra cost and the unsuitable running of the i boats.