HOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 168, 16 July 1921, Page 18

HOCKEY.

Announcement from the New Zealand ITockey Association regarding the approaching shield matches will add to the anticipation of the big events. So far Bay of Plenty, which embraces Whnkatane, Opotiki, Tauranga, Whangarci (last year's champions), Rodney, Thames and Waiuku. linve formally | entered, and it is quite probable that ! Franklin and Waihi will be added to the list in a few days. Country week commences on July 25, and matches will be played each day at Remtiera, concluding with the finals on Friday afternoon, s<> hockey enthusiasts will have plenty to claim their attention in following this series of interesting matches. The annual inter-college match between Auckland and University has been arranged for July 30th. at Hemuera. The return match between St. Luke's and Somerville U attracting considerable attention. It is set down to take place on the same day that University meet Victoria College. News to hand from Christchurch states that Canterbury has withdrawn the challenge for the shield. Another shield hunter in Waikato has been announced, although no definite challenge has reached the Auckland Hockey Association. The South Auckland Association held the Norden Cup for quite a long time, and were regraded to the shield division, but towards the end 6f last year lost the honours of the minor association to Feilding and, as matters stand, Waikato can compete for the shield while their victims are on the Norden Cup fooling. Whangarei have challenged Feilding in connection with the Norden Cup, and the Southern association will be called upon to make their first defence of the trophy on July 23. The Northerners tire in rather an unfortunate position, as they play Feilding: on the Saturday and are scheduled to take part i?i '•Country Week' , at Remuera on the following Monday. They endeavoured to arrange matters with Feilding, but j the latter were adamant, and the pre- j gent outlook indicates that Whangarei j will experience somr- difficulty in fulfilling their first engagement at Remuera, unless something can be done at this end. It k difficult to understand the atti- , tilde adopted by the Canterbury Hockey Association regarding the shield. First of all they challenge, and after the allocation when they anpenr first on the list, withdraw. Evidently something is -wanting in connection witli Southerners. At the present time there are only two shield-hunter.3 in the field, Nelson and Wellington. The former take precedence, and the match will be played at the first suitable opportunity. A good deal of controversy has been going on down South regarding the headquarters of the New Zealand Hockey Association. It has been contended in Wellington that the management is not all that could be desired, and that the New Zealand Centre ehould be transferred to Wellington. A Wellington writer, concerning the management of the new Hockey Association, etates: "In this connection, ako, a more recent ] incident may be here noted. On May 11 last the local association forwarded a< challenge for the Zanol. Junior Cup at j present held by Canterbury. An acknowledgment and receipt for the deposit was duly received from the N.Z.H.A. Yet on the" 16th of last month a letter cc.iies to hand from the Canterbury Association, stating that as y«H no challenges had ■been received for the cup and asking i^

Wellington intended to challenge. As' the X.Z.H.A. and all its officials are in : Christchurch, jt seeme strange that over! a month was allowed to elapse before! steps were taken to inform the Canter- ' bury Association of Wellington's inten- ' tion to send a team. Followers of the game in Wellington would like to know ■ if the N.Z.H.A, holds regular meetings with the Press present. If so, how is it that so few of them are reported through the Frees Association? Surely there is enough business connected with the game all over the Dominion to justify the parent body holding regular weekly or fortnightly meetinge as is the caee with other similar bodies, the New Zealand Rugby Union or tha New Zealand Football Association, for instance. It is claimed to be a fact the N.Z.H.A. is altogether out of t ouch with tho game and ha« practically ceased to function as the chief controller of hockey in New Zealand. Wellington, being so well favoured by its central position, is better able to keep in touch with the game in β-ll parts of tho Dominion, and therefore U the best locale for headquarters of an association controlling a game with a national scope. It is the feeling of many who take a keen interest in the affaire of hockey that the stick game cannot hope to make truly satisfactory progress until the desired transfer takes place." Canterbury Hockey Association are : making arrangements for the annual i inter-inland match which will be played at C'hrjstehureh this year.