HOCKEY ENTERPRISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 232, 1 October 1925, Page 8

HOCKEY ENTERPRISE.

ARMY TEAM FROM INDIA.

TO BE IN N.Z. NEXT MAY.

POSSIBLE HEADQUARTERS

CHANGE. A proposal is afoot in hockey circles to arrange a visit to New Zealand by an army team from India, composed mainlye of native troops, early next season. The matter was brought before the Auckland Hockey Association at its weekly meeting last night in a communication from headquarters which sought to And out what support would be forthcoming for the tour. In the letter it was stated that the information from India was to the effect that the standard of hockey there was considered the highest in the world, and that a team could be obtained to tour New Zealand if the New Zealand Association would pay the boat fare one way and all the expenses in New Zealand. On these terms a team composed largely of Indian players attached to the army could be obtained, and it would possess the double attraction for New Zealanders- of high-class hockey by an overseas team and the novelty of seeing Indian players on the hockey field. A tentative programme was submitted of 19 .matches, including a do,-.en mid-week matches at the smaller centres, and of Saturday matches at Auckland (2), Wellington, Wanganui, Dannevirke, Christchurch (2). and Dunedin. These would include three Test matches, at Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. It was estimated that the amount for which the New Zealand Hockey Association would be liable would be £1000, and guarantees from the local associations were suggested, ranging from £20 to £150. The latter amount was for two Saturday matches, including one Test. game. The Auckland Association last night approved the arrangements on the lines suggested, and agreed to find tbe guarantee of £150 for two matches, one against a local representative team, and one against a Xew Zealand team. It is proposed to have the Indian team in New Zealand early in May, so that its visit may not clash with representative football fixtures.

The Headquarters Dispute. Another matter of general interest to hockey players, which came liefore the meeting last night, was a notice that a general meeting of the association would be held i»i Christchurch on October 6 to consider a motion from the Wellington Association that headquarters be shifted from Christchurch to Wellington. A ■ letter from the Wellington Association on the subject set out that headquarters had been for too long a period at Christchurch, that Wellington was more centrally situated and thus more convenient for.the good management of the game, and that there was a general lack of interest and of business methods displayed by the executive in Christchurch. Regarding the third head, the Wellington Association raised a number of points touching on recent tours. After the question had been discussed at length tbe Auckland executive decided to instruct its delegates to support the following motion: "As Wellington is more centrally situated than Christchurch, the headquarters of the New Zealand Association should be in the former city, although the Auckland Association has no complaints regarding the manner in which the affairs ot the Mew Zealand Hockey Association have been conducted by the present management."