HOCKEY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13095, 21 April 1908, Page 3

HOCKEY.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE PRESS." Sir, —-Now tliai the hockey season is upon us, i uiKe die liberty ot pointing out, to hookey players uuu tho luiiowei'o oi tile game in general the composition aiiu personnel oi tho govui.iuig 1 reier to mat august oouy, uiu Aew ZcaianU Jttociiey A»»H:iatiou. ihu members oi this Association aro appointed, or &houla t>« appointed., uy the several uuiluiuxl associations, and as the headquarters of i-he iSew Zealand ilocKey Association are located in Climtchurch, so it follows that the representatives ot the affiliated aisocialioiis must-be chosen ironi among Christchurch residents. .Now, any oane and iair-ininded person wou.Ut naturally come to the conclusion that tiie appointments aro conferred upon those who have served hockey faithfully and well and borne the buTden and -teat of the day. But not so; a great proportion of these so-called appointments are not appointments in the sense, but "jumped claims," as it were. I have not the slightest hesitation in stating that not one-half of the affiliated associations know who their representatives are, and it is just possible that even those who do know have no knowledge of the fitness of the person for the position so chosen. A certain association applies for affiliation, which is granted in due course, and then this association is notified that it must appoint a representative to the New Zealand Hockey Association. The joining . association, not knowing of any competent person resident in this city who is prepared to act for them, simply cays: "You appoint one for us"j and the appointment is made somewhat in this manner: A says to B ? "Who is there we oan. get?" B replies, "There is C; he used to play marbles and spin tops remarkably well; ( ihe'd mate a. good man; let's fix him up?" and the deed is done. At tlie time there would be a number of old-time players, still enthusiasteof the game, who would gladly act.* Their being overlooked is no fault of their own, because they are always before the hockey- world and evince their interest in. the game by being present during tho actual playing of matches. There are at the present time at least three persons sitting on tho governing body who have not the slightest idea of the game of hockey, and who are never seen at any of the matches, and—much as I regret to have to say it —one of these persons is continually holding the game up to derision. Yet, you hockey, players allow this sort of thing to go oh unchecked. Bestir yourselves,- and set your house in order! You have among you those with whom the -government of the sport may bo safely entrusted.,, and for- the credit of the sport let hockey -be governed by hockey.—Yours, etc., HOCKEYITE, 1894.