Basketball Varying Opinions On Regional Tournaments

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28284, 23 May 1957, Page 3

Basketball Varying Opinions On Regional Tournaments

After a closely-contested ballot, approval in principle for the holding of regional tournaments, which will restrict the number of teams competing at national tournaments, was* given at the annual conference of the New Zealand Basketball Association in Christchurch yesterday. Tins decision was reached after three hours' discussion, during which delegates indicated they were widely divided in their views on regional tournaments. When a remit setting up a constitution for the regional tournaments was considered, a two-thirds majority vote was not obtained. This was largely because of opposition from several North Island associations which had previously opposed the proposal to approve of regional tournaments. As a result, the national executive will draw up another constitution on regional tournaments for presentation at the next council meeting, based upon suggestions received from associations. The discussion arose from remits forwarded by the executive containing a constitution for regional tournaments. Mrs M. A. Lee (Taranaki) said her association felt the remits were a progressive step for New Zealand basketball. “The time appear’- to be ripe for reorganisation of representation at national tournaments In Taranaki a regional tournament is employed to select our provincial representative team,” said Mrs Lee, “and it works very well.” Remits “Out of Order” “These remits are entirely out of order,” said the Auckland delegate (Miss P. Corston). “They concern the machinery of regional tournaments, yet we have not s been given an opportunity to decide whether we want regional tournaments or not.” Mrs F. W. Figgins (Putaruru) said her association was opposed tc regional tournaments. ‘A team could be playing in a very strong district and be eliminated in a regional tournament, yet that same team could be better than the winning team in another weaker area.” Mrs I}. Flynn (Temuka), Miss E. Yates (Canterbury), and Miss G. Symes (Hawke’s Bay) spoke in support of the proposal, but others opposed it on financial grounds. The president (Mrs'E. Lane) explained how a regional tournametit would be run among minor associations in Auckland. “The South Island is far piore unfavourably nlaced for these tournaments than the North.” said Mrs Lane. “In the third grade, in which entries at the national tournament are especially in need of restriction, there are eight teams. The most northern is Kaikoura, and they spread as far south as Balclutha. Bringing them together for regional tournaments would be a difficulty.” After the president had asked whether the conference wanted the subject to be deferred. Miss Yates said that, if it was deferred for another year it would be shelved for good. A motion to defer the matter was put to the meeting and lost by a narrow margin. Approval In Principle Moving that regional tournaments be approved in principle. Miss A. S. Green (Wanganui) said the issue was quite plain. Unless regional tournaments were instituted, she said, it would be the end of national tournaments, for no town or, city in the country would have either the accommodation or facilities to cater for the large number of teams The motion was carried with a majority of 25. When the original remit was again considered, a twothirds majority, as demanded for changes in the association's constitution. was not received. “We are now at a said

Mrs R. M. Mclnnes (Wellington). "It appears that associations opposed to regional tournaments are now determined to block us. We are now m a position of having adopted the principle of regional tournaments, and yet we have no machinery to institute them." A motion to have the matter of machinery to implement the tournaments referred back to the executive was carried. As the result of an Otago remit, allocation of referees at national tournaments will in future be made before the tournament. The draw will include the names of the referee for each individual game.