Poor Support For Hockey Tournament

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28630, 5 July 1958, Page 5

Poor Support For Hockey Tournament

only two entries received from the major hockey associations throughout the country, it is possible that the 1958 New Zealand Hockey Shield tournament, which is scheduled to begin in Auckland on September 15, may be cancelled through lack of interest. For the second time, the New Zealand Hockey Association has had to extend the closing date in the hope that further entries might come forward. Whether this year’s tournament lives or dies may depend on how strongly Manawatu. Wellington, and Canterbury associations are entrenched in their opposition to the tournament system of deciding New Zealand's champion provincial team. All three were vigorously opposed to the motion in favour of tournaments carried at the association’s last annual meeting, but they were countered by Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Otago'which were just as vigorously in favour of the motion. The vote was carried by the minor associations, which although not

affected by the decision, considered the tournaments most satisfactory. It is interesting to note that Otago, one of the staunchest supporters of the tournament, is missing from the list of entrants. With less than four entries, the tournament would be farcical, and unless Manawatu, Canterbury or Wellington relent, cancellation of the tournament will almost certaily result. Canterbury may be the key province. As the tournament winner last year a change in its outlook would probably affect other provinces.

However, none of the three opposition provinces can be criticised harshly for their action. They have had difficulty in finding representative players who can take a week from their employment to compete at a tournament, where week-end challenge matches would pose relatively few problems. Canterbury is also in dire financial straits.

It is disappointing that hockey, long regarded as one of this country’s stronger sports, should be handicapped on a national basis because of heated arguments over the allocation of the sport’s major trophy. If further entries fail to come forward and a special meeting of delegates is required to plan for the future, the association can always fall back on the challenge system. It proved satisfactory from 1908 until 1954, and there is no reason why it should not do so again.