Players’ Views On Tour Sought

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30897, 2 November 1965, Page 20

Players ’ Views On Tour Sought

The views of the New Zealand players on aspects of the recent tour of Australia are being sought by the management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association. To this end the committee has sent a questionnaire to all the players; the individual answers will be confidential. The questionnaire will assist the management committee when it considers the future international programme for the national team. The players will be asked to comment on the suitability of billeting, travel arrangements and tour organisation relating particularly to the duties of the team’s leaders. They will be as'ked, too, if they think their ability increased on the tour and if they favour the promotion of other overseas tours, besides the usual interchange of visits with Australia Sticks Rule A letter from the New Zealand Hockey Umpires’ Association seeking guidance in defining the sticks rule brought a quick reaction from members of the committee at a meeting last night. _ “There is no room for varying interpretations,” said Mr F. Mong. “The rule says the stick

shall not be raised above the shoulder—full stop.” The umpires’ body claimed there were two schools of thought on the rule. One said sticks should be awarded at all times: the other said the rule should be applied only when shooting for goal. Support For Scheme

The committee decided to lend its support to a proposal to form an Olympic Games society. The scheme, which is being put to all national sports bodies, envisages the formation of a society of 50,000 subscrib ers to provide money to finance New Zealand teams to Olympic and Empire Games.

Some of the money would be used to bring overseas competitors to the Dominion in non games years.

Dr. L. H. Berry said the scheme was well worthy of sup port: if it went only half-way it would be worthwhile.

Eighty per cent of New Zealanders were interested in Olympic results, claimed Mr N. V. Burtt. But, he said, people did not like raffle books- they would prefer something In the nature of the proposal. Because of the number of sports in the Olympics, the scheme would have a wide appeal.