Hockey Assn Takes Firm Stand On 1969 Tours

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31768, 27 August 1968, Page 18

Hockey Assn Takes Firm Stand On 1969 Tours

Hockey tours of New Zealand next year will not be considered by the management committee of the New Zealand Hockey Association.

The committee adopted this stand last night after learning of the willingness of the Bahawalpur state team, of Pakistan, to visit New Zealand in 1969.

Even if the association’s finances permitted such a move, 1969 would be a bad year for any sort of tour, said Mr R. H. Campbell. The association was committed to a tour of Australia and the New Zealand Universities’ team would also be playing Australian Universities. Hong Kong Out The committee decided not to enter a team in the international tournament in Hong Kong next year, either. Letters from the Auckland, Canterbury and Otago associations expressing opposition to sending a team were before the meeting. “The general opinion in New Zealand seems to be that we are spending a little too much on tours,” said Mr there would .be no financial J. Abrams. “It would be a good idea to get our own house in order before we start jumping around.” However, the coinmittee decided there waa sufficient interest from associations to Justify an invitation being sent to the Hawks, * club side from Vancouver, to visit New Zealand next year. Eight associations Indicated their willingness to play a match against the team

Not Affected The secretary-treasurer of the association (Mr M. R. Good) explained that the committee’s earlier decision did not affect the visit by the Hawks, because obligations for the New Zealand body to meet. The Hawks will be Visiting New Zealand in the course of a world tour.

On the subject of future tours to arid from Australia, committee members agreed that both countries should share tours by visiting national sides. Mr R. A. Milne said if New Zealand received an offer of a tour it Should advise Australia before sending its reply. The reverse would also apply, he added. Discussions on the interchange of visits between Australia and New Zealand will be held by represehtatlves of the two countries at the Interna-

tlonal Hoekey Federation meeting at Mexico. City, during the Olympic Games. Cancellation The aasociatlon, already upset by the cancellation of the Pakistan team’a tour, now has a similar situation on its hands for the inter-district tournament in Wanganui next week. A telegram received last Friday announced the withdrawal of the Southern Minor Association's B team from the tournament,

Th|s news was not well received by the committee. Mr F. A. Mong said the minor

associations’ A and B teams were selected at Queen’s Birthday week-end, and there seemed to be no reason for the late withdrawal. The action of Southern Minor would upset the draw and the arrangements made for sharing expenses, he sfiid.

The committee decided to ask the Wanganui association if it could field a B team at the tournament to fill the unexpected gap.

Resignation.— The resignation of Mr K. L. Mortimer from the management committee was