Centralisation criticised

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 16

Centralisation criticised

The North Canterbury Netball Association has been criticised by a correspondent, Janice Stead, for centralising matches in Rangiora this season. “Some sports associations are organising fixtures so as to minimise the amount ,of travel and conserve previous fuel,” said the letter to “The Press.”

The same was not the case with the netball association “and its ridiculous policy of centralisation” claimed the letter.

“This season it (the association) has directed that all teams, including primary, play their netball in Rangiora, a very wasteful and short-sighted exercise considering the Government’s piea to conserve fuel. This means that: dozens of well equipped netball courts scattered throughout the country districts will lie unused because the association will not change to a more realistic draw to save unnecessary travel. "In many cases, teams

are by-passing their opponents’ courts to play in Rangiora .Let us hope the association will see that now is the time to dismantle its empire and decentralise in the name of economy,” the letter concluded. The association does not agree with the correspondent’s sentiments. Its president (Mrs D. Simpson), replied: “The question of centralisation was first put to clubs at the halfyearly meeting of the association last July. “Clubs then considered the proposal at their annual meetings, and at the sub-association’s annual meeting in March, the decision to centralise games at Rangiora was made. The vote was 3718.” By centralising netball in Rangiora, clubs believe they are saving more petrol than they would if games were played on a home and away basis. Many older players have daughters playing, and by

centralising netball it saves a lot of travelling around the district,” said Mrs Simpson. “Under the old system a mother who plays for Kaiapoi might have had to take her daughter to play in Oxford in the morning, and then travel to Rangiora in the afternoon for her own game,’’ said Mrs Simpson.