Assn’s financial plight discussed

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 28

Assn’s financial plight discussed

By

KEVIN TUTTY

The-financial plight of the New Zealand Hockey Association, brought about by several overseas tours in the last few years, is not likely to be lessened in the next year the annual meeting was told on Saturday. The budget for the next financial year, which started on September 1, shows a deficit in the tours account of $33,700. That is a considerable improvement on the situation just three months ago when the account was $64,800 in the red. The greatest drain on the association’s funds in the next year will be the World Cup in London next October. The tournament and preparation for it is expected to cost $lOO,OOO. To reduce the deficit the association will run a national raffle. It is expected to produce $26,000 for the association, and sponsorship has been budgeted at $50,000. Asked if the association had any contingency plans if the raffle did not produce the expected returns, and the sponsorship figure was below that expected, the chairman of the association, Dr Bruce Penfold said it was possible New Zealand’s participation in the World Cup could be cancelled. A Canterbury delegate, Mr John Morse, warned that if the association’s finances did not improve, then, sooner or later a major overseas tour would have to be cancelled.

All teams at next year’s national tournament will play on the artificial surface at Mount Albert Park, but some teams will receive

more games than others. The tournament format will be changed for the tournament There will be four sections of eight teams. The top two sections will play all their pool games and section play-offs on the surface, while the bottom two sections will play one round and section play-offs on the artificial turf. It was felt that the teams in the top two sections had to have priority on the surface, said Dr Penfold. Associations were canvassed for their views on holding the bottom two sections at a different time, but the majority view was that the tournament should not be split. The Wellington association, the host, also favoured the tournament over one week. Administrative problems created by tournaments over two weeks would be almost insurmountable. The Champions Tournament for the top six teams at the national tournament in Christchurch this year, will be played at Queens Birthday Week-end next year. The tournament was initiated this year to give leading teams additional opportunities to play on the artificial surface in Wellington. Next year the tournament will be extended from three to five days to eliminate the need for teams having to e twice in one day as >ened this year. Two Northland men, Crichton Christie and Ross Pennington, were presented with the Pakistan Trophy at the meeting. The award is a national one made to the person or persons who makes the most valuable contribution to hockey dur-

ing the season. Messrs Christie and Pennington were instrumental in obtaining the second artificial surface in New Zealand. The first sods for the surface were turned last week at Kensington Park in Whangarei. Mr Pennington is chairman of the committee planning the surface and Mr Christie the financial adviser and planning engineer. The N.Z.H.A. will write to the Minister of Recreation and Sport expressing its support of lotto as a means of providing financial support for recreation and sport A telegram was sent to the New Zealand cricket team by the meeting wishing it success in its vital third test against Australia at Perth. Mr Bob Campbell, who has been a member of the association’s management committee since 1968 was voted off the committee in the election of officers. Another long serving member, Mr Len Taylor, retired from the committee. It was also announced that Mr Alan Barrett, the secretary of the association since 1977, would relinquish the position at the end of January. The association is investigating the appointment of a full time executive officer in the next year. Officers elected at the meeting were: President, Mr R. Jones (Auckland); vice-presidents, Messrs D. L. Coulter (Canterbury), B. Turner (Manawatu); management committee, Messrs G. Armitage, G. Cox, W. Doak, R. Ganda, J. R. Gillespie, L. Haste, D. Hefford, and Dr B. R. Penfold.