MAY HAVE TO “GO OUT”

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 218, 10 June 1933, Page 16

MAY HAVE TO “GO OUT”

Dilemma of School Hockey . Association NO SATURDAY PLAY < A haril}' perennial has croppcu up j ailin’ in ‘the matter of the provision , of hockey grounds for the I’rlu’ary , Schools’ Hockey Assoeiat on of W el- . liip-t’in. This association, Mr. b. Koan , explained to the Reserves Committee } of the City Council yesterday morning, . endeavoured to eater for 250 boy players cverv Saturday morning, but owing to the action of the council in not allowing play on Saturday mornings, ho expressed the opinion that the association might have to go out of business. These 250 boys were apart altogether from Hie 150 boys at Karori aud Wadestown who could not participate at all because the grounds at Lyall Bay were too far away. The grounds at; Lyall Bay, Mr. bean snicl were unsuitable for hockey on account of their size, roughness, and saniiiucss. It bail been suggested that the games might be played on Fridays, but that was rendered impossible, as many of the teachers already supervised Rugby and Soccer, aud they could only supervise hockey on Saturday mornings. It was also proposed that some other day of the week might serve, but the headmasters of the schools considered that it was too distracting to break into school work in the middle of the week. In addition to Hie grounds at Lyall Bay they had one ground at Kilbirnie, one at Pirie Street, two at Newtown Park, and two atTanera Crescent (Brooklyn), but these were Insufficient. Control of Players. “I need scarcely point out to you the advantage of having the boys under control on Saturday mornings,” said Mr. Kean, ‘‘even if it is only from the standpoint of, damage to the city reserves, but as it is I don't see how we are to carry on. At the same time, it will be very regrettable if we have to give it up.” Mr. S. B. Browne, who represented the Wellington Hockey Association, said that tiic number of hockey players had doubled during the last three or four years. The school players were vital to the association, and if they were cut out the prospects of the association would not be rosy. He saw no reason why the men’s hockey grounds should not be used on Saturday mornings as It did not affect them at all to play two games a day. In regard to the association's grounds at Kilbirnie. the association in 1930 used to be charged £lO/10/- per season for the ground. Then they were put off the ground for half the next season, but received no rebale from the council. and when the grounds were given them again the association found that it wa.s being charged £1 each for them —£l9 instead of £lO/10/-. Mr. Browne also referred to the grounds at Newtown Park and Tanera Crescent being divided into two small grounds, but charged rent as though they were full-sized grounds. In connection with Pirie Street reserve and Northland Park, both small grounds, they felt they were entitled to a rebate. The Hockey Association had no income. Its main expenditure was ground rents. When a team wa.s sent away the cost came out of the players’ pockets. Necessity for Recreation. in answer to a question, Mr. Kean said there were certain parents who would not allow their boys to play Rugby football as they considered it too dangerous, but did not object to them playing hockey. Then there were boys who were not robust enough for Rugby, but who could play a game of hockey. In this way the game became a part of the physical training necessary for a growing boy. The acting-chairman (Councillor J. Burns) said the committee was quite satisfied that as far as the teachers . were concerned the control was in very good hands, but it was feared that this might be the thin end of the wedge for others to come in. After all, it was the duty of the Director of Parks and Reserves to preserve the grounds as far as possible, and not allow them to be disturbed by overplay; still, if the seniors said it does not affect the grounds it put a different complexion on the game. The council bad a commission which commented on the charges for grounds. “Ridiculous —absolutely ridiculous said Cr. R. McKeon. “It was back in the stone age!” commented Cr. R. Semple. “Not that 1 think any councillor agrees with the changes proposed,” said Cr. Burns. ''Still, we had to pay all our own expenses when I played Rugby. The council is hard up. but I tbiuk we might confer with the Director of Parks. The committee will review the requests sympathetically, and will endeavour to give you a fair run.”