THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 1, 1 July 1922, Page 14

THE SELECTION COMMITTEE.

In my opinion, the Wellington Hookey Association has made a false step in ap--pointing; three ■ players as selectors ■ of. .this year's senior representative team. Messrs. Reginald- Thomoson, - E.A Heaphy, .- end ■O, Macintosh—the new selectors—are all players, and'for that reason should not be asked to carry out the duty of selecting a representative team. While no. reflecting in any way on the players concerned, "Sticks" must express the. .opinion that whatever teanv is -selected there „is bound /to be a certain amount of dissatisfaction; and that is the very thing thai should be avoided. What opportunity have players, at this, stage of theseaßon, of observing the play of the members of the various teams? The team will have to^ be picked before very long, and the selectors should really. know the plsy of every*-senior man. It would have .been infinitely better to have appointed three ex-players. . However; "Sticks" does not approve of a ' selection committee at all. Last year the duties of a selector were carried out by Mr. A. W. Manning, and little fault could be found with his work. Why not try tho same-system this year? If. Mr. Manning,. is- not available, surely there are other' enthusiasts who. would very willingly and efficiently select the 1922 representative eleven. Messrs \V. G. Morpeth, A.': G. Edwards, and J. a Cusack would all make ideal s»fe selectors in view"' of their longl association with the game- ..and' the ■• opportunitiesi they hav.e of observing the, various players. It la difficult to understand -why the association has departed from the unwritten rule that a player should never, be a selector, and why it lias ignored the recommendation of tho annual meeting is not explained.- There is. another point. Mr. J. Whithair has been appointed sole selector of the junior team. By makinfr this appointment—a very excellent "one. it is agreed—the association: has adopted two separate principles. Perhaps a ladies' committee will be!appointed to select tho third -grade representativs team. / ,-; '•;.- .'■ :■■ ■ -