HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 23 March 1926, Page 12

HOCKEY

THE WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION

PREPARATIONS FOR THE SEASON.

The annual meeting of the Wellington' Hockey Association was held last evening in the Stock Exchange Building, Featherston street. The chairman (Mr. P. J. Atkinson) presided over a large attendance. An apology for unavoidable absence was received from the president, Dr. H. C. Faulke, who also expressed a wish that the association might enjoy a successful season. In reviewing the work of the past season, the chairman said that the year had been a very strenuous one, both for players and executive, and the management committee wished to thank all those who had given such good support. School hockey had boomed during the year, said Mr. Atkinson, and a problem for the new committee would be that of providing grounds for the boys. In the speaker's opinion, the question of splitting the junior grade into two divisions would also have to be considered.. The splitting of the senior grade last year had been an unqualified success and made for infinitely better hockey. A trophy was needed for the winner of the Christchureh championship, and it was hoped that this would be presented to the association during the year. The annual report and balance-sheet, details of which have already been published, were adopted unanimously. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Dr. H. C. Faulke; vicepresidents, Messrs. F. Martin Luckie, B. G. H. Burn, and W. T. Richards; vicepresident, New Zealand Hockey Association, Mr. W. J. Organ; delegates to the New Zealand Hockey Association, Messrs. Strack and L. Butcher; hon. auditor, Mr. C. W. Miller; management committee, Messrs. P. J. Atkinson, J. L. M'Alister, R. H. Boys, T. Brennan, K. Perrin, D. Armstrong, Waghorn, Dv Flou," and K. Sword. The re-election of Mr. L. S. P. Butcher as lion, secretary was.car.ried by acclamation, as was the re-election of Mr. W. G. Morpeth to the position of hon. treasurer. ■ The secretary outlined a scheme of insurance for players, which had been formulated by a well-known insurance com- ■ Members were of the opinion that the scheme was too elaborate to receive the approbation of the majority of players. Something was needed merely to meet the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by an injured player. It was thought that each club should, have its own insurance scheme. A member: "No one has ever been hurt at hockey in New Zealand." Mr. Morpeth: "The first year they played hockey in Ireland, four men were killed." (Laughter.) It was decided to refer the question to the incoming committee. The secretary moved, and it was decided, that the season should commence on 17th April. In his opinion, practice matches were only a waste of time. It was also desirable that an early start should be made to enable the selectors to choose a suitable combination to play the Indian Army team. Entries for. the various competitions will close on 10th April. The question of the grading of teams was the subject of much discussion. Mr. D. Armstrong (Wellington) said that the trouble in the past with local hockey had been that there were too many teams. Clubs of mushroom growth were springing up, instead of backing up the other dubs. Last year, one of the teams in a junior grade had had 72 points scored against it, and had not scored for itself once. It was a fallacy that such a team should be graded where it was. It would be a different matter if the clubs were overflowing with members, but invariably the teams in the lower grades turned' out short. The matter was left to.the Management Committee for consideration. Mr. E. L. Thompson, for many years a member of the Wellington .Association, and the late chairman of the Management Committee, was unanimously elected a life member. At a subsequent meeting- of the Management Committee, Mr. P. J. Atkinson was unanimously elected chairman. It. was decided to hold the next meeting of the committee on Monday next.