HOCKEY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 85, 10 April 1926, Page 22

HOCKEY

BY "STICK*"

GROUNDS PROBLEM

ASSOCIATION'S DIFFICULTY

OVER INCREASE IN TEAMS.

The executive of the Wellington Hockey Association were hard put to it last season to allot grounds each Saturday for the teams in the respective grades. Two additional grounds were obtained from the Reserves Committee of the City Council, but even then difficulty was experienced in accoinmoaating all the players. The increase in the number of schoolboy teams was primarily responsible for the disadvantage under which the executive worked, for there was very little difference in the number of teams in the higher grades as compared with those of the previous season. It is the main objective of the W.H.A. to do everything possible for the good of the game in the schools, but is is becoming a difficult problem to cope with the ever-increasing number of teams which the energetic Schools' Association is developing. It was stated at a recent meeting or' the Management Committee of the W.H.A. that this year there would be several more teams competing in the boys' divisioi^. The Reserves Committee of the council has been approached with a view to obtaining additional grounds for this season's competitions, but at the time of writing no advice had been received as to the number of grounds the association is to 'be allotted. It is anticipated, however, that by next Thursday the allotment will have taken place. While it is more or less certain that the W.BT.A. will not have any of last season's grounds taken away, it is by no means assured that further playing fields will be available, and in that event, the playing of more early games will have to be considered. It is understood that the Petone Ladies' Club may be able to secure two of the Rugby grounds on the Petone Oval for early ladies' games, but that this opportunity is not open to the men's association. If these grounds could be secured, the pressure would be relieved to some extent. In any case, a difficult problem confronts the W.H.A.

Where are the Keferees?

At the end of the season every year one finds that there are players who declare it is their last season of hockey. They should not be lost sight of by tho officials of their clubs. The men who^talk of giving "up hockey should be strongly urged to'take up refereeittg. It is up to the men who are ceasing active play to qualify to take the place of those referees who have "borne the heat and burden of the day." The various referees' associations in .the Dominion will be. delighted .to, hear, from the veteran player who wishes to take up the whistle. By so doing ho will be helping to give pleasure to those players, still fit in wind a^nd limb, that their games may be cast in more pleasant places, and he will help them to understand the.rules of the game and the meaning of sportsmanship. Games without proper control are unsatisfactory at the best of times, and even with players who are sportsmen enough not to take advantage of any breach. There must be many old players who could spare the time and have the inclination to keep the whistle on Saturday afternoons. The future of the game depends very largely upon the class of referee available, and if his services are given ungrudgingly, so much the better. It is to be hoped that local players will act on the hint given in this paragraph. Their services will be gladly accepted.

Notes.

Women hockey players in New South Wales are looking forward.to an exciting and prosperous season, as the preEminary to a more successful one still in 1927, when there will be a visit from an English team. The All England Association advised that it was unable to send a team to -Australia this year, but would accept the invitation for 1927. Already plans are being made for raising £600, which it is estimated will cover the expenses of the tourists in Australia. The visitors will pay their own passage money to Australia, as they-did 3 to South Africa last year.

Members of the Hutt Club, who have been in training for the past month, are practising at the Hutt Park this afternoon.

As the result of the continued success of the Poverty Bay Hockey Association, which is reflected in the fact that the association's team defeated both Wairoa and Opotiki in challenge matches for the Norton Cup and that the number of players in the district is steadily increasing, the association has been elevated to the ranks of the major associations, which compete for the Challenge Shield in an annual tournament.

Otago and Canterbury are the only associations which have to date competed for the Rankin Memorial Cup for competition between secondary school representatives. Last season Otago again challenged Canterbury, but were dafeated. The N.Z.H.A., in its annual report, hopes that during the coming season .challenges will be received from North Island. associations.

The Manning Memorial Cup, which was subscribed to by players throughout New Zealand and Australia in memory of the late Mr. A. W. Manning, was recently purchased in England by Mr. L. H. Norton, of Auckland. It was due to arrive in New Zealand at the end of last month, but so far no' advice of its- arrival has been received locally.

Deep regret at the death, through accident, of Oscar Henry Gurr, late of Caversham, Dunedin, is expressed in the annual report of the N.Z.H.A. "Harry Gurr, who was a^jwell-known figure in hockey circles iaSTew Zealand, was the youngest member of the New Zealand representative team which played Australia last season," says the report. "Ho was one'of the most promising which the Dominion has produced."

A scheme for the insurance of hockey players formulated by a well-known insurance company vras submitted at the annual meeting of the "Wellington Hockey Association. A good deal of discussion on the merits of the scheme and as to whether it would be found practicable provincially took place. At the last meeting of tho Management Committee of the W.H.A. the insurance scheme was again outlined, and members expressed themselves of the opinion that its adoption would not be practicable in Wellington. However, it was decided to circularise the various clubs to obtain their views on the matter, and to forward the insurance> company's letter on the subject to the New Zealand Hockey Association before making a decision.