HEAVY DEMAND FOR GROUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 50, 27 August 1938, Page 23

HEAVY DEMAND FOR GROUNDS

HIGH STANDARD CLAIMED LOCALLY

The question of suitable grounds for the playing of hockey has been discussed at some length in these columns, and the writer recently obtained the opinions of the Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr. J. G. MacKenzie), who stated that the grounds in the Wellington district compared favourably with those in other centres in both New Zealand and Australia.

Hockey was definitely harder on grounds than other sports, said Mr.1 MacKenzie, and for the game to be played successfully the grass must be kept shorter, which removed a lot of the natural protection. The question of postponement was left not entirely to the civic authorities. Unless the grounds were absolutely unplayable the City Council would not prohibit play, as it was realised that there were only about 22 playing Saturdays every season, and any unnecessary postponements might badly affect championship play. While the City Council did not close the grounds on all days on which there was bad weather, it was nevertheless in the power of any code to postpone its own games. It would be realised that on certain days football could be played under conditions which would make hockey almost impossible. At one time, said Mr. MacKenzie, it was the idea to rest every ground every three years, but owing to the shortage of grounds this was now out of Ithe question. In addition to play during the weekend, school teams used a number of grounds during the week.