HOCKEY

Evening Star, Issue 19520, 30 March 1927, Page 9

HOCKEY

ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL MEETING A SUCCESSFUL YEAR The Otago Hockey Association held its annual meeting at the Y.M.C.A. last evening. The president, Mr J. ' Hogg, presided over a good attendance. The balance-sheet showed a total expenditure of £194 6s 3d and a balance in hand of £l4l 13s 4d. The receipts, which with a balance brought ■ forward of £2B 18s 7d, totalled £335 19s 7d, included a sum of £IBO 13s, the net surplus from the Indian Army hockey team visit. The dues from affiliated clubs amounted to £6l 17s 6d. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the Chairman commented on the work of the fast year. He said it had been one of the most successful and brightest years in the history of hockey in the province. That was because or the visit of the Indian hockey team. This had given hockey such a fillip as it had never before had in the dominion. It was a brilliant team, and proved that the standard of hockey in India must be the highest possibly in the Empire. The visit of another Indian team to England was now arranged for, and that would definitely prove whether it represented the highest standard of hockey in the Empire. There was no question that the Indian visit right through New Zealand had created widespread interest, not only because of the calibre of the men. but also because they re- - presented an Eastern nation under the ' British flag and an Army team. It was a pleasure to see the enormous crowds , that went to see the games. Un- . doubtedlv the whole tour from a sport- 1 ing, from a social, and from a financial point of view was a marked success. At no distant date they could look forward to a renewal of a tour by an Indian Army hockey team. He extended the association’s congratulations to those who had helped to make the tour such a success, particularly mentioning bands who gave their services, the Otago Ladies’ Hockey Association, and Messrs R. Hudson. G. R. Ritchie, and D. E. Theomin. Ho hoped the Indian visit would have been a lesson to our plavers in the best and brightest style of play. They were still suffering to a certain extent from a lack of good surface grounds, although the southern Oval had been very _ finely developed. The condition in which that area had been put was a credit to the city, and they were grateful for the share they had in it. Nevertheless, they had to pay very heavy rentals, and were hampered by shortage •of grounds. The j work of demolition at Logan Park had , been delayed, and they evidently could | not expect relief there this season, j They should join hands with other sporting bodies in urging that the work j be pushed forward with all speed, i Speaking of the grade competitions of ; the past year, he said that they had ! had four teams in first grade, eight in the second, and four in the third. Altogether they had sixteen teams competing, and he thought that was the highest since the war The standard of play was high, but in comparison with some of the northern provinces there | was still room for improvement. Ho , believed the best way to get that im- ! provement was to build up more junior . teams.- The attaining of supremacy on ! the field of sport should pot be the chief end, but rather the provision of , games for the physical development of 1 our young men. Germany was training her youth by providing strong j athletic clubs and gymnasia to a very . remarkable degree. It was regrettable to see so many of our young men con- - tent merely to go and watch the game. Ho congratulated the executive on | the splendid year’s work it had i carried through, and bespoke keen support for the incoming execu- j tive. The association had been most , i'ortunato in securing the scivices ol j such a capable and energetic secretary . as Mr H. Sew'Hoy, who had earned ; out every part of his work with elii- ; r, iency and enthusiasm. He congratu- , ■ated the three Otago representatives ; who secured places in the New Zealand ; team. The balance on the year was approximately £142. The trustees had ; repaid the whole of the money bor- • rowed from the trust iund, and they ; proposed to add another £IOO to that I iund, which would make it £3OO, and j 'nve them a revenue of £lB a year. The year ended with a surplus of only 12s 9d on the general account, apart .rom the Indian visit. He thanked the referees tor their services,_ and referred to the sad loss the association had sustained in the loss by death of three of its vice-presidents—Messrs S. Foote, C. C. Fenwick, and H. W. Hellyer. He thanked the Press for its assistance, and appealed for loyal cooperation from all delegates. He hoped .-hat the coming season would be a “ boom ” one for hockey. Mr E. Calder seconded the motion, and said the Indian team had set a standard to which local players would and it hard to attain. That was largely for want of good grounds. The standard now was just about as good as it had ever been here, but that did not say that there was not much room tor iranrovemont. There was a paucity of senior teams, and four was too small a number. They should have at least six, if possible, or preferably eight. The executive would have to watch the matter of schools’ hockey very closely, and a great deal of personal work was accessary to put it on its feet again. -The great difficulty was that there was not a sufficient number of teachers sufficiently interested in the game to undertake coaching. He endorsed what had been said about the fine work | done by the secretary. Mr I). T. Woodfiekl said he thought the matter of grading might be more successfully managed this year. Hc tj agreed that special attention would have to be given to school hockey, and approved, of tho suggestion to build up a trust fund.

Mr H. F. Payton paid a tribute to the excellent way in which the executive had worked together.during the past year. He agreed that they should build up 'as big a trust fund as possible. so that thev would not require ; to appeal to the public. Mr D. T. Anderson. who said it was ' twelve or thirteen years since he took an ! active part in the game here, stressed the need for building up junior teams. Mr L. J. Ireland suggested that they should aim at giving more than trophies, and should organise a tonring team at a time at which university men would be able to take part. Mr A. J. Hinton also urged the need of having more teams in the senior competition. Mr W. Wallace said be had heard hockey being boomed oyer the wireless in Australia, and he believed the game could be advertised in the same way here. ' . ! Mr N. L. Edson paid a tribute to the work of the selector, Mr J. A. i Robinson. j The report was adopted. | The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows;—President, ‘Mr J. Hogg; vice-presidetits— Messrs E. H.« Calder, H. F. Payton, L. J. Ireland. G. L. Ritchie, H. S. : Adams, A. M'Millan, L. J. Hobbs, C. : H. Hayward, J. A. Robinson, R. Hudson, F. H, Lampen, I)r K. Ross; auditor, Mr L. J. Ireland; delegate to New Zealand Hockey Association, Mr H. S. Goodman; Executive Committee — Messrs D. T. Woodjield, W. M‘Queen, • A. J. Hinton, E. Brown, N. L. Edson, j C. E. Webber, and J. Dey. i It was decided to send a letter _to Mr Goodman expressing appreciation of the way in which the Indian tour was handled under his presidency. j Congratulations and good wishes were expressed by acclamation to the ’ association’s patron, Mr J. A. Park. At the close of the formal business the cups won during the year were

presented by the president. He said he was glad that all the cups were this time changing hand'; The cups were presented .as follows: —Gilray Cup, to the City Club; Hayward Cup, to the City Club; Williamson Cup, High School Old Boys; Gymnastic Memorial Cup, Albany Club; Holler Cup, Albany Club. An adjournment was then made for supper and social chat. liiGK SOKCBL OLD BOYS The third annual meeting of the High School Old Boys’ Hockey Clubwas held on Monday, when Mr J. 'A. Robinson presided over a good attendance. Great regret and sympathy were expressed at the sad loss of Roy Simpson, an excellent iplaycr and keen club member. The annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officebearers were elected :—President, Mr J. A. Robinson: vice-presidents—Messrs W. J. Morrell, G. R. Ritchie, 0. J. Regg, H. S. Adams, G. G. Austin, J. C. Somerville, J. P. Northey, G. Cuming, E. Calder, and Dr C. Batchelor; secretary and treasurer, Mr C. E. R. Webber; apditor, Mr C. Penman; conch. Mr J. P. Northey; delegates to O.H.A.—Messrs L. Wills, C. E. R. Webber, and R. Hanning; club captain, Mr T. A. Moore; vicecantain, Mr C. M. Barnett; committee —Messrs Barnett, Hanning. Moore, M'Latchey, Webber, and Wills. Practices are to start on Saturday at the Oval at 2.30 p.m. No subscription is to be charged new members for first-year.