HOCKEY SELECTORS.

Evening Star, Issue 22353, 1 June 1936, Page 11

HOCKEY SELECTORS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Ex-Senior Player ” would do more good to the game of hockey if he mad© sure of his facte before rushing into print on matters on which 'he is evidently not well informed. A few years back I was a keen advocate on the executive for the replacing of the position of sole selector by a committee of three. The proposal was generally popular, but when it came to the election of the committee the executive had to admit that there were not three capable and willing supporters of the gam© who could fill the position, and so was forced back on to a sole selector. I do not know if the opinion of the executive is still one in fffvour of a Selection Committee, but I do know (although at the present time I am in no wav associated with the game, but yet still keenly interested) that neither the executive nor “ Ex-senior Player ”

could possibly nominate three or even two persons for the positions of senior selectors and junior selectors. Instead of blaming tho executive “ Ex-eenior Player ” should know that the fault lies in the fact that the executive’s task always has been and still is made more difficult by the lack of support shown by ex-players and supporters of the game. Also “ Ex-senior Player ” questions the capabilities of the present selectors, and in the case of the junior selector makes an absolutely uncalled for allegation of favouritism. There is little need to enlarge on the capabilities of the senior selector —they are too well known to nil supporters of the game —but “ Ex-senior Player quite evidently knows very little about Mr Northey’s ideas of sport, or the enthusiasm and diligence which he shows in his work as junior selector. He never misses a Saturday afternoon at the matches, and travels from the Oval to Tonga Park (by push bike) s<? that he may see all the players in action as often ns possible. Given a free hand and with players who are wise and keen enough to listen to his advice, I don’t think, there is anyone in Dunedin who is more capable of picking a truly representative team worthy of its name. In 1926 Mr Northey picked and coached a junior team which for that year would have held its own against the senior team. And as far as I know the results of the junior representative games in the past two years have also reflected the capability of Mr Northey. So much for his ability, and as to “ Ex-senior Player’s” allegation ..of favouritism, anyone who knows Mr Northey even slightly will look upon such a statement as simply ridiculous. A more openminded and unbiassed supporter of the game could not he found, and his sporting ethics, which can be summed up in the phrase “ the game for the game’s sake,” are almost a by-word with all who know Mr Northey at all well. Like myself, I am sure there are many others who will no doubt feel incensed at “Ex-senior Player’s” statement, but, knowing the solo junior selector as I do, will know there 'is not an atom of truth in it. _ As I said before, although still interested in the welfare of the game, I am in no way at present actively associated with any club or with the executive, and thus this letter is written in an absolutely open-minded spirit.—l am, etc., Intekesied. May 30.