HOCKEY PLAYERS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1934, Page 14

HOCKEY PLAYERS.

[TO THE EDITOB.] Sir, —1 am pleased that the writer of the “News and Notes” of the fine game' of hockey has seen fit to answer my letter of criticism. Judging by the tone of his reply “the cap has fitted.” Your writer mentions that he has quite enough to do to prepare his weekly notes without the necessity of having to answer letters written by biased, disgruntled or carping critics. Your writer should he. only too pleased to have the opportunity of answering such alleged letters. Why should his notes not be open to criticism by players and spectators alike, as well as the weekly radio talks on prospects of matches etc? There are two sides to every question or problem, which is brought forward for discussion and a new idea always arises which is beneficial to the “game of life” both on and off the field. The cause of so many infringements in the match Pacific v. St. Columba was probably due to the lack of good umpires, with the result that certain players took advantage of the position and endeavoured to score goals at all costs,' defying the rules of the game. If your writer will peruse my letter again, he will see that I did not mention anything about corner hits for infringements. I happen to know the game of hockey as well as your writer and will be prepared to give him my experiences if he so wishes. Your writer mentions that I lack abdominal courage in writing under a nom de plume. In this assertion he is evidently endeavouring to “side-track” the main issue which is a common policy of comment, when criticisms are no* palatable. However, if he is so anxious to discover my name and address you are at liberty to divulge these if he so desires. 1 notice that as the writer of the notes in your journal, he has not divulged his own name as yet, and has not even adopted a sporting non de plume. I look forward to the news and notes each Wednesday with interest. I trust that your writer’s efforts will prove beneficial and instructive to all interested. Being an old player and club captain in Greymouth some 27 years ago, my mind is rejuvenated by the reading of the notes concerning the resuscitation of the game. I I still intend to take an active interest in the control of the game and am a Vice-President of the new West Coast Association. I am sorry that the umpires in the match under discussion did not realise they evidently made mistakes in not allowing a goal to one team and giving their opponents a goal, which was disputed. However, these matters are all in the luck of the game, and it is to be trusted that the local officials will in future appoint competent umpires to control the Club Cup matches. —I am, etc “CORNER HIT.”