CROQUET.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 October 1926, Page 9

CROQUET.

SOUTH IIARiAiNiAiKI TO FORM ASb-uCJ Ail 'lo\.

A, conference, of delegates from all the Taiunakii, Clubs was field in New I'/yinoubii yesterday to consider a. prwpiAiiai tinat ia sepeiate association be formed for ikiutli 'lia.iia.naki. Dr. G. Home presided over a good attendance, l'he matter was well discussed and, .as the outcome, ia motion to dolan a couth Taranaki Association was carried by a majority of two. votes. Light dubs in ttie South were represented and they hail also a proxy from Waitiara in favour of the suggested change. Ihe proposal was moved by Airs. Bull (Hawera) and .seconded by Mins. Riieia (Stratford). Dr. Home said that to attract good players to a tournament and thus stimulate interest in the game, the tournament would have to be a wellrun function of which a small body could not make a success. if they thought there were not enough players in Taranaki to enable two bodies to function 'successfully, they should adhere ito the present arrangement. Mrs. 0. AI. Hill (New Plymouth) moved and Airs. P. Jury (Fitziroy) seconded .an amendment: “That the Taranaki Oroquet Association remain as .ait present constituted.” Mrs. Bull said that New Plymouth wax. too far away far some .southern clubs to attend the annual meeting and when they did the delegates usually had to leave before the end .in order to Catdh ai train or ’bus. They thought the southern association would extend the interests of croquet. They had 12 clubs near Hawera, Ojpunake. Manaia, Kaponga aud Ok.aia.wa, all wished to join the .southern association, as they could conveniently spend a. day in Hawera. The Stratford, Avon and Eltham. clubs Iliad also traffic conveniences to enable them to 1 .spend a good day in Hawera. Sire also added that it was impossible for the (handicappen- from the north to know all the players in the south, but, by having a Southern Association, their "h an di cappers could easily go round the southern clubs in the season, and be in a position to decide on handicaps. This was impossible under the present conditions. Another southern delegate referred to the question of tournaments, saying that 'southern players could visit Hawera in the day, whereas if they came to New Plymouth they usually had to .stay two or three days Mrs. ißiera. said .she thought there would be more inter-club matches if the new scheme came into force. Southern dubs were often not adequately represented in New Plymouth tournaments because their players could not spare the time. She thought they were lax in not having more interclub matches. Mrs. Bull said that by taking their 12 clubs they would not sipoi j the northern association. Wanganui wax now considering breaking away from the Manawa.tu Association.. Dr. Home said that the main consideration was whether each end of Taranaki was able to support an association big enough for the central association to approve. On the amendment being put it wax lost by nine votes to seven, and the resolution was then put and carried by the same majority. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair. It is worth mention that the Taranaki tournament run by Hawera some year or two ago was the most successful ever held in Taranaki Mrs. Dowling wax ban. secretary and Mrs. Bilton manager. The association will be formed by the undermentioned clubs: Halve ra, Park. Stratford and Avon (20 miles), Rateia (18), AVaverley (28), Manaia (8). Qmmake (28). Eltham (12) Okatiawa (8). Kaiponga (16), Kabaramea (15). Tho distance from Hawera is given in parenthesis.