HOCKEY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 April 1928, Page 11

HOCKEY.

ANNUAL MEETINGS

KAPONGA MEN’S' CLUB

Mr. J. J. Davison presided over an attendance of thirteen members at tiie Kaponga Hockey Club’s annual meeting, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday evening. The chairman expressed regret that, owing to the absence of the secretary from the district, a balance-sheet and report were not available for presentation. He knew the club had a credit bank balance of £7 3s, against which, however, there stood sundry small liabilities. The prompt payment of current members’ subscriptions would put the club on a sound financial footing. In regard to the past season’s activities, the club had, with comparatively young players, acquitted itself creditably in the divisional competition against strong opposition. The Eltham Club, had secured first and second places in the competition and Kaponga idled the third position. /Only one member of the club (Mr. V. Betts) hud gained representative honours, being chosen to make the trip to Wairarapa, when the Taranaki team, through a lack of combination, suffered defeat by al small margin. In consequence of several prominent senior players having left the district'- there was a danger of tile club’s playing strength deteriorating, but this, lie considered, could be averted by the establishment of a local competition to which he would refer at a later stage of the meeting. He had been advised by the Taranaki Hockey Association’s secretary that New Plymouth would have no hockey clubs playing this season. Though this was much to be regretted, there was no reason or indication that the game would lag behind in South and Central Taranaki, in which at least ten teams were in sight for the coming season. To overcome the weekly half-holiday problem in regard to playing out the Association’s competition he would suggest adopting a divisional system, five teams playing on Wednesdays and five on Thursdays. Teams from Hawera (2), Manaia, Otakeho, and Mangatoki could play on Wednesdays, while Eltham (2), Waitara, Inglewood and Kaponga could fulfil their engagements on Thursday afternoons. This was a matter, however, for consideration at the Association’s Annual meeting. , ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: —Patron, W. G. Cran;' president, Mr. J. J. Davison (re-elected); vice-presidents: Messrs. T. Bennie, A. J. Herbert, T. McMillan, A, J. Hawkins; secretary, Mr. Ray McCarthy; auditor, Mr. H. Henderson ; delegates to Taranaki Hockey Association Messrs. V. Betts and R. McCarthy; club captain, Mr. V. Betts. PROPOSED FIYE-A-SIDE TOURNEY. With a view to a revival of interest in hockey, among players and public alike, the chairman suggested the inaugeration of an annual combined five-a-side tournament at Kaponga, Already there were in sight and available sufficient inducements to ensure entry of teams numerous enough to provide a full-day competition. The Kaponga men’s club held a valuable silver cup which could be offered as a challenge trophy, and the ladies’ club possessed a credit balance substantial enough to provide a desirable trophy for the ladies’ section; the question of medals for individual members of winning teams, and other prizes was a subject for further discussion. The central position of Kaponga and an ideal playing area were strong points in favour of such a fixture, as instanced by the continued success of the Kaponga annual Rugby tournament. A sub-committee, comprising the president, secretary and club captain was set up to discuss the subject with the. ladies’ club at it annual meeting, to be held this evening. GENERAL BUSINESS. Members’ subscriptions were fixed at os, to be paid hero re the playing of the season’s second fixture. Messrs V. Betts, R. Noonan and the secretary were appointed a. sub-com-mittee to make preliminary arrangements for the club’s annual ball, to be held at an early date. Delegates to the Hockey Association were instructed to advocate the playing of, fixtures in Wednesday and Thursday divisions, At. C. E, Betts drew attention to the growing practice of members of the local team appearing on the playing field in kaleidoscopic colours, pointing out that the club colours (all black, with a .small white star) were probably the cheapest and most easily procurable. Nothing, he said, detracted more from a team’s appearance or created more confusion than a collection of nondescript colours, and it should be one of the chief aims of every player to take the field in bis club’s recognised uniform. The chairman announced that the Association fixtures would probably commence in the third week in May. Votes of thanlcs to retiring officers and the press terminated the meeting. ELTHAM MEN’S CLUB. Twenty members of the Eltham Men’s Hockey Club’s annual meeting, which was presided over by Mr. D. Gower. A statements of accounts over the 1927 season showed:—Receipts £23 16s ■Gd, expenditure £l6 17s 4d, leaving a balance to credit of £7 9s 2d. Officers were elected as follows: Patron, Hon. O. j. Haw ken, M.P.; president, Mr. CL Pennington; vicepresidents : Messrs. G. W. Peebles and C. Davis; management committee: Messrs. C. Davis, H. (Murray, L. Page, and K. Pennington and E. Urry; delegates to Taranaki Hockey Association, Messrs C. Davis, L. Page, and K. Pennington; sole selector Mr. CL Pennington; secretary, Mr. E, Urry.

It was decided to nominate two senior teams (Rivals and Ramblers), as for last season. The first practice was arranged for April 26. No alteration was made in regard to the club’s colours (red and write). It was resolved that players whose subscriptions (os) were unpaid at the date of the first fixture would be ineligible to play. It was unanimously decided to combine with the ladies’ club in the conduct of fortnightly socials, with a view to defraying travelling expenses incurred by the Nor den Cup team. The decision as to whether a team would travel to Palmerston North rested with the management committee. Should a tournament be field at Hawera on June 3, Eltham would be represented by two teams. The secretary was instructed to convey to the club’s, ex-secretary (Mr. Jackson, now resident in New Plymouth) an expression of appreciation of his past services. . . A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. H. Nodder for his attendance and advice.