HOCKEY TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22464, 7 July 1936, Page 10

HOCKEY TOUR

FIJI LADIES' TEAM ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND The opinion that the Fiji ladies' hockey team would experience some difficulty in adapting itself to playing on New Zealand grounds was expressed yesterday by the manager, Mrs. J. M. Harvie, on the team's arrival from Suva by the Niagara. The team is to tour the Dominion.

"Probably every visiting team makes the same statements," said Mrs. Harvie, "but tho grounds at Suva are hard and fast, almost like tennis courts. We are anticipating quite different conditions during the New Zealand winter." Tho team would do its utmost to create a good impression, its principal asset being speed. The forward line was particularly fast. The 14 members of the team, Mrs'. Harvie said, plaved under tho control of the Suva Ladies' Hockey Association, which promoted competition between three teams. An annual match was played with a ladies' team from Levuka, and an interest in ladies' hockey was now being taken in Lautoka.

"Climatic considerations have ruled the wearing of shorts by women players at Suva," said Mrs. Harvie. "but we 'do not propose to continue tho custom during our games in New Zealand. Wo are travelling as far south as Gore, and T am afraid the cold would be too great for shorts." Nine of the team bad not travelled from home before, and they were unusually thrilled at the opportunity to play in the Dominion. The toam was met on arrival by Mr. L. Butcher, Wellington, representative of the New Zealand Ladies' Hotkey Association. It left by train yesterday afternoon for Palmerston North.