HOCKEY IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1930, Page 13

HOCKEY IN TARANAKI

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION KEEN. INTEREST IN THE GAME. CHALLENGE FOR NORDEN CUP. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Hockey Association was held at Elthana on Thursday, Mr. H. C. Johnson presiding over a representative attendance. The annual report stated: “As in previous years seven clubs affiliated with the association, eight teams beina fielded. The fact that there was no increase in the number of teams is not a sign of progress but interest and enthusiasm were well maintained. The championship honours were fought out between Otakeho and Kaponga and after a strenuous fight Otakeho were victorious. Congratulations are due to them for their fine performance. It is pleasing to find such a young club gaining championship honours so soon. “Once more'a Taranaki team played for the Norden Cup, the result being a drawn game. The team is to be congratulated on its fine fight. The match against the Australians at Eltham resulted in the visitors winning by a small margin-. The visit of such a team must have a beneficial effect on the game. • “A Dannevirke team paid a visit to Taranaki and were beaten by one goal. The match arranged against Wanganui lapsed owing?to Taranaki not being able to muster a team. Although not successful in the representative matches the standard of play in Taranaki is high and has not waned. “The combined tournament at. Hawera on June 3 was again a great success and congratulations are due to Eltham A and Eltham B, winners and runnensup respectively. The congratulations of the association are due to Mr. K. Pennington and Mr. S- Betts, both of whom gained representative honours in the New Zealand country representative team. Both acquitted themselves with credit.

During the year a referees’ association •was formed. This is a forward move and it ie hoped that all ex-players will join in an endeavour to place it on a workable basis.

“The year ends with a small credit balance, but little improvement can be looked for in. this respect until some better means of acquiring revenue can be devised. “We exhort all clubs to Temain loyal to the association. It is indeed a difficult task to keep hockey alive in Taranaki when all players and club officials are not working in unison; this task becomes doubly onerous, when dissensions arise.” '

The balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to £4O 10s 4d, the credit balance being £5 8s 7d, compared with £9 Ils 7d carried forward from the 1928 season.

Officers were elected as follows: — President, Mr. I. J. Bridger; vice-presi-dents,, four were elected; secretary and treasurer; Mr. E. Urry;, management committee, Messrs. K, Pennington, V. Betts, C. J. McFadyen and T. W. Eaves; delegates to tournament committee, Messrs. C. J. McFadyen, V. F. Winter and K. Pennington; selectors, divisional teams to be selected by a board of selectors, one appointed by each club; sole final selector, Mr. K. Pennington. The formation’ of junior grade hockey was suggested by Mr,- Johnson as a means of encouraging players to fill up the senior teams. He mentioned that the Stratford High Scliooj boys had established a club and. that Hawera had promised to enter a junior- team. It was resolved to institute a junior competition for 'this season. The. Stratford Technical High School was affiliated as a member of the hockey association.

It was decided to .again challenge for the Norden Cup. It was also decided to request the New Zealand Hockey Association to appoint referees outside the competing associations - to- officiate at this match. Taranaki is to endeavour to send a team to Wanganui to contest the Winter Cup. The opening of the season’s fixtures was arranged for May 14 and 15. The formation of a referees’ association was considered by Mr. Johnson to be an excellent move, and he proposed that the referees’. association be-given authority to appoint referees for all club games. The motion was carried. Waitara was granted permission io hold a hockey competition on Labour Day.

Appreciation of the good work performed . by Mr. Urry as secretary was voiced by Mr. Johnson' and supported unanimously.. .

Tribute to Mr. Johnson’s services as president was paid by Mr. Bridger, who said hockey in Taranaki was losing a valuable man, and he suggested that Mr. Johnson’s association during the past 20 years bo fittingly marked. Similar sentiments were expressed by other speakers and it was resolved to record the association’s appreciation. In reply Mr. Johnson said he felt that the time had arrived when he should step down. Hie interest in the game would not wane, but he felt that he had done his fair share. ;