HOCKEY IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1934, Page 8

HOCKEY IN TARANAKI

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION REVIEW OF PAST SEASON. IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Hockey Association was held last night at Eltham, the president, Mr. H. C. Johnson, presenting a report on the year’s activities as follows:— The season was easily the best to date in Taranaki for affiliated clubs, there being 15 seniors and three juniors. This increase in clubs necessitated the senior competition being played in four divisions and the juniors in three. Congratulations were offered Kaponga, winner of the senior championship, and to Tokaora, winner of the juniors. In addition to the June 3 tournament there seemed to be a growing demand among clubs to hold tournaments. This was a very good indication and showed live interest in those districts. Such tournaments were held at New Plymouth, Eltham and Waitara. The June 3 tournament was an outstanding success in every way, from the point of view of entries, standard of play and organisation. Again Kaponga was the senior winner and Stratford Technical High School the junior. The association held the Nordon Cup at the opening of the season, but after staving off challenges from Ruahine and Horowhenua, lost it to Waipa in a very evenly contested match played at Waitara. The committee felt, after having held the cup, that it was a very debatable point whether the trophy is worth the time and expense of obtaining. The little kudos that came. from being the premier minor association by no means compensated the great disruption of ordinary cup fixtures. A junior representative team was sent to Auckland in quest of the junior North Island hockey cup. Although it was unsuccessful the association' has reason to feel proud of the good showing put up by these boys, considering junior hockey had been played in Taranaki but four years. The system of selecting representatives, while applicable to two divisions, became an unwieldy system with the number of divisions now playing. This was u matter that delegates must give careful thought to. The committee recorded with thanks the donation of a handsome silver cup from George and Doughty. This cup, given unconditionally, was allocated to the divisional championship. Splendid hockey was played in these games and the cup was - r on by Thursday “B” division. Delegates would note with pleasure a decided improvement in the balancesheet. Every effort was made to. reduce expenditure to a minimum, and if this policy was rigorously pursued, in a few years the association would be in a sound financial -position. Thanks were due to the Referees’ Association, which came through a heavy year with credit to its members. The noticeable improvement in the standard of play was in no small measure due to the efforts of this affiliated body. A great tribute to the standard of play in Taranaki was the selection of L. Page and S. Betts as North Island representatives. Congratulations were extended to these two men on their selection. The following officers were elected: President, Mr. H. C. Johnson; vice-presi-dents, five elected; management committee, Messrs. A. Bennett, R. Irwin, V. Best, L. Page and A. Ryan; selectors, Messrs. Booth (Saturday), J. Ebbett (Thursday) and C. J. McFadyen (Wednesday); juniors, Messrs. Byron; Jackson and Priest; secretary, Mr. B. Urry; auditor, Mr. H. W. Murray; June 3 tournament committee, Messrs. McFadyen, Jackson and McCoy.

Affiliation was granted the Urenui club. Life membership was conferred on Mr. C. J. Pennington, he being the first life piember. His services were highly eulogised. ■ . The season will be opened in the first week in May.

A team defaulting twice in succession or three times at intervals may be disqualified from the competition. Appreciation of the services to hockey given by Messrs. I. J. Bridger and C. J. McFadyen was recorded. It was decided that the matter of insurance of players be again considered by the management committee. Appreciation was expressed of Mr. Byron’s work on the committee.