VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1935, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS SPORT AT GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL. PT .FA BY HOCKEY SUPPORTER. (To the Editor.) L Sir,—Your correspondent “Centre Half’ in to-day’s paper makes an exceedingly good point When he traces the decline of wottien’s hockey in North Tardnaki to the abandonment of the game by the Girfe’ High School; the Technical College and the West End scho&l. As an old girl keenly interested in the 'game I am entirely in agreement with him I have nothing to say against ball; which is an excellent game in its f way; but it-must be conceded that hockey, which has a completely different | appeal, deserves equal consideration. ( Girls should surely be given their choice ? of a sport in the winter as they ate in the, summer When cricket, tennis or, swimming are offering. At a time at the high school when both hockey and basketball were played, neither under the supervision Of a train- | cd Sports mistress, hockey followers were £ much more numerous. Could not this be | taken as an indication that many girls g prefer the larger field ahd the more £ strenuous play? There seems to me no !• reason why they should be compelled to < play basketball simply because there are no facilities for any other game. The New Plymouth High School is sufficiently large to support more than one winter pastime for girls just as New Plymouth „ is large enough to support more than one winter pastime for women. j As it is now, a few enterprising girls '■ do take up hockey after leaving sch Offi 8 ** 1 It is, however not usual because ifewan are anxious to launch out oil an tin- | known joxirney when they can Bit cOm- | fortably in a home, perhaps uncongenial ’ but at least comfortable.

That parallel more or less puts the case for basketball; in the minds of some girls. If they do not like basketball they must either take up an unfamiliar hockey stick or they can spend their Saturday afternoons watching menfolk play football. For many of them golf and mountaineering are beyond their financial resources.—l am, etc., CENTRE FORWARD. Inglewood, July 25. ' « JIM HILL’S REMINISCENCES. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l read with interest the reminiscences of “Sixty Years Ago” dealing . with Mr. Jim Hill’s experiences of the good old days ih Taranaki. I ■ have a great respect for the pioneer men and women who faced the difficulties of landing in the surf boats and carved a home in the bush-clad country of New Zealand—the pioneer women in particular, rearing their families Which to their credit are the mainstay of both town and country to-day. Through their perseverance and courage we enjoy all the facilities such as good roads, railways and all the pleasures imaginable. I thank Jim for his two articles, and hope they will continue in your next issue.—l am, etc., * D. KEMP. Carrington Road, July 24.