HOCKEY.

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 15311, 11 August 1923, Page 16 (Supplement)

HOCKEY.

LADIES AT PLAY. NORTH-SOUTH GAME REVIEWED. NEW ZEALAND’S BEST IN ACTION. At last the many New Zealand girls who spend their spare time upon the hockey Held have been given an incentive to always play up to their best form, and to generally take a live interest in the game. The reason lies in the fact that the N.Z.L.11.A. has donated to the ladies a handsome silver cup, for which competition will take place each year boLvvocn teams representing the North and the South Islands. The cup is to be held for twelve months by the captain of the victorious eleven, wno tins year, as a result of the game on Saturday, is Miss Marie Williams, of Wellington. The only useful purpose that is served by Hie actual trophy is that it will probably act as a kind of semi-guar-anlcc that the fixture will be decided each year, for whenever any suggestion of abandonment or postponement of the match is raised, tire natural question to be asked by the challengers will be, “Who is to hold the cup?” Of course, I have always made it abundantly clear that I believe in hockey being played simply because it is hockey, and not because of any mercenary inducement, but at the same lime I feel sure that the New Zealand ladies play the game in the right spirit. This was proven beyond doubt by their display on Saturday.— ••Slicks,’’ in the Wellington Post.

THE ENGLISH VISIT. Regarding the proposed visit, many of the Englishmen, the following interesting article appears in the hockey columns of a sporting paper in Canterbury, in which district the suggestion has been very enthusiastically received: “Matters in connection with a visit from a really representative team from the United Kingdom are tiklns

tangible shape. The Hockey Association have boon in communication, and the latter body is now consulting all its affiliated associations on the all-im-portant question of finance. The provincial associations have been asked to guarantee sums in proportion to their importance and standing toward the £4500 which it is estimated It will cost to bring a truly representative team from the United Kingdom. There are a certain number of enthusiasts in the Old Land who would defray a great deal df their expenses themselves, but for the visit to bo a success, and areal trial of strength, it is desirable that only the strongest possible combination should be sent. This leaves the Now Zealand Association in the position of having to find the maximum sum. The secretary of the New Zealand Association has had one official reply frojn a circular letter sent out to the various associations, from the Auckland executive, which is frankly against the idea, considering that the expense is beyond them, while also at the same lime offering the opinion that the visit will not be of any real benefit to the game. Tentative, or more or less unofficial, replies have been received from Otago, South Canterbury, and Canterbury, all being in favour of the projected tour. “Provided the visitors fully represent the best hockey form in the British Isles they should quite hold their own with local players, and the sporting public, many of whom have yet to be educated up to the game, will take a keen interest in the visit. The financial success depends absolutely on the quality of the games and the visiting players will have to be of the highest calibre. The time selected for the visit of the team, May-June, will leave a clear field, and should not clash with football matches. The experience of organising the tour of the Australian team last season should stand all the Now Zealand officials in good stead, although the task will obviously be a much greater one. In this connection it is understood .that providing the English team’s tour is decided upon, Mr. P. N. Quartermain will carry on in his position of secretary to the N.Z.H.A. —which is equivalent to stating that the organisation and staff work will be everything that could be desired. “It is obvious that any benefits that might occur to the game will not be immediate or direct. International contests increase the prestige of all games, and the possibility of being a member of a New Zealand team to tour ’England should be an incalculable incentive to players generally. A return visit to Australia will have to be considered possible in 1925, but that would be completely eclipsed by the returning of the compliment to the English Hockey Association. In conclusion it may be as well to point out that it would be unwise to allow the visitors from England to leave unwarned of the freeand- easy social conditions of colonial life. Hockey as a game has not the backing and social standing of cricket; and it is certain that many members of an English eleven would be similar types to prominent members of A. C. MacLaren’s cricket team,which recently played in the Dominion. Their entertainment will be one of the knotty problems of the tour.”

A champion has no honour in another country. A Wellington hockey player, who, two or three years ago, was one of the finest representatives in the province, turned out for a weak team in a small South Island town recently. states the Christchurch Sun. After playing the game of a life-time against over-whelming opposition, the ex-representative was approached by a rustic enthusiast with the encouraging words, “Look here! You show promise. If you keep on practising you should become a good player.” (Continued on Page 17.)