SPECTATORS CRITICISED

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 17

SPECTATORS CRITICISED

“Partisan Spirit Of Hostility’ “The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND. April 23. A partisan spirit of hostility shown by Canterbury hockey spectators towards visiting umpires was criticised by a management committee member, Mr A. D. Holland, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association on Monday. Mr Holland was speaking to a motion that umpires for national challenge fixture* should be appointed by a New Zealand Hockey Umpires' Association than as at present by the competing association*, who chose one umpire each "The poor visiting umpire,” said Mr Holland, "usually travels down with the challenging team, he stays at the hotel with them, and while neither I nor any other member here would say for a moment that that nian is biassed, the crowd certainly thinks so. "Some of the booing at Challenge Shield matches in Christchurch during the last two seasons has been disgraceful, and it is always directed at the V, WS^ e d«ided that appointments for Challenge Shield, Norden Cup (minor associations) and junior challenge cup games would be done on a national basis, provided, however, that thia would not disqualify the appointment of an umpire from either the challenging or the defending association, if this was considered convenient.