HOCKEY SELECTION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20026, 26 August 1939, Page 9

HOCKEY SELECTION

WOMEN’S TOURNEY TEAM

CRITICISM OF METHODS

The following criticism of the method of selection of the Poverty Bay women’s hockey tournament team has been submitted in a letter to the editor of the Herald signed “Fair Play”:—

" ‘Weary Supporter’s’ letter certainly clears the impression most outsiders have that tiro management committee had lost the services of their selector through no fault of their own. Rather than give way over one player whose ability is well known, they are now sending a team minus four outstanding players in the Bay.

“To admit a mistake and change a decision calls for no criticism, but this committee has altered its own decisions very often. They appointed their own selector, then after regaining the Carroll Shield, which called for a little confidence, they moved a deletion of one of the players, knowing beforehand that his resignation would follow such a move.

“They accepted, approved and published his team to meet Napier, issued the costumes and informed the players. They appointed the captain of the representative team to meet Wairoa themselves, and retained the same captain in the team published to meet Napier, then allowed an article written by an unknown person to be discussed in their meeting and to influence their acceptance of the selector’s teajn to. travel to Blenheim. “They then, proceeded to sweep aside all previous. decisions, changed the team to meet Napier, and appointed a new captain.

“As players travelling to Blenheim were expected to pay £3 towards expenses and clubs to raise another £1 10s, I fail to see why length of play and not ability should govern their inclusion.

“I would like to ask Mr. Tuhoe to give those players whom he selected at least the honour of being known.”