HOCKEY’S TROUBLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 7

HOCKEY’S TROUBLES

SHORTAGE OF GROUNDS “NOT GETTING A FAIR RUN” GAME’S PROGRESS IN SCHOOLS The Auckland Hockey Association is busily engaged in preparing for the start of a new season, pne of the biggest problems which is at present facing the governing body is the shortage of grounds. At this week’s meeting of the executive committee fresh cause for concern was given by receipt of a letter from the City Council dealing with the question. The letter stated that the association had been allotted one ground at Victoria Park. Members of the committee expressed the opinion that they were entitled to more playing areas, especially when compared with the number allotted to other sports bodies. If the allotment of grounds was worked on a numerical strength basis, then hockey was not getting a fair run. The game among the ladies is expected to be still more popular this season, and this alone is not going to improve the ground situation. WITH THE SCHOOLS It was decided that a secondary sohools competition, which would consist of teams from the Auckland Grammar, Mount Albert Grammar, and Seddon Memorial College, be inaugurated. Excepting the third and fourth grade teams from these colleges, which will play in the ordinary grade competitions on Saturday afternoon, it would be necessary for the other games to take place on Saturday morning.

Last season hockey in the schools was well catered for by the association, and by the headway made in this section of the game it is evident that the lads appreciated the assistance given them.

It was decided to support the notice of motion of Mr. W. H. Down, secretary of the New Zealand Association, that in the event of any association, union, league, club, player, official, member, or spectator at any kindred sport in New Zealand being disqualified, it shall not be lawful for any association to admit into membership any of the abovenamed without special permission of the council. N.Z. CHALLENGE SHIELD It is the intention of the Auckland Association to ask that the tournament for the New Zealand Challenge Shield be held in Auckland this season. The competition for the shield was suspended last year on account of the Indian Army tour, but it was held at Wellington during the previous seaThe following sub-committees were appointed: Records officer, Mr. G. Peace* grounds, Messrs. Playle and Fletcher; appointments, Messrs. Burton and Radcliffe; country, Messrs. Kent, Norton, and Ellison; primary schools, Mr. J. Fitt; entertainment, Messrs. Ellison and Nicholson; advertising Mr. J. Craig; emergency. Messrs* Hewitt, Playle, and Giles. IN TRAINING Practices are in full swing now, although the season is not yet sufficiently advanced to say “who’s who” in the senior teams. Epiphany, the new senior team, is still very quiet, bLit in all probability the team will comprise a number of those men who played second grade for them last year. There is a rumour afloat that Training College is going to enter a senior team this year, but so far its entry has not been received. College was the winner of the second grade competition last year, and should be able to take its part in the superior gx*ade The following grounds have been allotted for practice matches on Saturdav next: Ladies Association, Nos. 4,5, 6, S, and 9, at 2 p.m.; Areta No. 1 ground, at 2 p.m.; Somerville, No. 2 ground, at 2 and 3 p.m..; Auckland Grammar, No. 3, at 2 p.m.; Wesley, No. 3 ground, at 3 p.m.: Otahuhu, No. 4 ground, at 3 p.m.; Mount Eden, No. 5 ground, at 3 p.m.; Waitemata, No. 6 ground, at 3 p.m.; Mount Albert Grammar. No. 7 ground, at 2 p.m.; Seddon, No. 7 ground, at 3 p.m.: St. Luke’s, No. S ground, at 3 p.m.; Epiphany, No. 9 ground, at 3 p.m.