HIGH COST OF HOCKEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 331, 17 April 1928, Page 14

HIGH COST OF HOCKEY

SEASON REVIEWED AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION Many motions were passed and lost and much business was transacted at the 25th annual meeting: of the Auckland Hockey Association held last evening in the Chamber of Commerce Hall. Though delegates had little comment to make on the report and balance-sheet, being satisfied to take the records at their face value, discussion livened up when the general business stage was reached. “There is not much chance of a challenge shield tournament this year ” said the chairman, Mr. L. C. Kent, in moving the adoption of the report. “Keeling throughout the country is against these tourneys.” Commenting on the balance-sheet, Mr. Kent said that the season would start with a debit balance of £22. This was due to the expense of upkeep of the ground during the summer months, for which revenue showed a loss of £IOO. Nevertheless, there was only about £ll outstanding. The hockey season itself showed a profit of £SO. Mr. Kent referred to the high cost of hockey to individual players as shown by the heavy ground fees and other charges. Those e i I& xs ed in other sports had little idea of the expense borne by those who played the stick game. There was little comment on either the report or the balance-sheet (previousK published in The Sun), which were adopted. PRESIDENT RE-ELECTED moving the re-election of Mr. L. C. Kent to the office of president, Mr. >l. B Speight paid a tribute to the long record of service given by him for the advancement of the game. Mr. Kent was elected. On the motion of Mr. E. J. Hewitt, it was agreed to close the financial year at the end of February, instead of at the end of March, as at present. It was agreed to extend the association’s boundaries from a 12-mile radius from the General Post Office to a 20mile radius. Mr. Kent moved that, owing to the disappointment suffered by Auckland in the recent Challenge Shield tournament by the default of various challengers, the system of direct individual challenges be reverted to. The meeting was in entire accord and agreed to the proposal, which will be forwarded as a remit to the forthcoming annual meeting of the New Zealand Hockey Association. The practice of clubs which had two teams in the one grade drawing on the second team to maintain a strong first eleven, was considered by Mr. J. J-T. Giles to be not in the best interests of the game. He moved that in future such transfer be not allowed, and asked for alteration of rule 28, clause C, to prevent the practice. The proposed clause was the rule in cricket and football. Mr. Kent agreed that there had been a good deal of feeling among clubs over the existing rule. The amendment would tend to strengthen teams in junior grades. Mr. J. N. Wilson opposed the change on the grounds that it would result in fewer teams playing and less interest being taken in the game. The present order was desirable in that it encouraged members of the B team to strive for a place in the A team. Mr. H. B. Speight said that it was he who put the present rule on the book. He could see no reason for its alteration. On the motion being put, a show of hands revealed 12 for and 12 against, the chairman, not exercising his casting vo-te. A ballot swung the pendulum against the proposal by a majority of seven. HOOKING OF STICKS Animated and facetious discussion was provoked by a motion by Mr. H. Throp (Buller), circulated for consideration by the New Zealand Hockey Association, suggesting that, in effect, hockey in the Dominion should no longer be required to conform to rules formulated by the International Board of Hockey, in England. Incidental to the motion, the question of hooking of sticks, allowed in England, and last season prohibited in Auckland, came up for review. Mr. Kent said that the English body did not seem to be at all a live board. During the last few years requests sent home for an interpretation of rulings had been continually ignored. He considered the motion was on the right lines. “I am a stickler for uniformity," said Mr. Hewitt, in opposing the proposal. The Dominion touring team met with difficulty in Australia, where hooking was allowed. Mr. W. Newsham thought the hooking practice provided the thrill of the game. Speaking from the point of view of a referee, Mr. Kent said he considered the prohibition a splendid one because it cleaned up the game. The motion was lost by one vote. It was decided to instruct the association’s delegate to the New Zealand Association to support an invitation going to the Australian Association to send a team to New Zealand this year. Election of officers resulted: — Patron, Mr. E. R. Davis; vice-patron, Mr. L. H. Norton; president, Mr. K. C. Kent; vice-presidents, Messrs. H. B. Speight, H. B. Burnett and A. S. Player; hon. secretary, Mr. E. J. Hewitt; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. Playle; assistant hon. secretary, Mr. G. Peace; executive committee, Messrs. A. M. Burton, F. Nicholson, W. Newsham, D. H. Steen. H. Watts, J. Coop, F. Craig and J. H. Giles; hon. auditor, Mr. A. C. Johns; delegate to New Zealand Hockey Association, Mr. P. Quartermain.