HOCKEY CONTROL.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 393, 27 March 1937, Page 7

HOCKEY CONTROL.

SUB-ASSOCIATION MOVE New Plymouth Proposal Defeated. Full consideration was given at the annual m eting of the Taranaki Hockey Association to a proposal emanating from the Wesley Club, New Plymouth, that the counties of Taranaki, Inglewood and; Clifton be constituted a separate sub-association of the parent body. Notice of motion to this effect was tendered by the sponsoring body on whose behalf Mr. R. O. R. Clarke outlined the features of the proposal, but, after a lengthy discussion, a ballot taken to decide the isssue indicated that the suggestion was largely opposed and the move wab defeated. I The relatively small number of players in New Plymouth was attributed by members of the clubs ' centred there to the Jack of a suitable local organisation to foster enthusiasm for hockey, declared Mr. Cla.rke. Towns of a size equal to that of New Plymouth had formed and maintained their own sub-associa- ! tions which functioned perfectly well ’a-nd it 'Vi’as not anticipated that the suggested move would encounter any difficulty.

| The association at present was i situated a long way from New Ply- | mouth and its removal by distance I militated greatly against its affording I assistance to the game in that centre. J Playing conditions in New Plymouth ! .differed vastly from those which ob- ! tained. in country districts, he continued. I Actually, the effect of the proi posal would not be in the least detrimental to the main association: it was merely a! matter of domestic

vtith no grp if separation. Affiliation with the New Zealand association would be had by the new body through the Taranaki associaj tion and there again there was no evidence of a “split.” The suggested division would conform with geographical boundaries., Mr. Clarke gave the assurance that the object of the formation of the sub-association was not ultimately to secure the centre of the association in New Plymouth, but was concerned solely with the improvement of play in that centre.

i The opinion that up to the present ! hockey had been held back in New I Plymouth by the lack of uniformity ! existing in the province as regards : the half-holiday was advanced by j Mr. N. O. Ebbett, who considered I that possibly th® same difficulties ! would be faced if a sub-association I were formed. Now that uniformity had been reached, and the scope of

j competition 'in the north widened In consequence, this problem would be overcome. Mr. Ebbett saw in this formation of sub-associations in each ] proposal the possibility of a general split-up in the association, with the division, and it was doubtful where it would end. Support for the application was , forthcoming from Mr. M. E. Tichener, I whose opinion was that the size of j the province made the control of

hockey by the management committee exclusively an unwieldy process. Last year the question of forming a subassociation had been mooted in the south and he held the view that the time was coming when this move would be established. Mr. Tichener reminded delegates that in this matter there was a; strong possibility that the New Zealand, association would go over the head of the Taranaki body and grant the application by the northern clubs. The purpose behind the move in the south concerned the half-holiday question, declared Mr. C. J. McFadgoon, but now that that matter had been settled, the proposal would probably be dropped. “It’s still in the wind in the south/’ said Mr, E. Tippetts. Mr. McFadgeon: Well, it's news to me.

While the provincial half-holiday was in its experimental stage, he would prefer to see the position unaltered, solid Mr. H. C. Johnson, and the matter cDuld be reviewed next year when any change in playing <jon~ ditions in New Plymouth would indicate the effect of the new order. His experience with sub-associations had not impressed him ais to the success of the move.

While admitting that Taiunaki was a difficult areja to control adequately, Rev. J. A. Ryburn considered that the development of hockey enthusiasm depended upon, the clubs. “If this proposal had come to us with New Plymouth buzzing for more hockey, I should have been more sympathetic towards the l application, 9 he said, “but the New Plymouth clubs have not helped themselves.” In the future th© formation. of several sub-associa-tions governed by a central “federal ’ body might be a move to strengthen hockey in Taranaki, but it was obvious that the main work of developing hockey lay on the clubs.