BOWLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3310, 31 August 1911, Page 6

BOWLING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Toucher.”) Hearty congratulations to the President of the Gisborne Club on his election to the Chief Magistracy of Gisborne ! Local bowlers are pleased 1 to have ■ such a position filled by an enthusiastic bowler, and especially so when Mr. W. Pettie is the chosen one. He is exceedingly popular on the green, and the honor of the position is in safe hands. When the Gisborne Club opens in October, it will be in the unique position of having its season opened by the Mayor in the person of its President. The Gisborne Club liolds.a social evening on the 14th of next month, when the trophies won during last season will be presented. Bowlers are looking forward to a pleasant evening. The contractor for the lining of tne Turanganui Club’s pavilion, commenced work last Aveek, and expects to- complete his work this week. When finished. the pavilion should he a credit to the club. I understand the committee intend to furnish the interior, and bring the pavilion up-to-date. I note that the Turanganui Club has this Aveek top-dressed its greens. With a favorable spring, the rinks should be in good order to commence play in October. Here is an item from Home: — T!he president of the English Bowling Asso-

elation, Mr. W. Sims, is anticipating the pleasure of being able to arrange a match against a. team of Australians now on a visit to this country.” The Balclutha Bowling Club have decided to. open their season on Labor Day. 1 A bowling tournament having for its object the charitable purpose of raising funds to assist the widow of a late employee of the Dunedin Harbor Board, was held last Aveelc in one of the Dunedin Harbor Board’s sheds. A much-debated question amongst boAvlers is AA r hether it is advisable to have a combination of boAA r ls and lawn tennis in the sgme club. Generally speaking, it has not been found to work too smoothly. In the annual report at the meeting of the Hutt Bowling and Tennis Club, the subject Avas thus referred to: —“Ycur committee feels that the question Avhetlier this section (tennis) of the club produces a fair revenue for the outlay involved should receive consideration. This season>,the tennis players shoAA r od a lack of interest in general play on the lawns, and in entering for competitions, the amount of outstanding subscriptions being out of all proportion to the number .of players.” The total membership of affiliated clubs of the Queensland BoAvling Association is 1107, an increase of 196 during the past year. Six matches Avere played against. Victoria during the year, four being Avon and two lost; three against Tasmania, .all three being von; and six against NeAv South Wales, three being won and three lost. At the conference held in Christchurch in connection with the proposal to amalgamate the different associations in Noav Zealand there were present: Messrs F. Johnston (president of the New Zealand Bowling Association), Casey (President of the Auckland Association), Veitch, Bush, Keith, Colonel 'Collins, and Roberts, of the Northern Association.' After a general discussion on matters it was unanimously resolved that it be a recommendation to the different associations that it is advisable there should he one BoAvling Association for the whole of New Zealand. On the question of the powers of tlie association coming up for consideration a deal of discussion took place. Mr. Payne ultimately moved, and Mr. Casey seconded, a resolution in the folloAving effect: —“That an association, to be called the Nbav Zealand BoAvling Association, be formed with complete control over the rules and laAvs of the game, the visiting of teams from outside the Dominion, and Noav Zealand championships in bowling; and that local centres have complete control ever all matters outside the aforesaid matters in their OAvn districts.” In moving the resolution Mr. Payne explained that he thought it would be a . good thing if the powers of the association Avere not of the fullest until it Avas ascertained how the amalgamation would work. He therefore Avas of opinion that if the association had power to deal Avith the rules Avit-li a vieAv to makincr unanimity of miles throughout the Dominion, and also to deal Avith the question of visits from teams outside the Dominion, and the holding of championship meetings in the different centres, that should constitute the full poAA-ers of the association. This would leave the centres with greater power than they have at present, as in local matters there would be no control whatever over the centre. In Dunedin, for instance, there Avas friction over the necessity of the centre to apply to the association for consent to ‘hold certain to urn aments. If the above arrangement AA’ere passed there would be no necessity to get the consent of the association, and the centre could hold just, as many tournaments as and when the boAvlers in that centre desired Avitihout any restriction whatever. It would practical!} mean that the centre would, absr 'r.tely run bowling in the district in Avliich it had jurisdiction. Mr. Casey, in seconding the resolution, stated tnax he thought it was just Avhat his association required, and he would support it! He objected to the association haA r ing pOAvers over the conduct of local tournaments by the centre. Mr. F. Johnston (Canterbury) would not support the motion, as he desired that the association should not be merely a pa-pier-mache association, hut should have full control over the boAvling throughout New Zealand, and also have poAver to restrict the doings of centres. He believed in an association with . complete control, otherwise no association at all. Messrs Keith and Collins both spoke against the motion, and desired that there should be added to the motion the AA'ords -“the centre should have control subject to the absolute control of the association.” Messrs Veitch, Bush, and Roberts supported the motion. Before this motion -was put it Avas resolved that Messrs Johnston and Payne should vote for the South Island and Messrs Casey and Keith for the North Island. On une motion being put to the meeting there was a. deadlock. Messrs Casey and Payne voting for the motion and Messrs Johnston and Keith against it. The meeting Avas adjourned for several hours, and in the evening the delegates met again, Avhen, after full discussion, Messrs Keith and Johnston agreed to give way, and on a vote of the whole of the delegates being taken the above resolution Avas carried unanimously. After the above resolution Avas passed it was decided that in the event of amalgamation being carried the first headquarters of the association should l be in Dunedin, and the first . tournament to be held under the association should he in Dunedin. It was also resolved that the tournaments be held in such places as the association should, fix, the place for the time being in, Avhich the annual tournament was to be held to provide the president of. the association. Other matters such as representation of the different islands and the fixing of officers of the association were dealt Avith.