BOWLS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27502, 9 November 1954, Page 2

BOWLS

CHRISTMAS TOURNEY IN CHRISTCHURCH

DATES REARRANGED The refusal of the administration committee of the New Zealand Bowling Council to allow the Christchurch Bowling Centre to extend its annual Christmas tournament with open singles and open pairs competitions led to a rearrangement of dates when delegates to the Christchurch Centre met last evenfir G. Macdonald presided over a full attendance of club delegates. The Christchurch centre’s application for permission to play the pairs and singles competitions from January 1 to January 7 was refused, and a second application for January 7 and January 14 was also rejected by the administration committee. It had beeh proposed to hold the pairs and singles in conjunction with the usual Christmas tournament fours which would have ended on December 31.« The reason given for the refusal of the dates applied for was that the New Zealand championship tournament would begin in Wellington on December 29, and that the rules clearly protected the Dominion championships from competition. It was explained that if Christchurch were permitted to hold a tournament at the same time as the New Zealnad championships other centres would want to follow suit.

In the match committee’s- report last evening, Mr S. L. Hall, chairman, said the reasons for the refusal of the centre’s application had been made clear: a law had been inserted to protect the Dominion championships from competition, and if it was to be ignored there was no point in having laws. It had been said that no application in a previous year had been made, but there had been no necessity to make. one. The obvious truth was that the Christchurch centre's application had been turned down, and the only alternative was to make fresh arrangements. • He suggested that the open tournament commence on January 15 and be carried on the succeeding playing Saturdays. If delegates would agree to forfeit two days of pennant match play the coast was quite clear, said Mr Hall. Mr A. N. Alexander supported the match committee’s report and moved that it, with the excellent alternative offered, be adopted. The motion was carried unanimously. The Central Otago B.owling Centre asked that a Canterbury team, consisting of 28 players, visit the district on a goodwill tour and play a series of matches with headquarters at Ranfurly and Cromwell. The Central Otago centre forwarded an itinerary which was approved. Mr G. Macdonald was appointed manager of the Canterbury team.

Mr J. R. Smith, reporting on behalf of the selection committee, said many clubs had not done their level best to assist the selectors in their onerqus task, and the only form was provided on the results ot last year’s games and on five games played till the end of October. In some cases no club champions for last year had been announced, and the results of club championships were the only true gyide the selectors had in picking the best players.