GAMES BOWLS MANAGER EXPENSE UNNECESSARY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28542, 22 March 1958, Page 5

GAMES BOWLS MANAGER EXPENSE UNNECESSARY

FTHE continuation of the Empire « Games levy of 8d a player would be supported by the Christchurch Bowling Centre at the next annual meeting of the New Zealand Bowling Association, it was unanimously decided at the list meeting of the centre. Similar decisions have been made in almost every one of the 22 centres throughout New Zealand. . When the delegates voted on this issue at the meeting they were probably not aware that the New Zealand Association Was being put to unnecessary expenditure for the Games at “Car--, cfiff by the appointment of a manager to travel with the team to the Games when there will be New Zealand representatives at the International Bowling Board at Cardiff just before or just after the Games.*

Mr G. N. Boulton

Mr G.’ N. Boulton (Wanganui) was elected manager for the team at the last annual meeting held in Greymouth last July. At this meeting the 1950 Empire Games manager at Auckland, Mr J. R. Smith (Christchurch) was appointed one of the New Zealand Bowling Association's representatives to sit on the International Bowling Board. The cost of sending Mr Bolton to Cardiff will be about £6OO for fares, plus expenses. Mr Smith will travel at his own expense and surely could have filled the position. It may be said that Mr Smith will not travel with the team but will go earlier by sea This should present no problems as the team, when it leaves New Zealand, will be under the control of the teams’ man* ager and Mr Smith would be at Cardiff to take over when the team arrived. »

President

The other member who will represent New Zealand on the board at Cardiff is the national president of the New Zealand Bowling Association (Mr S. L. Hall) and.

like Mr Smith, he will travel by sea at his own expense. Both Mr Smith and Mr Hall are suited for the position of manager at Cardiff, and could be appointed as joint managers. They have both had a great deal more experience than Mr Boulton. Mr Smith has been, on the executive foi five national bowling tournaments held in Christchurch, with one term as president. Mr Hall has been on the executive for four tournaments, and was president last season. Mr Boulton is a councillor from the non-tournament centre of Wanganui, and is on the national executive as the nontnurnament centres’ representative. and has had no national tournament experience. Although the New Zealand council's Empire Games fund is very healthy it does not mean that there should be unwarranted expense. Thousands of players, who have no chance of ever gaining Empire Games selection, are contributors to this fund, and they would certainly desire to see • the money wisely spent. Subject to the Empire Games selection panel committee approving of the seven players selected they will certainly go, but with a limited number of seats on the aircraft taking the team to Cardiff Mr Boulton’s inclusion may prevent another athlete from some other sport from making the trip.

Too Late

It is now too late for any alteration to be made by the New Zealand Bowling Council, but the Empire Games selectors could give thought, to this matter. When the bowlers will . have two of New Zealand’s most capable administrators in the game at Cardiff they may consider that Mr Boult position is not warranted and so decide that his seat on the aircraft could be better used by another competitor. The New Zealand Bowling Council was too hasty in making its appointment of a manager, and could have followed the other sports authorities and made its selection after the teams had been nominated. Had they considered this, it is almost certain that the bowlers’ Empire Games fund would have been richer by £6OO and expenses.