Women Bowlers Debate Rule On Smoking And Stockings

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 13

Women Bowlers Debate Rule On Smoking And Stockings

"TM Pre**” fipecinl Service

WELLINGTON. October 1. -Is it compulsory for women to wear stockings on greens?" was a short question asked by an Auckland delegate, Mrs M. Hobbe. but it evoked the longest and. at times, hottest discussion in the entire recent annual meeting of the New Zealand Women’s Bowling Association.

So verbose and enthusiastic did delegates become that the president, Mrs M. Graham (Manawatu) said: ‘Tm getting angry, I am.” ‘‘The ruling I give is that you abide by your rule books on the question of wearing stockings and smoking on greens. If I did not give this decision. I feel I would be letting the association down,” she said. Mrs Hobbs replied: “I want to give my centre the ruling of the association on the matter, and that is the reason I asked the question.” Clubs Netlled

‘‘We in the Auckland centre notified all affiliated Clubs that members mutt wear stockings on the greens, but whether they did or net I don’t know,” she said.

Mrs Hobbs said she realised it was essential to wear stockings at all open tournaments. She wondered whether it was a domestic matter in so far as individual clubs were concerned. No player was allowed on her club’s headquarters unless correctly attired with white stockings, shoes and dress.

.Mrs M. Keane (Northland) said the question was brought up by her centre, and it was agreed that stockings or sockettes could be worn. She said clubs should be able to make their own rules in that respect. Club tournaments were domestic matters to the respective clubs, and were not open to other centres, therefore it should be permissible to wear either stockings or soekettes. she said. “When I conveyed the ruling regarding the wearing of

stockings to my centre alter the last meeting. I was not received with open arms,” raid Mrs D. Wheeler (Waikato). “It is only in the last two seasons that players have besn permitted on our greens without stockings I would prefer to allow players to go without stockings on hot days, otherwise they only go to other greens without •locking*. and they think they are beating you behind: your back.'* Local Rales "I think we should be allowed to have local rulings concerning the wearing of stockings,” said Mrs Hobbs. Smoking was permitted on the greens by her centre, but not on the mats. Mrs W. Sutherland (Otago) said a new cunditution had bd»n completed by the Otago centre. Smoking was permitted on the greens, but not on the mats. Mrs M. Burge (East Coast) said her centre had no ruling regarding smoking. Members wer: told not to smoke on the greens, and they abided by the request. Emphasising the heat in the north. Mrs Keane said it was optional for players in Northland to wear soekettes or stockings. In some of the smaller clubs in the far north players did not wear stockings or white dresses. It was not possible to keep a rigid ruling on them. ColoarM Drees Mrs Wheeler said that any player who went on a green with a coloured dress was breaking the rules just as much as a player without stockings. Mrs D. Dippe (Bay of Plenty) said for the few who wanted to go without stockings there was no consideration. Some had colourless stockings in her centre, and their legs had to be felt to ascertain that they really had stockings at all. The association had made concessions to those who smoked, but there was no relaxation for those who felt the heat, she said. “Medical specialists have stated that the less dotting

you put on the hotter you are." claimed Mrs A. Bum (Nelson). Mrs E. Gunion (North Otago) said her centre was in an area where it was not so hot. She thought those in the northern clubs and others who so desired, should be able to go without stockings in club games. “We allow players to go without stockings in club games," said Mrs I. Harris (Taranaki). • “What happens when players have their stockings pulled down below their ankles, and when you say anything to them tbey tell you they are technically wearing stockings?" asked Mrs Keane. It was decided to notify clubs that they must abide by the rule book concerning the wearing of stockings until it is altered.