BOWLS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 174, 11 April 1923, Page 8

BOWLS

MEETING OF THE CENTRE STRICTER READING OF THE LAWS OF BOWLS A meeting of the Wellington Bowling Centre was held in the Wellington Club’s pavilion last evening. The president (Mr. F. Meadowcroft) occupied the chair. A letter was received from Mr. J. P. Smith, of the Port Ahuriri Club (Napier), offering to come to Wellington for the purpose of giving a demonstration of his method of green levelling. Several delegates stated that they would be only too glad to avail themselves of Mr. Smith’s presence in Wellington. It was explained that Mr. Smith would prefer to give his demonstration on one of the central greens, but delegates were advised to notify their directors of Mr. Smith’s offer.

A letter was received from the Kelburn Club asking that a certificate be issued to the winners of the junior pennants, that they might frame and hang it in the club-room. A motion was proposed that a certificate bo granted to the Kelburn Club. Mr. J. Keith moved that the matter of issuing certificates for the junior pennants be left over until next season. The amendment was carried by eight votes to five.

Mr. F. Meadowcroft expressed the pleasure experienced by the Kelburn Club in having the honour of flying a pennant over the club-house, it had been a great encouragement to the younger players, and he expressed the hope that whatever was cut out it would not be the junior pennants. The secretary read a circular letter to clubs inviting bowlers to participate in a trip to New South Wales and Queensland. The trip would occupy six or seven weeks, and would cost about £lOO. The team was to leave Auckland by the Manama on Juno 1. So far,. the secretary reported, three applications had been received from Wellington players. A letter was received from the Queensland Association endorsing the invitation to visit Queensland. A letter was received from Mr. C. Ingram calling attention to an alleged misreport in the Auckland “Star” as to his having been warned, during the Dominion Tournament held in Auckland in connection with the one foot on the mat rule. The chairman stated that if the incident had been misrepresented it was the concern of ilhe newspaper, not the centre. Was there any resolution on the matter ? Mr. M. Hodgins moved that the letter be received. This was seconded and pissed without any discussion. A report on the mat rule was made by the umpire in the champion of champion games (Mr. J. Keith). Ho drew attention to players, who stepped off the mat sideways, and said that in some cases players who used the side of the mat had no foot on the mat at all at the time the bowl was delivered. He recommended that a side line bo painted on the mat three inches from the sides of the mat. . In answer to a question, Mr. Keith said 110 did not ’think it gave any advantage —it was simply a bad habit. He moved that rule 2 be altered to provide for a side-line on the mats. Mr. S. Potter approved of the idea, But Mr.. Ardell was entirely opposed to the side-line on the mat. Mr. R. Reid thought that the sideline would be as helpful as the front line on the mat. Mr. E. L. Hill thought that they would be bringing ridicule upon themselves by adopting the side-line. He recalled that a former secretary of the centre (Mr. J. F. Roberts) propounded the idea of having a square painted on the mat and that a player should have one foot in that square when he delivered his bowl, and ho was laughed at for it. Mr. Keith said he only had one obiect and that was to see the laws of the gam© observed, and he, had repeatedly seen men with both feet off the mat at the time the bowl was delivered He did not make the law, nor did he care if it were carried. His only idea was to strengthen the law as it existed. The motion to recommend the new law to the Dominion Council was carried by eight votes to six. Mr. Keith also drew attention to the habit’ of some “leads” of placing the mat down with the marked side down, which destroyed the object of the safety line It was not a matter for the Dominion Council, but. was one for thenown clubs to take up. , The chairman said it should be the duty of the No. 3’s to see that “leads” lay the mat marked side upPe Another matter Mr. Keith brought up was the breach of the rule made by a player running up the green after bis bowl for a distance of over 10 feet. He moved that if, after a warning, the breach was made again the umpire should be allowed to such bowl dead, instead of such breach being merely reported to the centre. Mr Keith moved that such penalty be recommended to the council and the taw be altered according J* Mr. Ardell said that wlnht he agreed with Mr. Keith, he thought that such rule like the other, was tiddly-wink-ffig and he would like the rule struck out altogether. He tsaw no advantage in the retention of the ru.e. He moved as an amendment that the rule lie lrvine pointed out that games were 'sometimes unduly prolonged owing to this habit. His club -hougnt that this rule was far more yaiuable than the one-foot-on-the-mat rule, borne games were lengthened as much as 40 minutes by such breaches of the rule. Mr S. Potter said that if there were no advantage in following a bowl up the green, why should it be allowed? Mr M. Hodgins said that it was largely gallery play- He saw a goal deal of the play at Aucthnd, and there was one player who followed up every bowl in the -1 headsWhilst George Prince was no-balled eiriit times on the Carlton green, Mooller playing on the next rink, was following up every bowl and was not interfered with at all. . Mr Keith’s motion was carried. Mr Keith also called attention to the rule which dictates that after a player shall indicate where lie wants a bowl to lie, he shall step back at least six feet as soon as the bowl is grassed. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Keith for his report. Mr. S. Potter, on behalf of the directors of the Wellington Bowling Club, said he would move that a suggestion be made to the Dominion Council through the centre, that a badge of some kind should be presented to all winners of New Zealand championships, to wear on special occasions or when they felt disposed. All they received now were certificates, but he thought that they should have some, kind of bado-e to wear in the lapel to show that they had won a championship. He suggested that it be a fern leaf. His proposal was that such awards should be made retrospectiveMr. R- Reid seconded the motion. Mr. J- Keith moved as an amendment that the retrospective clause be struck Both amendment and motion ivere lost.