BOWLERS’ GOODWILL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 3

BOWLERS’ GOODWILL

New South Wales and New Zealand SMOKE CONCERT FOR TOURING TEAM Expressions of goodfellowship between the bowling fraternities of New South Wales and New Zealand were exchanged at the smoke concert with which the touring New South Wales bowlers were entertained by the Wellington Bowling Centre on Saturday ' night. Mr. W. Gilbert, president of the Wellington centre, presided over the gathering, which was held at the pavilion of the Wellington Bowling Club. The- toast of the New South Wales Bowling) Association was proposed by Mr. Gilbert. No bowling centre in New Zealand was more pleased than Wellington to receive the visitors, he said. “The New South Wales Government and the New Zealand. Government do their very best to bring the two countries together,” said Mr. Gilbert. “We read about those things in the newspapers and then forget them the next day. I believe the interchange of teams playing sports does more to bring countries together than all of the laws put together.” He would be very surprised if a contingent of New Zealand bowlers did not go to Australia before 1938. The rules in the two countries differed, and the sooner the heads of the game in New South Wales and New Zealand got together and changed that the better. It was the earnest wish of bowlers and the public of New Zealand that the team leave with the happiest recollections of the Dominion, “There is a feeling between Australia and New Zealand which should be cemented,” said Mr. T. W. Heath, president of the New South Wales Bowling Association, in responding. “Wo seem to be working at variance in some matters. We refused to take your potatoes and you refused to take our oranges and you take them from Japan. But if politicians cannot improve the position let bowlers do so. “I am with you about the laws of the game. We are just making new laws and they will be confirmed at our carnival at Easter in Western Australia. It is a pity the two associations did not confer. I cannot see why the laws should not be the same.” Sooner or later the two people would have to come together and have free trade within the Empire or go under. Ho had travelled and believed he know what was in store. The response was supported by Mr. A. E. Packer, manager of the team, who said the entertainment in Wellington had been overwhelming. The following toasts also were honoured :—“The "Wellington Bowling Centre” (proposed by Mr. Heath and responded to by Mr. Gilbert), “The Wellington Bowling Club” (proposed by Mr. S. M. .Stone and responded to by Mr. 11. G. Mayer), “The New Zealand Bowling Council” (proposed by Mr. F. Campbell and responded to by the Hon. W. Perry), “The Entertainers and Visitors” (proposed by Mr. M. Marks and responded to by Mr. E. J. Hill), and “The Press” (proposed by Mr. J. Kershaw).

On behalf of the Canterbury Bowling Centre, Mr. S. M. Stone, who recently returned to Wellington from Christchurch, presented Mr. Heath with badges of the centre for the members of the team. Mr. L. McNabb, secretary of the Wellington centre, was the recipient of a gift from the visitors in recognition of his activities during the party’s visits to Wellington. The following contributed to the programme of entertainment Messrs. E. J. Hill, W. McKeon. Harison Cook, N. Aitken, L. Staff, C. A. ’Williams, F. J. Adeane, F. Crowther and J. Skedden.

On Saturday afternoon the visitors were taken for a drive through the Akatarawa Gorge. Leaving via the Manawatu Road, they stopped for a while at the I’aekakariki club’s green, and later a't Waikauae for lunch. On Hie way through Hie Akatarawa a visit was paid to Hie garden of Air. J. Bell. The party were tlie guests of the Lower Hutt Bowling Club for afternoon tea. Yesterday morning they left for Palmerston North.