On the Greens

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 90, 13 October 1923, Page 16

On the Greens

TESTING OF BOWLS

A PRESSING MATTER

FOR DOMINION COUNCIL TO CON-

SIDEE.

(By " Ncmbeh Two.")

Judging by certain information conveyed to- the Wellington Centre at itß last meeting by Mr. C. W. Martin, the centre's representative, so far as any bowl testing discussions with Messrs. Billiards, Ltd., are concerned, there is urgent need- for the Dominion Council to take the matter of testing and lay down some definite rule for the guidance of all centres. There will always be differences of opinion, no doubt, as to the respective merits of the green and table tests, but in Wellington an endeavour is made to represent green conditions as nearly as possible. However, it seems that a consignment of bowls recently arrived from the Old Country, and the testing firm declined to . affix the stamp to some of them on the ground that they did not come up to the New Zealand standard as regards drawing. This raised the whole issue of the uniformity of the stamping test throughout the Dominion. It was pointed out that a man ran the risk of having his bowls disqualified if he was challenged when playing in a tournament' in another centre, despite the fact that he might have had his bowls duly stamped as conforming :to the standard in his own centre. As matters stand, this is undoubtedly the case, and it should be remedied without delay, as it is a most unsatisfactory state of affairs. The centre has decided to draw the attention of the Dominion Council to the fact that it is possible for bowls failing to pass th e test in one centre to be passed by another, without alteration, and suggesting that this matter be investigated. In this connection it would appear that it would be well for the Dominion Council to adopt the suggestion of Mr. E. J. Hill—namely, that twp standard bowls should be. supplied to each centre one a high crown and the other a low crownin order that variations in the state of greens at testing times (where the green test is employed) might be adequately met This question of the stamping oi bowls is becoming rather a pressing one now and uniformity is required. It is for the Dominion Council to tackle this problem and find a solution at the earliest possible moment, in order to put an end _at one stroke to the anomaly that exists and the eternal controversy that threatens to result if it is not rectified.

PRESIDENT'S GALA DAY.

In view of-the-decision of the centre to set apart 13th February as the Presiden*s Gala Day, on which the veterans ot 70 years of age and over are to be pitted in action in an afternoon rinkß competition, the following letter to the secretary of the centre (Mr. R W Shallcrass) from Mr. W. F. M. Mercer' secretary of the Dunedin Bowling Club wijj be <read with interest:— "The Elderly Bowlers' Day in Dunedin was inaugurated by the Dunedin iJowlmg Club and is carried through by it. The Dunedin Centre, when arranging its fixtures for the season obliges us by having no interclub matches on the date fixed for tho Elderly Bowlers' Day. At first the age for entry was fixed at 65 years, but we found that we were overcrowded and have now fixed the age for entry at 70 years. Our experience is that the day is looked forward to as a meeting-place to meet old friends and associations connected with bowling matters. You will have a little trouble in putting the teams together. Many of the clubs can only send one, two, or three representatives, but they generally state the position they would like to play m, and the plan we generally adopt is to place these with others about the same age, or with some belonging to the same profession. If they are retired Civil servants put them together; if farmers put them together; but most of the larger clubs will be able to give you full rinks. We have bowlers coming from Oamaru, Alexandra, Queenstown, Roxburgh, Invercargill, Gore, and nearly s all the country clubs send a representative. No prizes or anything to play for; simply the game. She morning play is only to give bowlera coming from a distance a roll up to provide them with something to do. The: whplo ' thing is simply a game amongst themselves in the afternoon. They find and' make their own amusement. The meeting of old friends makes tha day. Wo have a band to entertain the propeedings, and afternoon tea for players and visitors. Ou;- club bears the whole cost. For the first two years the whole of the cost was borne by the presidents, but I am afraid it would have fallen through had the club not come to the rescue and footed the bill?. 1 have no hesitation in saying that the elderly bowlers appreciate the privilege, and all enjoy themselves fully. We have had' shipmates, who came out in ths same ship 60 years ago, meet again for the first time since their landing. We have had boys going to the same school in Scotland meet again on the Dunedin bo'.vling green for the first time after al! those years, at one of the fixtures. It is the renewing of old associations that makes the day." Unfortunately, owing to the visits of oversea bowlers and other reaEons, the President's Gala Day in Wellington had to be dropped last season, but there is no intention of letting it go hy default this season. If all clubs interest themselves in the matter and take it up enthusiastically, the function cau be made equally as successful in Wellington ac in Duendin. The matter is to be further discussed at next Centre meeting.

A FOURS INNOVATION.

This season the Hataitai Club is inaugurating a new system (so far as Wellington bowling is concerned) of club rinks. In drawing up this scheme the officials of the club were generously assisted by information received from the Ponsonby Club, Auckland, where "Percentage Fours" have been very popular for a, number of years. The scheme is briefly as follows:—All playing members of the club are classified into skips, .threes, twos, and leads, by the match committee. A disc bearing the name of «very member is prepared, and hung in alphabetical sequence in the pavilion. The discs for each class are of a distinctive colour, and prior to the time appointed to draw the rinks, each player la required to place his disc m§ bw ptoriiad. Uwrwilw the

match committee selects (at random) four different coloured discs from the box and the players whose names are thereon form a team, their opponents being the next four so drawn. "This procedure is adopted for each round of the competition. Each member of a winning team received one point for a win and half a.point for a tie. At the end of the qualifying-rounds the four competitors in each class with the greatest number of wins.form a competition, and play off on the "sudden death" principle. The promoters of this scheme 1 claim for it the following advantages-! (1) Intermingling of all club members.;! (2) abolition of substitutes-in teams- (3) maintenance of., interest thoughout the competition. |

DAYLIGHT-SAVING AND SUNDAY BOWLS.

The Dominion Bowling Association ha« asserted itself in favour .of the principle of da.ylight-sa.ving. So far, no good. But something more than favouring the principle is required, and that is definite action. Weather conditions are not such in New Zealand that one gets a surfeit ;of bowling. during a season, therefore anything in the direction of "daylight-saving," which will enable bowlers to enjoy a little longer period for play of an evening should be fostered. Bowlers' wives, if consulted, might express other views on the subject, but if bowlers choose to seek the opinions of their bettor halves on this matter, then they deserve all they get. < ■ ' . ■ ■ ..

Some people tee no harm in a quiet game of bowls on a Sunday, whereas others do. It is purely-a matter of opinion. ■ Wellington is not the only town by a long way where bowls are played on Sunday, but the question has not caused so mach controversy here—latterly, ai any rate—as in other centres. Recently, the Greymouth Bowling Club decided that Sunday bowls could be indulged in by members ct iheir discretion. There, was considerable opposition to Sunday bowis, but a motion; moved by Mr. W. Fletcher, rescinding the old rule.' was-carried by 21 votes to ■<2. The question of Sunday piay was considered at tie annual meeting of the Dannevirke Ciub.. "To my nund we as a i nation are getting too far away from the v keeping of- ths' Sabbath," said Mr. S. T. Parvipur-Smith. "The closer we iTeep to .t'ae Sabbath, the" better'it'will be lor ourselves as' individuals ar.d" as a nation." (ilear,' lissrij As there appears to be a difference of opinion between some religious bodies regarding the correct day 0' the week.for ooserving the Sabbath—eoine say. Saturday, while others cohienci that Sunday is the day—what is .one to.do :c this "matter? It is admittedly a delicate question to handle, but perhaps the green 3 would benefit by a res'; on Sunday.-

Cry" T1 ■• RECEPTIONS.

The .difference between civic receptions in the Dominio:: and\ in England 'was explained by' Mr. M.. F. Barnett at thu annual meeting, of the Dominion of the New Zealand Bowling Association.. In the Dominion, said Mr. Barnett, the guests were seated in the x civic chambers". When the .Mayor came in they rose from Iheir seats, as if the honour, was being done to him, whereas* in England, it was; they ■ who were honoured. In New Zealand they were sent away hungry, and, worse than that, thirsty. (Laugher.) In _England, they-were given, eatables and drinks, although not always "hard stuff." They were, in .fact,, treated much better at such receptions than was the custom in Nev/ Zealand. He hoped that if the English. bowlers visited the Dominion in 1825 they would lie treated a 9 well &s the Dominion bowlers had been in England. To these sentiments "No. Two" adds a cordial "Hear, hear." Civic receptions erf any .description in' New Zealand are about the last word in frigid misery, and are made all ihe iess cordial in some towns ■by the ""yeJeomir.g" personage reciting a chronological set oi facts of which everybody is aware, and ■which sounds more like tha reading of a sporting team's genealogical tree (if teams possess such things) than the extension of the right hand of good-fellowship; At a. reception to'-bowlers a civic "spot", would not ba out of place; anyhow.

WICKS.

If there is a recurrence of wet weather clubs would be well advised to defer their openings for some weeks/ This would allow the spring growth.to become'established and members would receive the benefit later in the season. • • ' :

Among the clubs which are opening to-day are Lyall Bssy, TJiorndb'n, Kelburn,Hutt, and Victoria"".' ' ■- Moat olubs report an increase in membership, and all are looking forward to a successful season. Newtown Club has gained strength to the extent of between thirty and forty members. Most of the greens are looking well. Hutt Club does not contemplate making both its greens wholly available to members so early in the season, as it desires to get them into the best possible trim for the Christmas tournament. Island Bay is extending its rink accommodation from eleven to fourteen, and plans have been prepared to enlarge the clubhouse in order to provide- more space for another billiard table. -It is a fact that billiard tables are necessary -adjuncts to every club—they are such excellent revenue producers.

An amusing suggestion -was made in intensely serious vein" by" a delegate at the last meeting: of the Wellington Centre when the question of the disparity in bowl testing conditions was under discussion. In this gentleman's opinion the only way to get over the difficulty that existed was to fiend, a standard bowl to all the bowl makers in the Old Country. When it was pointed out that this idea was not feasible because of the climatic changes which bowls underwent in the voyage out to New Zealand, the delegate solemnly suggested that the bowls ought to besought out in cold storage! " What are you going to do with them when you thaw them out?" facetiously asked another member. .'- .

Chrotchurch Centre is.instituting 3 .fonr-nas championship. The folio-ing are trie conditions:—(l) Thai a four-rink championship be played, to bt called The Cnrißtchai-ch Centre Four-rirk Championship." The dinners to. be.presented wilt a hamed certificate ior the club's pavilion. v ' 2) Each club Quiring to enter muat enter four rinkc. (S~; The competition to be played in section.!. (4) Games to be played on Saturday a.ternoona as .arranged.. (£) The Contra Jttatcn to &x ihe gree^ on which games are to be played. (6) Tne method of scoring to be by point*. *Ia the event os s tie in the aggregate asmher ot points, the lact rink to finich shall piay an est?a head. (?^ The re. suit cf. games to be at onie iiotif.»d to the secretary of. the centre. {8) Entries for the compeiitior to ~oz forwarded to tee secretary <:; ihe centre r.oi later than 6th October. (9\ Any d: 3 put« arming, .not astuaiiy. provided for, "wUI be decided by the txecutive. jIO) A penalty w-U be imposed o:? 537 team which commences play ar.d djgcontinaeß before the f.ni3h of the maichea, unlsss justiable reasons can be shown to the executive..

An underground moving pmthwav for Paris is tho subject of investigation in that city. Thirteen plans were submitted and five were retained for further experiments. Of. tbpse, four work on the principle of parallel binds working «t graduated spejd*, and the romainin/oae slows down Jot e&ci »top.