BOWLERS' EVENING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 12, 16 January 1933, Page 12

BOWLERS' EVENING

'PRIME MINISTER PRESENT

There was an atmosphere all its own at the '^Bowlers' Evening," held in the Masonic Hall on Saturday evening, and the gathering thoroughly enjoyed a very fine musical and elocutionary programme arranged by Mr. E. J.. Hill. The president of. the New Zealand Bowling Association (Mr. H. 6. Mayer) presided over an attendance of some 500 guests, chief of whom was the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes). _> Welcoming the bowlers and their friends, Mr. Mayer said he was pleased to see the Australian bowlers among them. Their numbers were not so large as at the last Dominion tourney in Wellington four years ago, but nevertheless they added lustre to the tournament. Tt had been hoped to carry out a combined social for bowlers and their ladies, but the Town Hall, the only building large enough for that purpose, could not be obtained. A -welcome to the Prime Minister was extended by Mr. Mayer, ,who also read an apology from the Eight Son. J. G Coates. Proposing the toast of "Parliament," Mr. W. Perry, president of the Welling ton Bowling Centre, dealt humorousl> with Parliaments from the days of th't, Witanage-Mote of Anglo-Saxon times noting the iniquitous Act of Edward Ill's reign prohibiting the playing of th& game of bowls—a futile proceeding, aftei all. Proceeding, Mr. Perry ingeniousl\ proved that the growth of Parliaments, of any standing was coterminous with the growth of bowls, and passed on, in more serious vein, to pay a warm tribute to the Parliament of this country, and to thank the Prime Minister for his attendance. Mr. Forbes, replying, said that he had

understood that it was to be a night of enjoyment, and when he had been told that he was to reply to the toast of ■Parliament" he had at once been reminded of the Two Black Crows—"Why bring that up!" He could only think that bowlers were different to the ordinary individual, or perhaps they were like the ancient ,feasters who placed a skuil on the table as a reminder. Mr. Forbes then referred to the cheerful way m which the people were.facing the difficulties confronting them. With the toast of "The Visitors" were coupled the names of Messrs. H. Rowley (Dunedin), vice-president of the association, L. S. Gumming (City Club, Sydney) and W. J. Beisley (East Fremantle. West Australia). Mr. Rowley congratulated the committees on the way in which the tournament had been run. The three-bowl pairs hail enabled such progress to be mado with the tournament that the singles were finished four days after the commencement, which had not been the ease in any tournament for many years. From nhat he had seen of the three-bowl pairs it was a good game, and a step in the right direction, likely to prevent "prospecting." AppreciatingHhe interest taken in Aus* tralians in New Zealand, Mr. Cumming said that they were delighted with the hospitality extended to them. Referring to the excellent work of the secretary (Mr. M^Nabb), he said: that everything had been arranged for them before they left Australia, and what had not been arranged by mail Was at once done here. Mr. Beisley also spoke briefly. Toasts were drunk at the supper adjournment, and replied to during a later stage. The programme contained songs ana duets by Mesdames W. Andrews and Woodward and Messrs. E. J. Hill, Harison Cooke, and ■A. Wood, and elocutionary itemß by Messrs. Clement May and Professor Maxwell Walker. Mr. Frank Crowther was accompanist. The programme was of a: high standard throughout, and at its close the party was specially thanked by the New Zealand president.