N.Z. ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 148, 25 June 1938, Page 6

N.Z. ASSOCIATION

Although four bowling centres in New Zealand had a decrease in membership last year the total number of bowlers increased from 17,294 to 18,215. The annual report of the New Zealand Bowling Association shows that the eleven centres in each Island govern a total of 372 clubs,.of which 216 are in the North Island and. 156 in the South Island. Practically two-thirds of the plavers are in the North Island, and the increase in North Island membership was 680 against 241 in the South Island. ..;,', The Wellington Centre, which last year controlled 24 clubs, against 23 the previous year, increased its membership from 1729 to 1884. The new ciub is the Olaki Railway Club, with a memcership of 42, one more than the Otaki Club. Decreases in membership were shown by the Wairarapa, Nelson, South Otago, and Buller Centres. . , I The New Zealand Centennial Exhibition, which is to be held in Wellingj ton in 1939 and 1940, has had an effect on the usual national bowling arrangenients. Under normal circumstances 'th" 1940 championship tournament ' would have been held in Christchurch, I but the Christchurch Centre has gene--1 rously agreed to the tournament being Iheld in Wellington. Christchurch will have the 1941 tournament and thereafter the normal order will be resumed. The report states that the finances of the association were improved during the past season, the credit balance being incrsascd by approximately £90. I The profit on the championship tournaiment at Dunedin was about £20 below the figure for the Wellington meeting the year before. Right throughout the tournament exceptionally fine weather was experienced, only half an hour's rain falling in the twelve days, and consequently the programme went forward according to schedule. The entries received were good although a number of New Zealand players were absent at the Australian bowling carnival 'which took place ti Sydney before the British Empire Games, . '