FINE PLAY AREA

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 103, 29 October 1945, Page 4

FINE PLAY AREA

DISABLED SERVICEMEN

BOWLING GREEN OPENED

Flags were flying at the Wellington Disabled Servicemen's Training Centre in Lloyd Street on Saturday, and the unfurling of one of them during an afternoon ceremony marked the beginning of new activity .there—play on a green as an additional aid to restoring confidence to men maimed in war. The opening ceremony was performed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser), who, in praising the efforts of those who had been responsible for the magnificent green and appointments, said that all could take pride in a wonderful achievement. It was obvious, said Mr. Fraser, that heart and soul had been put into the work; it had meant much personal effort and devotion. Nothing was too much for those who had made great sacrifices in war to save others. While all that had been lost could not be restored to the. disabled servicemen, something could be done, and the provision of the fine recreational facilities at the centre offered a shining example. A Government could go as far as possible in its duty of providing the essential things for the men who had sacrificed much, but if the people left it at that, efficient as it might be, it would still be cold; Mr. Fraser said that he had always been struck by the spirit of comradeship, the co-operation and friendliness amongst bowlers. All that had been projected into the disabled servicemen's green to1 the fullest extent- The result was something that did everybody's hearts good. He wished the newly-formed Wellington Disabled Servicemen's Bowling Club every success.

ACHIEVEMENT ACKNOWLEDGED. The opening was followed by the official handing over of the green and facilities by the appeal committee to the club, Mr. J.. Norrie (.chairman) acting for the committee, and Mr. C. M. Turribull (the club's president) making the acknowledgement. The green was regarded by Mr. Turnbull as "one of the most perfect ever constructed in New Zealand." and he gave an assurance that the trust would be fully honoured. The best wishes and congratulations of the Wellington Bowling Centre were extended by Mr. B. A. Guise (centre president), who, in offering advice to the newcomers, said that the game of bowls was a most democratic one, the only distinction on the gi:een being the skill of the player. The , new club and its members would have the good will and co-operation of the centre. "May the enjoyment you get from the game be exceeded only by the enjoyment it .gave to those to provide the green for you," he added-' At the outset of proceedings Mr. Norrie, in welcoming the large gathering, outlined the history of the scheme by which the development was brought about, and he* paid special tribute to those who in various ways'had enabled the objective to be reached. It was one thing to train disabled men, but it was another thing to provide for their recreational needs. The work of providing a bowling green was taken up as something that would be an aid to rehabilitation. Mr. Norrie mentioned, in enumerating the principals in the work, that Mr. George Crawford had constructed the green and that Mr. Tom Lock had been chairman of the construction committee.

"We look upon bowls as complementary to the work carried on in the Training Centre," said Mr. J. Murray, chairman of the Wellington Disabled Servicemen's Re-establishment League, in expressing the league's thanks to the Government, the appeal committee, the bowling community, and others who had supplied the valuable addition to the centre's amenities. The Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr. Skinner) added his tribute, and regarded the achievement as a practical example of what the people of New Zealand could do to assist in the very important work of rehabilitation. In all the- training of the disabled men it was essential to'restore to the men their confid^ice in themselves, and he was quite sure the bowling green was going to help in doing that. Already it had been shown that disabled servicemen could more than hold their own in bowling clubs, and he predicted that their new screen in Wellington would be producing a champion or two before many years had passed. The first jack was sent up' by Mrs. Turnbull (wife cf the club president) and the first bowl delivered by Mr. Tom Lock, who' was presented with the club's first badge of life membership. Afternoon tea was served in the Training Centre dining hall,' and during the afternoon items were given by bandsmen. Members of various bowling clubs took part in the games which followed the opening ceremony.