AMENITIES OF BOWLING.

Evening Star, Issue 11667, 28 January 1902, Page 4

AMENITIES OF BOWLING.

WHY NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA FELL OUT.

[Special to the Stab.]

WELLINGTON, January 27,

Mr Paul, of New Plymouth, the veteran bowler and captain of the New Zealand team which visited England, Scotland, and Ireland last summer, had a few words to say at the Northern Association's smoke concert anent the trouble which arose some time back between the Maorflanders and Australians, and about which explanations of an unsavory nature subsequently emanated from Australia. Mr Paul said that in answer to an invitation some ten or a dozen Maorflanders expressed themselves as perfectly willing to join an Australian combination for the Home tour, and when they reached Australia they made inquiries about tho proposed campaign, but were unable to elicit any definite information, except that it was proposed to elect a stipendiary secretary (at £2OO a year) to carry out the arrangements in connection with the tour. The Maorflanders felt that Kuch an official was not required—that he was, in fact, an expensive luxury—but nothing definite was said on the subject until they reached England, when, at a meeting called by Mr Paul, it was decided that rather than let the matter become a cause of dissension the Maorilanders would stand in, but the latter decided to make a stipulation that their combination must not be broken. They would play as Maorilanders, indivisible, or not at all. This caused the kangaroo representatives to spring off their little furry tails. They answered in a "stand and deliver'' tone of voice that the moas must fall into line or sutler excommunication. Mr Paid, with native caution, refused to commit himself right there. " I will give you a final answer to-morrow night," he naid. Accordingly the moas met and decided to pull out altogether, for the following reasons :—(1) That the kangaroo-moa combination would be unworkable, as it would necessitate forty bowlers, with their camp followers and retinue, pervading the country, and a number of players standing out of every game, besides being an infringement of all sane laws of hospitality; and (2) that it would be better to separate before commencing operations, so as to obviate any possibility of a row or a scandal. The Australians received the ultimatum with rather bad grace, and, in fact, with chagrin and a certain amount of bitterness. The .New Zwilanders, on tho other hand, were actuated by the kindest and friendliest spirit throughout. So they set out to play a lone hmul. They were excellently well received wherever they went, but especially so ia .Scotland, where at times the hospitality wys well-nigh overpowering. Of ,tweiivy-.seven contests played, the Maorilandvrs were on top fourteen times and bcivU'u thirteen—a good record when it is remembered that in Scotland they met eight (ip-top men on every green played upon; that the New Zealanders on several occasions had to play with substitute moas, some of whom were hardly out of the novitiate stage ; that the team were frequently iu difficulties because of ihe varying "strengths" of the various greens. Mr Paid surprised many of his hearers with tbi' bold assertion that in England the greens as a whole are very poor indeed. On the other hand, those of Scotland "are as near perfection as they can be —pictures to iook at, and for play true as billiard tables " The greens reflect the players. The Scot fairly bubbles over with enthusiasm. The Englishman is phlegmatic, and rarely gives signs of real pleasure or mortification. The veteran New Plymouth phiyer would have us take note of the fact thai; the British greens are larger than ours, running out generally from 66ft up to 75ft, whilst 42ft is their minimum. Inter alia Mr Paul raised his protest against the habit, which is growing locally, of players who, with one eye on the " gallery " and the other on the ball, " cavort" up tho green to admire the results of their own incomparable handiwork, and to await tho applauso which such practices sometimes invoke from the uninitiated. Another thing which the veteran player condemns is the "lyddite game," which is becom'ng fashionable with those clubs to whom victory is the one consideration. Mr Paul can haidly find words in which to condemn this Nihilistic practice of "smashing up heads." "There is a great deal too much of it," he says. "It is not really bowling. In Scotland you see very little of it played. This skittles game is to me most abominable." If at .any future time Maorilaud decides to send a team to Great Britain, Mr Paul says they ought to consist of fourteen men, to play three rinks. He would like to see a sort of pledge exacted from the members of the combination to " see the job right through," as nothing spoils the chances of victory so much as the chance emergency man. The veteran is firir.lv impressed with the idea that a well-selected team of New Zealanders would make things interesting for the best that the United Kingdom can produce. He quotes wifh modest pride this cordial extract from the letter of the Scotch bowlers: —" The New Zealand bowlers are the finest lot of men we have ever had on a bowling green here."