BOWLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 July 1924, Page 6

BOWLING.

- THE TARANAKI CENTRE. The annual meeting of the Taranaki . Bowling Centre was held at Stratford on Saturday. The delegates included : Messrs D. L-. A. Astbury (Eltham), T. Corkill, S. Adamson, H. E Shaw (Hawera), G. Hammond (Opunake), F. Julian (Pihama), C. R. Stannard, H. L. McGregor (Park), G. Smart (Stratford), The president (Mr. A. K. Smart) briefly welcomed the, delegates. The annual report of the executive congratulated the centre on a very successful season, both from a financial and a playing point of view. The annual tournament in' January was a very successful one, and although the entries were lower than in the previous year, those taking part had a most enjoyable time. Most of the clubs were represented, and there were also rinks from Hastings, Onehunga St. John’s (Wanganui), Ponsonby, and Rapanui Fifty-two- rinks competed, as ■« against 60 in the previous year. The tournament was won by a West End rink skipped by Mr. T. Billing, the runners-up' being an Inglewood rink skipped by Mr. F. Spurdle. To both these rinks congratulations were extended. The tournament resulted in a profit of £2O 17s 6d. The New Year tournament conducted by the centre attracted 34 rinks, as against 30 in the previous year. This tournament wa s won by a New Plymouth rink skipped by Mr. C. N. John, son the runners-up being also a New Plymouth Club rink skipped by Mr. H. E.. Fookes. These rinks were also congratulated on their success. ’The fixture was most enjoyable and showed a net profit of £5 4s. The shield competition wasj won by the West End Club, the other com■petitors in the semi-final play being Inglewood (Central), Manaia (Southern), and Pihama (Western), West End and Pihama playing off for the final. The North v. South match was played at Stratford, and resulted in a win for the north. The champion of champions matches were played at Hawera. when j Mr. 11. Smart,'of New Plymouth club, won the final against Mr. E. W. Carter, of the Inglewood Club. The Manawatu. Centre paid a visit to various clubs in Taranaki Centre, and had a most enjoyable time. The 'Wanganui and Wellington Centres did not pay the return visit due, but would, j in all probability, do so during the I coming season. .Represented by twelve I rinks, the centre paid a visit to AuckI land and received a cordial reception, I everything possible being done by the I Auckland Centre to make the visit a pleasant .one. Two test matches were played, resulting in a win for each centre, and a number of club matches were also played. A test match was played against the South Auckland Centre and was won by Taranaki During the season' clubs in South Taranaki were granted permission to hold a” rink tournament, at Hawera. This was held at Eastertime, and'was won by a New Plymouth Club rink skipped by Mr. C. N. Johnson. Towards the end of the season Mr. D. H. Thomson, a member of the executive was transferred to Invercargill. Referring to the statement of accounts, it wa.s stated that The xwofits from ail sources amounted to £2B 3s sd. In view of the fact that the entry fees for the open tournament were £32 10s less than the previous year, the finances of the centre were considered satisfactory. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman said the last had been a most successful season. They had started the season with a credit balance of £55, and had finished up with £B3. In this connection he paid a high tribute to the work of the secretary (Mr. F. J. Hill). Despite the fact that entries had been lower, the balance-sheet was better in every way. . Mr. J. D. Sole seconded, and the report and balance-sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, Mr. A. K. Smart; vice-presidents, Messrs S. Adamson and J. Masters; executive committee, Messrs J. D. Sole, A. T. Moore, D. L. A. Astburv, L. Sampson, Stan. Smith. At. G. Nasmith; secretary and treasurer. Mr. F. J. Hill; auditor, Mr. «. E. Fookes : nominee to the Dominion Bowling Association, Mr. A. K. Smart. / t ft was agreed to hold the centre’s New Year tournament at New Plymouth. as previously, the president reminding delegates that the tournament, though usually patronised by Northern Taranaki clubs, was open to all clubs in the province. The open tournament will also be held in January, the date being left to the executive" to fix. The shield matches are to be played in the same divisions as last year. On behalf of the New Plymouth Club Mr. Nasmith moved that winners of the four divisions meet in the finals for the shield __ competition on a neutral green, at New Plymouth, Stratford," or Hawera. each, club to play' 21 heads against the other clubs. In the event of any two. clubs having the same number of wins, the aggregate number of points secured in the day’s play by each club shall decide the honours." Mr. Stan. Smith seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. The southern anj central divisions are 'to set up their own committees to draw up fixtures. Mr. J. D. Sole pointed out that the object of the North v. South match had been lost sight of, inasmuch as the fixture had originally been made in order to choose representatives for a touring Taranaki team. He referred to the small number of players at the North v. South match who actually travelled with a Taranaki touring team'. He therefore moved that the fixture be discontinued. At tho suggestion of the meeting this motion was withdrawn, and it was decided that the fixture be continued ou Stratford greens, the match to 'be l simply a trial of strength between the two ends of the province. It was left in the hands of the executive to attend to details of the match. Messrs S. Adamson and J. Lyons were appointed selectors for the south end, and Messrs A. lv. Smart and H. Price for the north. The selectors for representative matches are to be Messrs A. K. Smart I and S. ■ Adamson. 9 The executive wa.s recommended to arrange inter-provincial tours, with a direction favouring matches at 'Wanganui, Napier, and Wairarapa. /It had been suggested that the Wanganui, Taranaki, and Manawatu Centres should endeavour to arrive at ■ an agreement in reference to the hold-' • ing of tournaments. A letter from the Manawatu Centre suggested that a meeting he hel t ( in Wanganui at a convenient date to discuss the matter. — The. centre • approved of the proposed conference to consider, not only the arrangement of tournament:;, but also bowling matters generally. The selection of a delegate was left to the executive. The New Plymouth Bowling C'luh wrote suggesting that a charge for admission be made for all men who are • not members of any bowling club during r the post-section play connected with .with the Taranaki Centre tournament.

On being moved the motion wa.s lost. ‘‘lt is with very great regret I notice that Mr. J. Foy, of Hawera, is not with us to-day,” said the He intimated that Mr. Foy would not seek re-election to an office on the centre. It was agreed to place on record the valuable services rendered to the game by Air. Foy. A remit was forwarded by the New Plymouth Club, that the centre favourably consider the question of daylightsaving with a view to urging Taranaki members of Parliament to support Mr. T K. Sydney’s Daylight-Saving Bill. The remit was carried Jjpanimously. Mr. S. Smith moved fnat clubs be advised that the centre recognises a colt a« a player who has never played in a banner match. This lapsed for the want of a seconder. On tile motion of Mr. Stannard, seconded by Mr. Nasmith, it was then agreed that, as far as the centre was concerned, a colt be defined as a first year player. Mr. Astbury moved that the centre arrange a Saturday competition among clubs in South Taranaki. Members generally did not oppose the motion, but it was felt a meeting should first he convened of all the southern clubs concerned. On this understanding the motion was withdrawn.

The president, referring to tlfe champion of champions competition, said he thought each club should be represented only by its champion. Such a stipulation, he thought, would tend to hasten the completion of club champion matches. A motion to this effect proposed by the president, seconded by Mr. Smith, was adonted. It was agreed on the proposal of'Air. Nasmith, that the report as well as the balance-sheet be printed and circulated fourteen days before the meeting.— News.