BOWLING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 214, 24 August 1931, Page 3

BOWLING

EAST COAST CENTRE ANNUAL MEETING. VARIOUS MATTERS DISCUSSED. There was a large attendance of delegates at the annual meeting of the East Coast Bowling Centre, Mr G. E. Roach (president) presiding. The annual report and balancesheet (already published) was briefly referred to by the president, who expressed regret at the deaths of two very well-known bowlers, Messrs F. G. Smith and W. Bartie. The work of the season disclosed a very satisfactory financial position. The earthquake visitation had caused a considerable amount of damage to clubs in Napier. He appreciated the very generous response by bowlers throughout the Dominion and did not care to think how these clubs would have fared but for this assistance. Delegates would have to consider applications from Havelock North and Omaranui Clubs for grants from this fund to help in the cost of repairs. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr C. H. Critchley (Waipawa) said he would like to see Mr Roach continue in office, but recognised that their president had a tremendous amount of work to do in other directions. Under these circumstancse he proposed Mr Williams (Waipukurau). Mr Roach said he believed that the honour of president should go round. It was pleasing to find his efforts approved by the centre. Mr Williams was then elected, and then filled the chair.

The other positions were filled as follow: —Vice-president, Mr H. Mayo (Port Ahuriri); treasurer, Mr Somer-set-Smith (Bluff Hill); secretary, Mr P. J. Bear (Napier); auditor, Mr H. Bull (Bluff Hill); executive, Messrs Kelly (Omaranui), McCarthy (Port), Renouf (Napier), Houston (Wairere), Jlriggs (Bluff Hill), Critchley (Waipawa), Cook (Waipukurau), Ross (Havelock North), Roach (Hastings), Price (St. Leonards), Saunders (Kia Toa). The date of the official opening of the season was fixed for Saturday, October 3, and Waipukurau Club’s green the locality. In connection with the New Year and Easter tournaments it was decided, on the motion of Mr P. Bear, to hold the first tournament at Hastings and the Easter one at Napier. Regarding champion fours, pairs and singles, Mr Critchley proposed that the fours be played on three succeeding Saturdays, the first games at Waipawa, then Hastings and Napier, the pairs and singles to be decided upon two consecutive Saturdays.— Carried. I

THE SHIELD COMPETITION. When the question of shield conditions arose, Mr Cook (Waipukurau) moved that the competition be conducted on the same terms as last year, the first defeat eliminating any club. Mr Somerset-Smith said the Bluff Hill Club had decided to pull out of this competition. Personally he was in favour of all clubs . meeting each other. He remembered a'similar competition for the shield some years ago, and while his club won few games, he thought it was the most successful Bluff Hill had experienced, inasmuch as it gave every player .an opportunity to play. Mr H. Mayo said that the shield should be played for upon a pro rata basis. Clubs’ strength would be governed by the number of playing members and teams arranged accordingly. Last year the sudden death principle met with litle approval with Port Club members. He moved, “That clubs play according to playing strength, all clubs to meet each other.”

Mr Renouf (Napier) seconded, expressing his approval of the 1927 system. Mr Kelly (Omaranui) agreed with the amendment, stating that the Auckland Association decided its pennant games upon these lines. Mr Houston (Wairere) anticipated trouble. The half-holiday question might upset calculations. If a club had 50-50 playing Thursday and Saturday playing teams pro rata on Saturday would prove a penalty to his club. Mr Critchley likened the shield to the “hardy annual’ —it was always cropping up. They had tried various schemes and apparently met with little success. He preferred the sudden death conditions, because they got the competition completed quickly and then enabled local club games to be proceeded with more expeditiously. Mr Mayo’s motion would entail a considerable amount of travelling. Waipawa and Waipukurau observed the Wednesday half-holiday. Mr Cook reiterated that a straightout competition was required. It gave all clubs a chance, and if they went out a club could then make other arrangements. Although Wednesday was the half-holiday his club (Waipukurau) was strong on Saturday play. Like Mr Critchley, he was prepared to cut out the competition. Mr Roach (Hastings) said he could see objections to the Port’s proposal. As soon as some clubs found it impossible to win, difficulty would be experienced in getting members to travel. Many were fed up with so much travelling. A vote taken resulted in the shield competition being decided upon, each defeat eliminating a club. HAVELOCK’S CLAIMS. Mr W. Ross (Havelock North) stated that a good deal of work had been accomplished in preparing the Havelock green. This had been done by “working bees,” etc. He thought they should receive some assistance from the funds subscribed by the Dominion bowlers. Mr Kelly (Omaranui) also detailed the work done by his club. He had personally spent a considerable number of hours attending to the green, and thought the club was entitled to some assistance. Mr Cook, referring to Havelock North, said it was pleasing to find members, so enthusiastic to help as indicated by Mr Ross, but labour that would be involved in the ordinary course of a bowling season should not be a charge on the earthquake appeal funds. Mr Ross: Then we are to be penalised for our enthusiasm I Mr Somerset-Smith stated they were prepared to assist in earthquake repair work, but for that only. He moved “that each club send in i detailed statement of work done and anticipated, also that a committee consisting of Messrs Williams, Roach,

Bear and Somerset-Smith go into details and act accordingly.’ This was seconded by Mr Renouf, who added that the Port Club had received more damage than all the other clubs combined aud required every possible consideration. Mr Roach stated that when the money came to hand he had inspected the Napier greens and allocated the payments. He was not made acquainted with Omaranui’s position, and was unaware that the Havelock green had suffered through the visitation. When he visited this green there were no members present. He had endeavoured to make the allocation on an equitable basis. Mr McKee (Hastings) expressed his confidence that the clubs would find the committee do the fair thing to all interested. Mr Somerset-Smith’s motion was then carried. , On behalf of the Omaranui Club Mr Kelly offered the free use of this green to Wairere and Port players. At the secretary’s request a drawing committee was set up to control tournament play, and Messrs Bear, Mayo and Somerset-Smith" were elected. Votes of thanks were passed to the retiring president, treasurer (Mr R. Thomas), the press, and ladies. In his reply, Mr Thomas regretted his departure. He had spent some of the happiest hours of his life on the green, and it was only coming home to him, on the eve of his leaving, how many friends he had as bowlers. He hoped to play the game in 'Auckland, and invited all players to look him up whenever they visited that city.