BOWLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 104, 1 April 1926, Page 10

BOWLING

EASTER TOURNAMENT. (By “Trundler.”) The draw for the Manawatu Bowling Centre’s Easter tourney, which commences on Friday and continues till Tuesday, was issued at the week-end. Tlie forty-four teams were divided into two sections of twelve each and two of ten, tliis obviating any bye, the only objectionable feature of section play in a tourney. Play will commence each day at 9 a.m. and, as the shades of night are falling earlier each day now, it is imperative that there should be no unnecessary delay in getting the games under weigh. This fact might commend itself to the speakers in opening the tourney at each green on Good Friday—brevity should be the soul of wit. Given fine weather there should be excellent games in the three days of section play. In these notes last week mention was made of the fact that Carterton Club, a strong supporter of the tourney, was not represented this year. It is plea'mg to note that this is not the case, as an entry was received from the club, but omitted in the original list of entrants. THE AUCKLAND TRAGEDY. The motoring fatality at Auckland on Thursday last robbed the Hamilton Club of one of its well-known players, Mr F. T. Wilson. Deceased, who was 53 years of age, was No. 2 in Pilkington’s rink when they won the Dominion championship in 1925. In February of this year Mr Wilson was in the same rink which won the North Island championship at Hamilton. He had been in winning rinks twice at the Cambrdge Easter Tournaments. He won the South Auckland tournament once with Pilkington, and once with Norrie Bell and in 1924 won the Hamilton District Cup. Mr Wilson was an enthusiastic supporter of the Rugby League code in the South Auckland district, and was secretary for the district. Ho was vei-y popular with all classes, and had a charming unassuming manner. Mr Leonard Jackson, who was injured slightly, was formerly a resident of Palmerston North and is l a member of the Frankton Bowling Club. He is also a keen hockey enthusiast, and is president of the Hamilton Association. Mr Harold Varney, also slightly injured, is a son of Mr J. Varney, a well-known mercer and bowler of Hamilton. Mr Harold Varney is secretary of the Hamilton Bowling Club, and was recently married. His father played with Norrie Bell’s team at Palmerston North last Easter. DETERIORATION OF GREENS.

Tho problem of tho deterioration of greens faces most, if not all clubs, sooner or later., It is not unknown in Palmorston North and tho following extracts from a letter which appeared a while back in tho Auckland Herald should bo of interest. Tho writer, “Green Superintendent,” says inter alia : My own personal experience for a number of years now it is safe to say that our greens are not getting any better but aro rather on the down grade. Why this stato of affairs? That is tho question which is exercising tho attention of all club officials. When wo hoar of such an experienced green superintendent as Mr Kilgour saying that lio is at a loss to account for tho deterioration of tho quality of tho local green during recent years it is time we sat up and took notice, or in other words tho time is ripo for

: mcerted action. The idea of the r : ipointment of an expert is not a bad ono and is rendered all the more feasible by the fact of such a good man as Mr Willcox, of Rotorua, being availablo shortly, as he is retiring on superannuation. It is not the pace of tho greens that causes so much discontent to-day but rather the character of tho surface, which is oft-times rough and full of small holes. This tends, of course, to make a green slower as tho bowl is meeting with difficulty all tho way and docs not get a sweet run. Ono remedy to cut less and not so short wo all know to bo a good plan of action, but you can’t get good running greens that way. Tho idea of top-dressing, which to my mind is everything, is a good one, but tho difficulty is to get tho various manures in sufficient quantities and in proper co;ndit'ion. Summed up, tho whole position is teeming with difficulties and only when theso are overcome will we havo greens to be talked about—but not in tho manner they aro talked of to-day. LOCAL TEAM FOR NELSON.

A team of bowlers, comprising S. H. Snell, P. ltabone, J. Wallace (representing Terraco End Club) and R. Rangiheuia (Foxton) will compete at tho Easter tournament at Nelson. They intend taking boat for Picton and motoring from there to Nelson. Afterwards they will proceed to Greymouth, then across tho Otira Gorgo to Christchurch.

BITTER BOWLERS,

“BAD TREATMENT IN SYDNEY.”

FREMANTLE, March 13,

West Australian bowlers who returned yesterday by the Dimboola from the Australian Bowling Association carnival at Sydney complain bitterly of tho lack of hospitality, and, generally, of their treatment in Sydney. “It lias left a stab. No more for me,” declured one. Instances wero quoted where a charge of 6d each for programmes was levied on visiting bowlers at a public reception at the Town Hall, Sydney. Ono man declared that he was charged 2s for admission to that function for each of liis two daughters. Agaiu, on arrival at Sydney tfliey were told they wero to be entertained by tho St. George Club, but no one at tho hotel could give them information as to tho club or its whereabouts, and eventually they had to engage their own conveyances at a cost of £ L each to cover the 17 miles to tho St. George green. Arriving there they found the St. George team away playing a pennant match at some other green, but ultimately a scratch team was got together for a roll-up. So far as tho VV.A. men could glean tlieir treatment differed in no way from that of visiting bowlers from other States. One man crystallised the views of himself and fellow bowlers in these words: “Once they got us there they didn’t trouble about us. Ono ,of our men was five minutes lato for a fixture after travelling 17 miles, and found that tho match had been a forfeit. The trip cost us and tho association about £ISOO altogether. It was rotten.”

Tho statements contained in the telegram will come as a great shock

to Mr James Wall, president of the N.S.W. Bowling Association, -his executive, and bowlers generally (says the Sydney Sun). The recent carnival was declared a huge success, and at tho innumerable functions at which tho visitors wore entertained the spoakers from all States, including West Australia, wero loud in their praises at the efforts made oil their behalf. St. George Club, which comes in for particular mention, is noted for . its hospitality, and tho exaggerations made in the charges are reflected in the statement that the club’s green is 17 miles from the city. It is not quite seven miles away from where the West Australians were staying. Further than that, tho souvenir programmes issued for the carnival were repleto with information, particularly as to the routes to be taken to reach tho various greens.