BOWLING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 182, 4 July 1931, Page 3

BOWLING

DOMINION COUNCIL REPORT. BIG INCREASE IN FOUR YEARS. VISIT FROM BRITISH TEAM. The report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association in Christchurch next week states that the number of centres affiliated to the association is 20, there being 10 in the North Island and 10 in the South Island. During the season the following clubs were granted affiliation : Auckland Centre: Buckland’s Beach, Kaukapakapa. South Auckland Centre: Te Poi. West Coast Centre: Seddonville. Christchurch Centre: Returned Soldiers’ Association, Springfield. South Canterbury Centre: Highfield. The total number of clubs now on the register is 330, with a membership of 16,521, which shows an increase for the year of 208. It is worthy of note that the increase during the past four years totals 27 clubs and 1068 members.

The annual Dominion tournament was held in Auckland, a largo entry being received. Clubs from all parts of the Dominion were represented, as well as representatives from New South Wales and South Australia. The winners were: —Singles: N. Bell, junr. (Hamilton Club); runner-up, A. Parsons (Ponsonby Club). Pairs: H. G. Loveridge and R. N. Pilkinpdon (Hamilton Club); runners-up, W. Moffatt and J. B. Jack (St. John’s Club). Rinks: J. D. Best, A. J. H. Gregorv, H. Gardiner, G. A. Deare (Dunedin Club); runners-up, C. Bennett, R. A. Shore, J. A. Martin, H. Brigliting (Hataitai Club).

The executive learned that it was the intention of a British team to visit Australia at the end of 1932 and immediately forwarded a request that New Zealand be included in the itinerary. Although no official intimation has yet been received, it is noted in the minutes of a meeting of the International Board held last November that the invitation of New Zealand had been accepted. The council regrets to record within recent date the deaths of two post officers of the association, Messrs A. J. Benzie and E. W. Wade, both of Christchurch. Mr Benzie held the office of president in 1928 and was very much esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. Mr Wade was Dominion secretary in 1924 and 1928, and as such proved his worth as a most efficient officer of the association. The statement of receipts and expenditure discloses that the year began with a credit balance at the Bank of New Zealand of £356 Os 3d and ended with £3OB 12s Bd. The apparent deficit on the year’s transactions is accounted for by a donation of £IOO which the council made to the East Coast Centre in response to an urgent appeal for funds to assist in rehabilitating some of the greens, which were practically ruined as a result'of the recent disastrous earthquake which visited that- district.