NEW BOWLING CLUB.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1588, 14 June 1920, Page 5

NEW BOWLING CLUB.

(To the Editor.)

Sir.-—£ notice in your issue of this morning’ a report of a meeting- held in the Borough Council Chambers last evening to consider the advisability of forming a bowling and crouquet club tit the North Street Park, when it was decided to form such a club and a committee was appointed to canvass the residents in that neighbourhood with the idea of securing members for the club. While entirely agreeing with the necessity of improving the recreation reserve in that portion of the towjb.l do not think that it is right to ask the ratepayers to provide approximately £'looo for a bowling green that is only necessary on such occasions as the Easter tournament. You are no doubt aware of the extreme shortage of members of the existing clubs and the struggle of the authorities controlling these clubs to fultil their obligations which include .interest on mortgages, overdrafts and the payment of rates and taxes plus the wages of the caretakers and ordinary working expenses which in all cases amounts to not less than £2OO per annum. With the fact before us that there is no increase in the number of bowlers in the town during- the past few years and knowing the disabilities of the present clubs it may be fairly asked from where does the proposed club expect to recruit its permanent members, as I am given to understand that several of those present gave their names as supporters for the first year only. Now, Sir, I venture to ask is it a reasonable proposition to lay down a bowling- green for the benefit of a few people who happen to live in that neighbourhood and have done so for a considerable time without partaking in the game or any other form of sport and who are suddenly inspired with the idea that they are lovers of the game, for the simple reason that they are imbued with the idea that the value of their properties will be enhanced in some small way through no financial effort of their own. As a bowler w r ho knows something of the many calls that are made on members of the local clubs who have the interest of the game at heart. I would advise the promoters of the proposed club to beware of enrolling such people who will only bo in the business for their own personal edification and I would suggest to members of other clubs who have promised support to this quite unnecessary undertaking on the part of our Council (who are no doubt acting in the matter with the very best intentions) to remember their first duty is to their own clubs which had no municipal assistance but had to found such clubs by their own individual and collective financial efforts. How many of the promoters of this new venture w r ould be game enough to start a new club such as was done by the pioneers of bowling in this town who have fostered the game by their own personal efforts through prosperous and adverse times? The essential member of a bowling club is one who is a playing member that takes an interest in all matters pertaining- to the welfare of his club. No club can hope to prosper no matter how strong it may be financially without the active playing member who is the backbone of his club. —I am, etc., DRAKE. Palmerston N., June 12. 1920.