“Dour Spirit Of Half-Day Tourneys”

Northern Advocate, 30 July 1938, Page 9

“Dour Spirit Of Half-Day Tourneys”

N.A. BOWLS CHIEF

Delegates lo the annual meeting of the North Auckland Bowling Centro found themselves in deep water when considering what place half-day tournaments should occupy in the coming season's, programme. A stream of motions and amendments with various suggestions and 1 counter-suggestions was put to the meeting until the president, Mr B. R. Miller, who occupied the chair, must have been almost in ,a daze. Finally the simple solution of leaving the matter in the hands of the executive committee was adopted. Detrimental to Bowls. The chairman brought it upon himself bj r expressing an opinion that half-day tournaments last year had proved detrimental to the interests of bowls, the social side of the game being sacrificed, in the limited time under which such fixtures were played, to a dour spirit to win. In addition, on several occasions half-day fixtures could not be held on the date set down on .account of weather, and had been postponed, thus interfering seriously with subsequent fixtures and competitions. Mr C. V. Stringer set the ball rolling by moving that only two half-day tournaments should be granted to any club, .and that no further dates could be applied for. The motion was not seconded. Mr S. Blanshard then moved that only one half-day fixture be allowed each club, and that in the event of the tournament not taking place, for any unforeseen reason, the fixture would lapse. Mr M. Edgar pointed out that owing lo the time taken up by half-day fixtures last season the Centre’s trophies for inter-club games had not been competed for to the extent desired. “I would like to see the half-day tournaments abolished altogether,” he added. " Mr T., H. Steadman moved an amendment that if in the event of unforeseen circumstances the one halfday fixture of any club could not be held, another day: should be granted. The amendment was lost on the chairman’s casting vote. Mr J. H. Marwick moved" a second amendment that special consideration | should be allowed to Portland, who were ,a very small club and required the financial assistance derived from a half-day fixture. He suggested that Portland should be allowed an extra day. This was also lost. “Someone Switched.” A peculiar position then arose. Mr Blanshard’s original motion was put before the meeting and was also lost on a show of hands. “Somebody has switched,” commented Mr Blanshard, who rose to a point of order, but he was ruled out. Mr Marwick moved that the executive be recommended to grant halfday tournaments only after the end of January. Mr W. C. Coote, however, moved as an amendment that the question of such fixtures should be left ,entirely in the hands of the executive. This was carried ,and passedion the voices. “I don’t know why that couldn’t have been done in the first place,” commented Mr Blanshard. i