SPLIT AMONG BOWLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17753, 12 April 1921, Page 6

SPLIT AMONG BOWLERS.

SOUTH AUCKLAND BODY.

SEVERAL CENTRES SECEDE.

NEW "GOLDFIELDS ASSOCIATION."

[XT TELEGUAPH. OWN COKEJESPOXDENT.]

TE AROHA. Monday. Delegates from the Waihi, Thames, Morrinsville, Paeroa, Matamata and Te Aroha bowling clubs assembled on Saturday to consider a proposal to secedes from, the South Auckland Bowling Association and form a separate association.

The chairman, Mr. Evan Morgan (Waiihi), said one of the grounds for complaint was the fact that the South Auckland Association was centralised at Hamilton to the disadvantage of the eastern districts. The present executive did not include oven one representative of the eastern districts. HaiU.iton had the backing of Main Trunk and neighbouring clubs and could dominate all meetings. Hamilton was out to hold an immense annual tournament, but could not find accommodation for those bowlers who wished to attend even smaller tourneys there. The S.A.B.A. hai a pennant for competition and those competitions always created great interest; yet Hamilton delegates were out to make the tourney a Domin-ion-wid<- one. By so doing, the pennant competition would be useless. There was a widespread feeling among players in the Goldfields in favour of gettiing back to the former basis of smaller tourneys, where there was perfect harmony and more enjoyment. It was announced that Eoromandel had favoured secession, but Waikino consid ; ered the existing arrangements suitable and did not call for the formation of a separate association. The prospects of obtaining support from the Bay of Plenty clubs was considered bright, as they also, it waa alleged, had been ignored by HamiltonMembers favoured a return to the former system of holding three-day tourneys in a different town each year. The possibility of obtaining alterations by constitutional was discussed, but there was a concensus of opinion that as clubs at a distance could not well send delegates for certain and Hamilton and neighbouring chubs could do so, any such proposal would certainly be defeated. In the past Hamilton had obtained proxies from absentees and thus outvoted the opponents of centralisation. It was unanimously resolved to take the necessary steps to secede from the South Auckland Association and apply to the Dominion Bowling Association for permission to form the Goldfields Bowline; Association. Messrs. B. Chanman (Morrinsville). Mack ay (Thames), W. J. Towers (Paeroa). R. Noonan and P. D. Bygrave (Te Aroha) were appointed a committee to attend to preliminaries. Mr. Urwin (Thsmes) atrreed to act as interim secretary. The meeting was most enthusiastic, and it was stated that probably more than half the clubs at present affiliated to the South Auckland Association would secede.