AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20116, 29 November 1928, Page 15

AUSTRALIAN BOWLERS.

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. [from orn own correspondent.] SYDNEY. Not. 21. There has been some comment, regarding the tour beginning next month of an Australian bowling team, which lias planned an extensive visit <o New Zealand. This team is far from representative of Australia, for it consists mainly of bowlers who have clubbed together to go to Now Zealand for a holiday, yet it will take with it. the banner of a fully accredited test team, and will play a series of test matches with New Zealand. Mr. J. Mathers, one of Australia's bowling authorities, writing on the subject, says

"The question one may now raise is, Why is Australia not sending to New Zealand a first-class bowling team ? Tho answer is because there exists a fetish among bowlers that it would show a lack of dignity if they were paid their expenses, and since it would cost about £6O to make tho trip, those, who cannot afford, or do not caro to afford to spend that sum will remain at home. Tho whole thing should canso tho authorities to do some hard thinking. "Development of recent years lias converted bowls from a gamo for tho classes to a game for the masses, and consequently the point of view of the controlling authorities should lie altered too. Ftut whisper the. word professional, and many bowlers would shriek that such an offending term should bo uttered in their presence. It is all very well for tho retired business man to talk, but what about tho thousands of middle men who play the game every Saturday afternoon? They must, be considered."