BOWLING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 13

BOWLING

AUSTRALIANS’ NEW ZEALAND TOUR. RECIPROCITY "WITH THE DOMINION. Speaking at a dinner in Sydney last week the Australian bowlers who had just returned from tho New Zealand tour spoke in appreciative terms of the hospitality and good fellowship encountered everywhere in the Dominion, and the speeches had as their principal theme reciprocity in rules and a return visit next year. During the tour our players naturally had to conform to the rules as laid down in the Dominion, just as for the future New Zealand teams visiting tts must do likewise. It seems strange (remarks the “Daily Telegraph”) that there should be any alteration m rules necessary. They should be the same. The only difference lies in two matters one, that in New Zealand the toucher and’tho jack have the same significance—that is, when a jack is dead so is a toucher; while with its, although we define the playing area of a rink, a toucher is alive anywhere. In New Zealand the toucher outside the playing area is dead, and the New Zealand rule is logically sound. If the space in which the game is played is 120 x 30, why should a bowl be alive that is outside that area? And if a conference w-ere held no doubt that point would be scored by New Zealand, although on the last occasion when New Zealand and Australia met to consider differences Australia would not concede the point. At tho conference referred to, at Easter, 1908, Mr Waddell, president of the Now Zealand Association, moved that in all inter-State, inter-associa-tion, and international games players should have two feet on the mat. This is the question that is going to cause controversy at any future conference. Australian are at a very great disadvantage with their New Zealand brethren when playing under New Zealand conditions, which require only one foot on the mat. Imagine the tremendous advantage gained by a yard either hand in delivery? This matter of position on the mat is one that will always prevent a first-class team from visiting New Zealand, because the chance of winning is remote under tho conditions. Tw'o questions may then be asked. First; Why, in view of the resolution carried by the New Zealand president in 1908, the last team was not played under the rule arranged And secondly, why do not Australians, when visiting New- Zealand, conform to New Zealand methods? In reply to, the first, it was fully expected that after the return of Mr Waddell, New Zealand would have altered their rules, bo that they would have agreed with Australia, as the association confirmed the actions of the conference.

Of course Australians do, and must, play under New Zealand rules when in the Dominion, hut it would he simply impossible for them to do so here, Und especially in New South Wales and Queensland. Our mats are large, and are not only for the purpose of a delivery base, but to protect the greens, which, being played upon all through the year, sometimes become very bare under the conditions. Our players could under no circumstances obtain practice under New'Zealand rules, and it will be simply impossible to obtain a team of Australians with a winning chance to visit New Zealand unless this rule is altered. If New Zealanders cannot see the advantage of our methods, we must, be satisfied; but Mr Waddell’s motion, if put into practice, would get over many difficulties, and allow a team of good strength to try conclusions with New Zealand next, summer. A The remaining point toweled upon by speakers at the dinner was tho possibility of New Zealand affiliating with the A.B.C. New Zealand likes to paddle her own canoe, and work out her own destiny, and has proved in tho past that her ideas are quite correct. With the tremendous' consolidated body of players in her country brimming with enthusiasm, with well-go-verned centres, and tournaments splendidly arranged, and with but six months’ ’ play out ’ of- the twelve, do not suggest that New Zealand will look with a glad eye on the chance of joining a body of less than their own numbers split up and divided over six States. Far better for all if we can arrange uniformity of rules and engage annually in rivalry.