BOWLS without BIAS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12608, 19 November 1926, Page 9

BOWLS without BIAS

The endeavour to arrange a tour of New Zealand by Queensland bowlers, including play in the Dominion tournament, was not abandoned until every effort had been made to bring it about, and 'the main reasons for its non-success seem ’ to Be business ties and the claifns of their own clubs. The Queensland Association senit out $4 letters to various clubs, and the president, Mr W. E- Robbins, personally interviewed over 200 bowlers to try to get them to come to New so that he perstraully did what be could to honour the ' whidh Queensland Jhad accepted' from New Zealand to send a beam across.

At the last meeting of the New South Wales Association a letter wao under consideration from the Dominion Coiinril seeking information as to what it was proposed to do. It is understood that ’a team will come over, but it will be towards the end of February or early in March, too late for either' of-’’the Rotorua,' tournaments. The letter also expressed thanks to*the New South Wales Association for the hospitality shown to New Zealand bowlers in Australia. • <! *

Copies of the revised rules of the Dominion Bowling Association have been received in Wellington, and are well worth studying. They are set out more concisely than hitherto, and are much easier to follow, although XU index would ha,ve Veen useful- It is not difficult, however, to find the

information wanted, but the umpire sojrietiine's wants to find a rule in a hurry, and the index would have been useful in this respect. • * * • New. and particularly interesting features which will interest howlers not' only in New Zealand, but in Australia, are the rules for umpires, markers and conditions governing tournaments. It will he a very, useful book, and will tend to simplify the control of tournaments and make them more uniform. *"• • • The most interesting feature is the inclusion of rules and Regulations governing umpires and markers. This is something new, and is ceftainly a moya in the right direction, if only for the official standing it gives the. umpire and marker. While it may not be desirable.' to ctieff hard and fast to the literal' interpretation of the rjiief of. the game, some of the rules are so loosely observed that a ljttle tightening W. W this respect wilf 'npt do any flaim. They can he epfbrced without and in tournaments if: iff Rply a fair, thing thp AR ptaypfa' sbo.uld lfsep eome-; where neat the mark,.

No OUQ want 3 to multiply the number of rules already ip ’ existence. Clarify and'siipphfy them, and leaye tfie resf in the haflds of the umpire, W-ho, is new vestisd with authority. If his' decision is aispnyed a tld®, ? a .h **■ ways he reversed at the annual ineetr jpg if fhe meaning is not su%iehtly hoiflris FiU bp interested in the pew rules fox th? B ® tWO imp®ttant officials, so we. need nf>t epe'9B i S a for pphllsbrng them herewith. ’ Tb?? A r t. as follow: —; UMPIRE Umpire.—Definition: A' person W whose soffi decision a controversy or question between parties is ' referred. One chosen to rum, judge, arbitrate or referee. An umpire should hp in possession or q good measure, s small pair of calipers, a tape measure, a Stout line which spill stretch the fnR length of th« green, end an upifo-dafe copy of the D-N. |:,bi*Ai tnies, and A enpy of the rqles governing the particular gamp for which fit «S officiating; r ''<l p- • • He is tp he in entire control pf the game or green to which he is appointed, and is to see that the rules and laws of the gam® are adhered to. Wh en aPP ea l e d to, or when he; observes a breach of the laws his decision ‘shall he final except on a point of law, which carries with it the right to appeal, He is tp settle the fallowing points when celled upon:—(1) Which or two pf morp howls is nearer or- nearest to the jack after measures and skips are unable to decide; (2) whether a jfick or bowl is oufside tlje boundary of the rink; L 3) give a derision when parties are doubtful as to the rule governing the point' that has arisen; (4) when players are unable to agree on the interpretation to he placed on a rule, and at® not satisfied with the umpire’s decision, he should takg notes of the point raised in case of an appeal; (6) tournaments--—The umpire shall issue and collect scoring Cards, record and transmit the results to headquarters of the tournament, as may be directed by the executive.

Markers.—A marker's duties comprise fhp following:—He should: (I)

Control the game subject to tEe umpire; (2) stand at the end of the rink towards which the contestants are playing, at least six feet behind the head, and move about as filtie as possible (3) see that the jaok is thrown the requisite distance, and straighten it when so thrown; (4) mark touchers, and the place where the toucher or jack comes tq rest in the ditch; (5) kepp an accurate tftHy Of points scored, both on the scoring card and on the board; (6) see that all obstructions are removed; (7) when requested by a competitor, answer all questions ojt fact as accurately as posable; (8) give no advice whatever tq either player; (9) decide.the result qf each head, measuring if requested by either player, but should not remove any howls until both players are satisfied; (10) observo strict impartiality. Does the rule provide the umpire

with all he is likely to want? He might carry a small testing board, and if lie has a “poacher’s” pocket he should carry therein an extra supply of chalk, a spare kitty, a few scorecards, his umpire’s certificate, while in his bag he might carry a spare pair of rubber shoes and other little sundries which could conveniently be so carried.

• • •' • Np. 2 of the marker’s duties says that be should stand at the end of tfie rink at least six feet behind the headWhy behind the head? Why not on the side of the head ? Many howlers dislike having anyone on the green behind the head except the skip, and that is why players' who have sent their bowls down are required to go on the bank, except No. 3, who is directing his skip.. e • • .

The marker is given plenty to do, anyway, and his decision is only subject to the umpire. He has to straighten the jack, mark the touchers, keep a tally of the scores pn the board and on a card, and answer questions of fact. , Surely the player is being Waited upon hand and'foot. He wifi soon bo having his afternoon tea brought to him on the green. • • • •

Conditions for tournament play pro; vide, that “All players must' play in flannels, and must wear their club colours.” As it should be. And both discs of bowls are to be clearly marked. Let bowlers notice this, and also the note attached to rule 83: “The

D..N-Z.8.A., 1925 j apd the stamps ®f sub.sqqiiqnt jvjgq, npw thq only Dominion." test' stamps recognised.”

There are numerous other points with whicl\ howlers should refresh tlieir memories,' such gs'' touchers, burped jacks," bowls, and the mat'.' The Ipst is one which is continually being broken! RRl® 8 says: “The player at the'moment of delivery must havq at least one foot on. the mat and wholly within thp boundaries of the mat, such foot to be not less than three inches from’ the front of the mat. . To say that 25 per cent, of the bowlers literally comply with this ride would be a liberal estimate. Yet there it is. Rules must be like china or. piecrust promises—made to be broken, i 4 • ' e *.

A new provision is; “It shall not be allowable for the association or any. centre or cfiih, to, acpppt a d,«hatfon or tfqphy! given fiy. any company, firm, or person for eoinpe.Litipn is ih the nature of "*¥ i*, shaU pot be allowable for the associa-’ tiqh or centre ox clhb to issue, any’programme of a tournament which contains any advertisement thereon. Bowlers evidently realise the. value of the Press, '

The photograph herewith reproduced is of Mr P.’ "j. Hill, secretary' of the Taranaki U®ntre. He is seen performing a stunt which 'is surely unique in the howling’world. He has grasßed in one hand two bowls’ and

four kitties. Three kitties can be plainly seen, while the fourth, ig Uudrif the palm wedged in against the bowls. \V. J. Frost, of Wellington Club, is reported to have picked up two bowls and three kitties, but Mr Hill has gone one better. Mr Hid was in the last New Zealand team to visit the Old Country, e « * * Mr Gibb, a member qf St. George Green, Rockdale, Sydney, was a visitor to Wellington green last week. He has been on a iioliday trip in the South Island, and left for home by the Maunganiii on Friday last. • ■» • * Mr J- R. Palmer, late town clerk of Wellington, has decided to become a bowler, and has been elected a member of Victoria Club. His namesake, Mr A. E. Palmer, has also joined Victoria Club, and was enjoying a rolldown on Saturday in ideal conditions, especially remembering how threatening the weather was in the morning. Some of the club pairs games were

worked off at Lyall Bay on Saturday, and the president and his lead had about the hardest go they ever had. They were meeting the redouhtahle Bradley and Hazelwood, and they were 15 all on the 19th Bead. On th® 20th head Noad and Howse scored three, and on th® 2lst head Bradley and Haaelwood were lying three, when Noad, with a beautiful running shot, out one of the resting bowls out. Haaelwnod made a grand try to draw the shot again to equalise, so that another head would havq been necessary. Hq just failed, getting a wick pff an opposing bowl. •s♦ ‘ • What is Thorndon’s teuqher king’s record so far this season, or isn’t he keeping his record now? Victoria’s champion has soared 112 since the beginning of the season, with a record of ©very game played.

Mr Alfred Gould, who was a mem. ber' of Victoria Club for some year's, but for a long time past haS been residing in Nelson, was a visiter to the green on Saturday. * 0 • • A couple of boright boys had a bit fun with the bowlers on Victoria green on Saturday afternoon. From ' the veraqdah of the house overlooking the green they manipulated a large piece of mirror, reflecting the sun into the eyes of the bowlers just as they were about ‘ tq. deliver th e > r bowls. Then they were “spotted,” and a lusty “Cut that out!” caused them to retire. • * ‘ -v • ■

Mr T. b'orsyth, M.P., has joined the ranks of the Parliamentary bowlers, of whom there arb not many. He has been enrolled at Victoria Club!, and. Mr Robert Scott was assiduously coaching Aim on Saturday. He k as been playing for three w®eks and is getting quite enthusiastic. He has not indulged in' any games since he played Rugby until no>w- He was a rep. player in his day.

Mr C. lanes is back from Nelson, brown as a berry and looking and feelling wonderfully well. He tried his hand once or twice —at his skip’s request at driving, but doesn’t like it. Give him a nice drawing shot all the time! • c • •

St. George Club, Rockdale, Sydney, of which Mr Tom Yeats is president, has been granted authority by th,er N.S.W. Association," tq. ’conduct 'a rinks tournament played in sections on the same lines as in New Zealand. The president of the association is also holding a rink competition °n Lw UT?C life system, this being in its second year, so some of them think it worth another go. * '* * #

Hataitai Club members were, called together on Monday to consider a motion by Mr Ardell’ou the ; subject or. selecting rinks fox the pennants. Thp principle involved was . whether the best players should play in one section and tile next best in another, or who-! thefi the whole of the 32 best players should Be evenly distributed through the eight links. The vote favoured oven dlstribiition. Mr Claridge has resigned the office of sole selector, and thesp onfiroux duties have now beep, by ijlfc’ Bri|d>ting. .

Xho ex-prqsident of Hataitai. Mr H. Morton, qpme a, qrqpper ip th® dub, singing qn

The question raisqd hv Mr Marcus Marks at' the. centre' meeting On th’e champion of champion rinks _is one. that is giving some’of the clubs food for present’method is not satisfactory be*, cause’it is almost impossible for eyery club, eyen if it fqund, it ß . rink, to guarantee that the champions would tqkq part in the final event, owing to Jpusiness ties or holidays.

Victoria Club is haying a meeting next Monday eyening to .consider ai motion hy Mr 8. C. Hunt: “That the rink and paiy to represent the c lhb, in the efiampiou of champion contests be selected h® Lfie firotuh There is a strqng feeling amongfit, dub mqbibers in favbpx of tfie proposal, and the! prospects n«e thM »t win ried. In that event Victoria will.be strongly represented in the champion of champion games. • ' * •

Mr Goor£U McGill, who went South to the C.J.O. meeting, has returned to - MTeJlinirto®. « -■

Mr J< Brackeuridge returned from Canada some days ago- Conditions in Canada make ’it necessary for the greens tq Hnii every year. He brought a message from the clubs there that New Zealanders would receive a hearty welcome any time they were passing through.

Mr G. Redmond arrived back by the Dlimaroa on Tuesday, and has been heartily welcomed by bis club fellows at Mt. Victoria. • H® was met by. b‘S hrother, Mr J. Redmond, who is a member of tbo "Wellington Club. • • • •

Mr L. Cohen, well known in Wellington, has recently arrived back in Wellington, from ’ a world tour, on which he was accompanied hv Ms wife and daughter. They spent a good deal of time oh the Continent, and. YI sited numerous operas, returning via Sydney.