BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14244, 19 June 1908, Page 8

BOWLING.

Notes bt Jack. There is a broczinoss about I he report of tho last meeting of the council of fhc N.Z.B.A. that makes it quite a treat to read it. Tho worthy president was in his firmest mood; in fact, to those who do not know his geniality it bo thought he had on his "hobnailed boots." He was out, to do business, and business had accordingly to be done. Tho amendments in tho rules of play agreed to at tho Sydney Conference were adopted. But the president was a little astray in saying that New Zealand was more in touch with Australian than English and Scottish bowlers, It may be that we are entering upon a new era in this respect, but considering the respective distances it has not boon the case in the past in a marked degree. Not a season passes by without quite a number of Homo bowlers paying a visit to the Dominion, while quite a number of Now Zcalanders yearly enjoy the hospitality of English and Scottish bowlers. Visits from Australians are rare, and so far only two scratch teams have put in an appearance. The president in Oamaru has, ncrliaps not been aware of the real facts. To say that the alterations apply only to inter-Slate and inter-colonial matches is really begging the question. Bowlers cannot well have two styles of play, one for ordinary and ono for special games representing tho centre or the association. Bowlers who have any pretension to inclusion in any of these matches must practise with both feet on the mat, and now that (he rule has been adopted it would be better to make it of general application. As might have been anticipated,' Christchurch bowlers are becoming a little anxious as to the policy of tho council with reference to the association tournament. _ If the council had adopted even a tentative policy after the last tournament, and thus indicated what.might be expected in tho future, the Christchurch bowlers could well have afforded to wait until after the next election. But in the absence of a defined policy in the matter, Mr Brown (the vicepresident) sought for information. It appears, however, the Christchurch peoplo will havo to wait for another month at least. It is rather surprising, also, that the council did not decide what its policy is to bo with respect to the tour of the Australians. It is understood tho president entertains the idea [I trust my informant has not misrepresented him] that the council should manage tho wholo affair, and make a special levy on the clubs to defray the expenses. This it will bo rcmombcrcd, was what Mr Austin hinted at. The attitude of Messrs Gallaway and Brown may have caused a change in the views previously entertained. If not, it is probable there may ,be a. battle royal between the centres and clubs on the one hand, and the council on the other. One cannot quite see the force of levying on somo of the straggling country clubs for tho purpose of entertaining a team from Australia, because it is impossible to imagine how these clubs can be in-'any way benefitted by such a visit. In bowling there is no gate as in football, and not having the public in general to milk tho funds must come out of the pockots of bowlers. From some of tho remarks which fell at tho council meeting I gather that there is not that familiarity with the rules of bowling in other parts of the world that might be expected from those who are appointed to legislate for the game in this part of the globe, and generally to control the game. Tho rules of tho English,' Scottish, and London iand Southern Counties Bowliug Association are practically 1 tho same as the rules which wore in uso here. If anything, they are terser and clearer than our rides. By the way, the president quoted clause 26 of the Constitution. It is well to bear this clause in mind, as showing , the extreme power in tho matter of legislation vested in' the council. Clause 33 is another important clairse. Was its provisions complied with in amending tho rules? The suggosted interclub championship matches are still keenly discussed.' Opponents are not particular wliat they use to throw. at tho proposals, the latest cry being that interclub championships will lead to professionalism. How that is to bo brought about is not shown. Ono can recall tho same cry being raised when ,D. Mackie and three other Taieri men astounded tho Christchurch players by the steadiness of their play, the manner in which each player subordinated his own' ideas to tho vievra of tho skip, and with unfailing regularity placed, his bowl within an inch or so of where ho was asked. Their play wa3 so even, and so good tliat thoso who saw it for tho first tiino believed there was something uncanny about it, and as they could discover nothing else' to account for it they raised tho cry of professionalism. Mackie has practically retired, but the fame of the Taieri Club is kept up by Oarswcll, and no one thinks now of talking professionalism in connection with Carswell's play. , The secret is now general property. Steady practice in opposition to the strongest opponents that can be found. Some time back it was repo.rted that a prominent .bowler and ex-president had in contemplation a master stroke in the way of amending tho constitution. It is believed it was cautiously mentioned to others, but only advanced as an idea; to bo withdrawn at once as not practicable. It has now been given an airing, I am told. The idea is to abolish the Dunedin Centre, and allow the council to run affairs 'at heudquarters, manage tournaments, and generally control local affairs—in fact, restore the old regime. Tho delicious naivette of the proposal constitutes its groat charm. I am surprised the other centre? have not at once responded by approaching tho council with a request to bo disfranchised, so that a Dunedin' Council might reign supreme. Clubs in the Dunedin Centre should at once forward petitions praying that they bo no longer allowed to manage their own affairs. Tho following items by "Jaek High," in tho Fiold, are of interest:— General regret, not untinged with surprise, has been expressed at the omission of bowls from tho programme of tho Olympic games. The question was brought directly under the notjee of Lord Desborough in ample time to repair any oversight. Tho committee discussed the matter and opined that'the game was not of sufficiently international a character to warrant their taking it up, and added that timo did not permit of a suitable green being constructed for the contests. The former point might have been at loast arguable, had. not the committee answered themselves by 'including such games as the two varieties of football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, and polo—not to exhaust, the list. < Bowls, being next to arohery, the oldest of English open-air pastimes, had at anyrate an equal claim to any of tho games mentioned, and is played throughout the British Empire. The visit of the Canadian team of 24 bowlers, who will reach England early in July, has already aroused a sense of generous" rivalry, and the principal clubs in tho Mother Country are eager to oxtond hospitality to the players from the Dominion. It needs no Daniel to foretell 1 the result of the test and most of the club matches. ' The Canadians knew what was in store for them before they decided to come, but they are' far too keen sportsmen and too anxious to foster the game in their adopted country to bo deterred by the prospect of defeat. They neither fear tlioir fate too much, nor are their deserts small. So, in the noble words of the Marquis of Montrose, they dare "Put it to tho touch. To gain or lose it all." It is significant that the English Bowling Association has intimated that it will arrange matches for the Canadians only with such clubs "as can give them a,green to play on worthy of the game and thoir skill." Such a condition is of real disciplinary value, and alone goes to show that the marked improvement in greens is general and not sporadic. This the international matches will be bold at Edinburgh on July 9, 10, and: 11. It was at first contemplated to select some Glasgow green, as being better fitted to accommodate a largo body of spectators. But on tiio representation of visiting clubs who thought, it desirable to spread tie interest in such contests, it wa6 finally agreed lo choose the greens of the Braid Club in Edinburgh. First-rate Scots gi-eens are much of a muchness: but oven if there are finor lawns than the Braid in Auld Reekie, for situation tho Braid greons are unsurpassable, being in close proximity to the range of hills over which Edinburgh gowiTers make their game. The Scottish capital is famous for the diversified panoramio views which its unique situation affords, and bowlers will appreciate something of tho nature of the Braid Club's environment when they learn that it was from the adjacent height of Blackford that Sir Walter Scott drow the picture of "his own romantic town" so splendidly described in "Marmion." It has been arranged to hold the finals in the rink tournament and single-handed championship promoted by tho English Bowling Association on the admirable and commodious green of the Upper Clapton B.C. on July 20. For the purpose of these competitions all England is divided into 1 districts within which the games o£ tho I first stage will be played, and it is only tho I winners of tho various districts who will | participate iu the finals in London. Since

the finals must be played off on one day, it is imperative that the managers should draw up a proper time-table and requiro competitors to adhere to it strictly. If necessary, non-compliance should be penalised by the forfeiture oi the right, to play. A less stringent penalty will bo of no avail.