BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 10

BOWLING.

Notes by Jack,

OPENING ( FIXTURES. Jleadowbank (o«maTu).-Thnrsday, October 29. Balmaeewcn.—Saturday, October 111 (informal). Caversham.—Saturday, October 31. Uunedin.—Saturday, October ill. Fairfield.—'Saturday, October .'ll. Kaituna— Saturday, October 31. Otago,—Saturday, October 31. l'°ft Chalmers.—Saturday, October 31. Taieri.—Saturday, October 31.

From a communication read at the last meeting of the council of tho N.Z.B.A. It would appear the International Board controlling bowling in England, Scotland. Ireland, and Wales is not very desirous of cultivating closer relations with colonial .i6t/ociations. At present its constitution makes no provision for affiliation, and the Jncmber.s of the board <1 i<] not see aiiy necessity for any alteration. This is to be « !IS lwd tho P r °P° s al of . the •Y/.8.A. lxwn agreed to it would have given a status to bowlera from tho South island when visiting* the Homo Country. J-he rain which fell towards tho end of last week necessitated (lie postponement ot lie ppenmg ceremony at Otago, Fairnekl and Taieri. Possibly to benefit. Wednesday afternoon players, Roslyn and y ? ,:cnotl formally, liosl'yn had with them the Ho.n. J. A. Millar, who appears to be as enthusiastic as ever about lie game, as evidenced by his announcement that he intended to iakc part in the coming tournament. The postponed ceremony at the other greens is fixed for next Saturday, which will be a regular fieid Oay. ?s will be seen by the list of fixtures. i'airfield C.reon will be opened on Saturday, when it is to be honed there will be a good muster from the city and suburban clubs. Mr Kirkland, the president, is making arrangements to give them a hearty welcome and a pleasant game on a good green. The Fairfield me* played =o 'ilticLily last season (their first) m interclub matches that on that score alone lliev arc entitled to look for some encourage"Jncni from those who are not tvros at the ,I,'Uine. Babnacfiwan Club lias decided lo open informally 011 Saturday, but in to do honour to the president of the howling •section (Mr 0 I'alk), has postponed the formal proceedings until November 28 when he is expected back from his (our! lhe compliment to Mr Balk is well doserved and he will no doubt appreciate this method of recognising his efforts 011 behalf 01 fellow-members.

Duncdiii Club, as was anticipated, lias decided lo enter for the centre .intcrelub championship, The arguments advanced ill opposition to the proposal dkl not appear io convince anyone that the dire calamities foretold would follow on its adoption. The contention that these matches would deprive those not taking part in them of the use of the green is only a bogey. It is difficult to see why playing to win in championships should interfere with the social side of the game more than playing to win in inlerclnb games. The mere fact of playing for the possession for a season of a championship flag and a certificate will make not the slightest difference to a tnte sportsman. If it does make a difference with some, 'then (hose who are infclincd to adopt " win,' tie. or wrangle" tactics should give np tlui game and adopt some other. The interclub matches had largely lost their interest because . many players would not regard them seriously, also because too many of those taking part wore put into teams merely because they' were members, quite irrespective of their aliilitv to play. Once it is admitted that every member of a club is entitled to the same privilege as cvei-y other member, irrespective of status us players, and intcrelub matches, tournaments, etc.. must bs done away with, ns these must interfere with the privileges of those not actually taking part in I,limn. Hut 110 true sport joins a club with the idea that once admitted ho is entitled to represent the club in matches. lie takes it for granted that the committee of

management will see lo il that lie gets a fuir chance lo bccomc proficient. in the game lie has adopted for recreative purposes, and when thai is the. rase his claims to a share of games will lie recognised hv tliem. On the face of il, (lie talk about, friction in ilie past and the.fact thai when pennant matches were in vogue play was confined to 21 members of tie club is a reflection on the management of the club. It. has nothing to do with the system of play. One of the speakers at the meeting hit. the nail on the head when he said it was llie duty of the chili to support the centrc until it was proved that what iii« centre proposed was inimical to the interests of the club and the name. With a little taot on the part of the management- committees of the clubs taking part, internal friction and bitterness of feeling should be avoided.

Now that the principal clubs have decided to take part in the inter-club championships, tlio various committees might consider whether it i< passible to adopt the suggestion thrown out by Mr Cars well and arrange that, the intor-slub matches should be played simultaneously with the first round of the championship matches. This would do away entirely with the so-called argument that, ordinary club tics would be unduly interfered with. If, for instance, Dnncdin and Kuituna have to meet in the championship, each club could play eight of more rinks a side, including the four rinks in tlio championship play. The aggregate would count- in the intcr-club game, but only the scores of the four rinks a side previously nominated would- count in the championship results. If all tlio clubs engaged adopted this system—reducing or increasing the total rinks engaged ae.-ord-ing to the number available—every member whoso play entitled him to inclusion would !iavc ail opportunity of taking part, and still playing space would to available for those content with a friendly game amongst themselves. There are other advantages, but, these will to obvious. Until tlio draw in the championship is made known nothing cm Ik done, unless the committees of the clubs affirm the principle.

Tlio programme of the Dunedin Centre's tournament-, commencing on Boxing Day, should soon l>o in the hands of bowlers. The number of entries received will doubtless depend lo sonic extent on the order of play and' the time-table adopted. The <lUtc is somewhat distant, but as many men with families will ho soon making their arangements for the Christmas holidays, those who are keen players will like to know if they can make thes-e arrangements fit in with play in the tournament. On t-ho other hand, tlio timo-tahio must to soma extent depend upon the entries. G-ore Club opened its gicc.it last Wednesday, and play went .011, -despite l.lio rain, which fell very heavily. Tho green was in splendid order, but it is scarcely doing it justice to ptay the opening game in a downpour.

(lore is very de.?irous of a game with the Australian team, should they visit the Bominion, next January.

Balclulha and North-East Yalley try conc.lik;oik on the Stirling green 011 the King's birthday.

The following (says the Sydney Referee) comes from. Melbourne: "The .proposal nrnde lo send a team of Australian bowleg to the United Kingdom is being warmly received in bowling circles. The idea is likely to be taken-up onthusiaAlically, and already quite a number of metropolitan players are- anxious to enrcll t.heir names. Several howlers in tho chiof provincial contra are also reported to bo desirous of joining in tho tour. Particulars of the proposal have boon wired to the intcr-Stato newspapers; and wo shall later on give a full list of the players who will make the tour. A prominent, bowler who intends to join tho train has written to tho Age/advocating the desirability of playing three tost matches against All England and All Scotland. He adds iliat Australia should also to . tiio Imperial association that tho time of the Australian visit would be opportune to. proposo a single-handed championship tournament, open lo all bowlers. These matters will, no doubt, bo brought under (.he notice of the Imperial bowling authorities."

My Invorcargill correspondent writes': — Last Wednesday the Southland bowling green was opened for plav. and a large number of bowlers found t-hcir way to the Puni Crook Reserve to take a hand. Many ladies graced tlio function al.so, but unfortunately tho weather was bad—so bad that it spoilt what, must have boon for Southland a record opening day. Then, too, that, cheeriest of all cheery howlers, the president, Mr James Taylor, was unable to be present. The previous day lie was riding round to the green to see that everything was being properly attended to. when one of those ostentatious idiots who cycle with both hands in their pockets swerved into him, and ' Sunny Jim' suffered. Ho i 6 now laid up with a badlvswollcn ltnce, which everyone hopes v.ill quickly be set right. In spit; of the continuous drizzle 72 players took part .in the opening game. Mrs K. Ii Taylor, the. president's sister-in-law, rolled'the "firstbowl, and made a credit able shot. Mr 8. Louijuct. vice-president, took charge of the procoediiigs for the afternoon, and Mr William Wcsnev made himself generally useful in seeing that all visiting bowlers received proper attention. A great many of these preferred lo look on from the safe shatter of the pavilion, eo that had the weather been line it is more than Ijkoly that there would have been a double game—one lot retiring after 12. ha.ds and an entirely new section succeeding them.

" TJie Blurt green is to bo opened on October 28, when it is expected that the l>orfr will be invaded by ,a groat army frotn Invercargill. Messrs Tipping, George, and Co. have comc up for both opening days, so that the town bowlers mean to reciprocate this kindly 'attention. Our Bluff friends deserve success, and it i 6 sineorely lo be hojX>d tM- Wednesday will l:c a fine day, so that they may liave a memorable opening."