BOWLING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17105, 10 September 1917, Page 2

BOWLING.

MEETING OP DELEGATES. NEW SYSTEM OF PLAY FOR THE SEASON. A meeting of delegates from the Dunedin Bowling Clubs was hold on Saturday night. Mr A. H. Allen occupied tho chair, and thero was a large attendanco of dologates. 'The main business was to adopt a scheme of draws and points under which tho Saturday matches for the onsuing season should be played. Tho Chairman explained that at the annual mooting several members had oppressed their view that thero should bo fewer playing Saturdays, and it had been decided to refer tho matter to a later meeting of delegates. Since then two systems of play had been devised —ono by Mr Glover and ono by Mr Smollie, and thoro was a suggestion from tho Kaituna Club. These systems, of course, were in addition to tho system they had been playing under. Mr C. R. Smith asked if delegates wero in favour of the number of Saturdays being reduced. He thought they should decide that point right away, and ho would move in that direction. Under the old system 17 Saturdays were occupied with play. The Chairman said that if they gave effect to Mr Smith's suggestion it practically put last season's .system out altogether, without even discussing it. Mr Hay seconded the motion. At the present time they had four schemes, including tho existing scheme. Mr Glover's system would work out on 13 days, and if 13 days wero not adopted ho understood that Mr Glover's scheme failed. Mr Smellie's scheme provided for 10 playing Saturdays, but the number could be extended to 15. If tho meeting decided that the number of playing Saturdays was not to be reduced both Mr Glover's and Mr Smellie's scheme were eliminated from thi» discussion. After discussion, Mr Smith withdrew his motion. Mr Glover moved the adoption of his scheme. Ho said that it had appeared to bo the wish on the part of delegates to have tho number of playing Saturdays reduced, and with this object in view he had taken out the number of rinks entered last year, and had put tho olubs together in such a way as would give them 14 fixtures on 13 playing Saturdays. The speaker took individual clubs, and illustrated how they would bo drawn each Saturday. His system provided for clubs playing full strength as far as possible against each other. That was where he thought the system devised by Mr Balk failed. Tho question of ties was entirely eliminated. Last year the Dunedin Club had entered 18 rinks, but on many Saturdays the club was playing only nine or 12 rinks, and on other Saturdays was not playing at all. Mr Smellie 6aid he might appear to be inconsistent, but he intended to second the motion. Ho thought Mr Glover's scheme was a better one than that lie had drawn up, and which he now intended to withdraw.

Mr Hay asked whether Mr Glover could arrange his scheme on any other number than 13 Saturdays.

Mr Glover said he thought he could extend his system to any number of Saturdays.

The Chairman said he was in favour of Mr Glover's scheme as against the existing one. In the centre they had 19 clubs, and unless they intended to play on 18 Saturdays it was impossible to play against every club in the centre. Whatever scheme was adopted it was. inevitable that some clubs would have to miss playing several other clubs. One strong feature of the scheme was that it provided for what might be called inter-club matches. The Balk system did not provide for that. It provided for the three-rink competition.

Mr Allnutt said he was very doubtful if Mr Glover's scheme was an improvement on tho Balk scheme. If it was to be a matter of competition it made a big difference. Ho thought clubs with small memberships would be handicapped under the proposed now system. Under the new proposal the speaker said West Harbour would not play Caversham, Green Island, Kaikorai, Mornington, North-East Valley, St. Olair, nor Wakari. Other clubs would not meet other clubs. Ho did not see any great gain under the new scheme. Provided they did not have the percentages in the old scheme he could not see where it was not as good as or better than tho new proposal. Mr Glover explained that his table was Compiled to demonstrate the system and that the draw could be arranged by the exocutiva

Mr W. T. Sings (Outram) said it appeared to him that tho only fault in the Balk system was that there were too many Saturdays on which to play. He intended to support the Balk scheme as it stood, or in an amended form.

Mr M'Hutcheson (Kaituna) said the feeling of his club was that while they enjoyed a keen game, they really preferred what they called friendly games much more. They ,were in favour of any scheme -which wouM tend to traduce the number of matches. He thought the Balk scheme, if it were not for the Saturdays it occupied, was as fair as anything that could be devised.

Mr jacohsen (St. Kilda) said he thought the Balk system, -with 14 Saturdays, would be ideal.

Mr M'Kinnon (Taieri) said hia club objected to the three rink game under the Balk system, which his people thought a "fool of a game." He was prepared to givt» Mr Glover's scheme a trial.

Mr G. Nelson said he thought that if they divided the new scheme into sections of "three they would get a hotter scheme. They could score on percentage points. It was then decided to consider the scheme of play first, quite apart from the system of awarding points. Mr J. H. F. Hamel (Roslyn dub) said his committee had agreed that Mr Glover had evolved a very satisfactory scheme. Ho hoped the sectional system would be done away with. The weak clubs under Mr Glover's scheme had a chance of winning the banner.

Mr Smith said that while Mr Glover's system was a very good one, he did not think it showed much advantage over the Balk system, provided the number of playing Saturdays was reduced. Still he thought the new scheme was worth a trial, but he must vote against the system of scoring for the banner as worked out by Mr Glover.

In answer to a question, tho Secretary (Mr Harming) said it would be possible to work tho Balk system with a less number of Saturdays. Mr Stoneham (St. Kilda) said he could not see the great objection to the percentage scheme which had been evinced by some delegates. He thought Mr Glover's scheme would lend itself to too keen play. It was better to put up with the devil they knew, than the devil they did not know.

Mr Fastier (Caversham) said his club was opposed to any reduction in the number of playing Saturdays. It also objected to the percentage system of the Balk scheme Mr W. Foster (Caledonian) said he intended to support Mr Glover's scheme. It made every club play up to its full strength. The Chairman explained that although tho Balk scheme could be adapted to a smaller number of Saturdays, it woxild nevertheless mean that they would have to cut out some games. Mr G. Dunn (North-East Valley) said he intended to support the old scheme. The percentage was introduced into the Balk scheme at the instigation of the Taieri Club. Ho would movo— That this centre adheres to th 'present scheme." Mi- W. Begg (North-East Valley) seconded the amendment. He said that his club was _of the opinion that the number of playing days should bo increased. Tho amendment was lost, only eight voting for it The motion to adopt Mr Glover's scheme was carried by a large majority amidst applause. Mr Hamel moved that the matter of tho scoring of points should be referred to the executive, with whom Mr Glover should be associated. Mr Alhratt seconded the motion. Mr J. Logan moved as an amendment that the scoring shbuld_ be on_ the basis of one point for each winning rink. Mr Hay seconded the amendment. They should calculate the score on a percentage from tho number of rinks a club had playing dnring the and the number of points scored. Tho amendment was lost by 12 votes to 8, and Mr Hamol's motion was carried. Votes of thanks to Messrs Glover and Smellic, a record to be made in themiß«fcis, wero passed .by acclamation, HOLMES FKATKEJiS. Mr Nelson moved —" That the centre rovert to the old system in the Holmes Feathers Competition of the challengers playinjr the holders on tho holders' green." Mr Smellie seconded tho motion. Mr Logan moved as an amendment— " That the Holmes Feathers be played as a competition between club rink winners." Mr J. Bentley seconded the amendment, which was lost. Mr Dunn moved ■ as a further amendment—" That the Holmes Fecthers bo played on Saturday afternoonß, each club to nominate its rrnk, and that the match bo included in tho ordinary afternoon's rosuiti"

Mr Stoneham seconded. Tho amendment waa lost. Mr Pastier moved as another amendment—" That the Holmes Feathers bo played on the sectional system, matches to be played from the middle of November to the middle pf February." This amendment was also lost, and Mr Nelson's motion was carried by 9 votes to 7. Mr Hay said that as thny now adopted a system, * ho would movo that the matches should bo between thrco rinks from each side. Mr Jaeobscn seconded tho motion. Mr Smellie moved as an amendment that tho match be confined to ono rink. Mr Fasfcier seconded the amendment. The Chairman, in answer to a question, said that the Feathers at tho inception of tho competition were fixed at one rink. Mr Smellie's amendment was carried by 13 votes to 5. Mr Smith then moved that the competition be played during tho months of November, December, January, and February. —The motion was agreed to. OITOEB OP BUSINESS. Mr iStoncham moved—"That no proposal to alter any system of interclubcompctifcion controlled by tho centre be considered unless notice of ' motion has been given sotting out tho new system." Tho motion was seconded by Mr M'Hutcheson, and carried. TTTIMSING THE SERVICES OP TABT CHAIRMEN. Mr Hay moved—"That it bo a recommendation from this centre to the Dominion Bowling Association that the constitution of tho association should bo amended to allow of an immediate past chairman of tho centre, provided ho is a member of a bowling club of the centre, becoming a member of tho centre, ox officio, for 12 months following his retirement from office." Tho motion was carried by 15 votes to 4.