BOWLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21998, 6 July 1933, Page 5

BOWLING

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING The twentieth annual meeting of the council of the New Zealand Bowling Association was held in the Leith Club’s pavilion yesterday. The president (Mr H. Rowley, of Dunedin) was in the chair. The delegates attending the conference were:—Messrs H. G. Mayer, past-presi-dent (Wellington), R. Sheath, vice-presi-dent (Auckland), W. Connor,_hon. treasurer (Dunedin), G. L. Gladding (Auckland), J. Pascoe (Auckland), R. N. Pilkington (South Auckland), E. Dingle (Taranaki), G. S. Gordon (Wanganui), J. Kershaw (Wellington), S. M. Stone (Wellington), W. A. Dee (Nelson), F. J. Good (Christchurch), H. B. Oakey (Christchurch), F. B. Hawkey (South Canterbury), E. Tamblyn (Dunedin), E. Falconer (Dunedin), and J. H. Loudon (Invercargill). CIVIC WELCOME. The Mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox) and the Deputy Mayor (Cr Marlow) were present to extend a welcome to the delegates. His. Worship said that it gave him a great deal of pleasure to greet the visitors, not only on behalf of the city, but also as a bowler. He was glad to renew many friendships extending over a long period of years. Mr Cox went on to say that he thought bowling one of the finest interests a man could take up, and he would strongly. advise all men who were getting on in years and were a little too old for the tennis courts to step across and join the bowling club. It created companionship and * goodfellowship, and held a healthy recreational and competitive interest. Cr Marlow said that his,memory went back to 20 years ago this month, when the first council of the New Zealand Bowling Association was elected. He knew that every member was there with one object only—the betterment of the game—and that had been the reason why the council meetings had worked so smoothly. He expressed pleasure at meeting so many of his old friends again, and extended to all the visiting delegates his very good wishes. — (Applause.) The immediate past president (Mr H. G. Mayer, of Wellington) expressed the thanks of delegates for the hearty welcome that had been extended to them and for the sentiments expressed by the Mayor and by Cr Marlow. They had always been very fortunate in visiting Dunedin to make very sincere friendships. He took the opportunity of thanking the executive and members of the Leith Bowling Club for the warm welcome extended to the visitors in placing its pavilion at the disposal of the New Zealand Bowling Association, and also for the decorations that had been arranged. ANNUAL REPORT. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, Mr Mayer stated that it had been very gratifying to note the increase in the number of clubs, the total going up by six. On the other hand it was somewhat disappointing to hear that the membership had decreased by 652. This was rather distressing, but it had to be remembered that the year had been a very severe one. The tournament conducted in Wellington was, it was generally conceded, a decided success, and was accorded good support from the clubs. The play was of the highest order, and one could not have seen better finals. Mr Mayer added that in January the council decided to carry out the recommendations embodied in Mr Scott’s report on bowl testing. Clubs had been advised and replies had been received from all centres, with the exception of one, in which the tester recently died. Referring to the financial position, Mr Mayer said that it was unfortunate that they should have gone back £2O on the year’s working. There were unusual expenses (the bowl testing, for instance), hut the year was the most dilficult in the history of bowling, and they •should be satisfied with the present position. ' The council had economised as much as possible in every way. Mr Rowley seconded the adoption of the annual report, and congratulated the Wellington executive members on the great work it had accomplished in preserving the finances of the association. I-n this difficult period it was a fine thing to come out practically on the right side of the ledger, which the council at Wellington had done, despite the extra expense of the tester (amounting to £4O), and a reduction of £lB in the levy. Mr Good expressed the pleasure of the council at the results that had been achieved in Napier since the earthquake. The earthquake had occurred at the close of the season, and the help given by bowlers in other parts had enabled Napier bowlers to reinstate their greens and carry on the following season, so that none of the Napier members had shown any inclination to drift away from their clubs. Mr Tamblyn congratulated the council on the satisfactory year that had been experienced, and said that it behoved the new council to be very careful in the matter of finance. Messrs Oakey, Connor, and Gladding added their congratulations at the way the affairs of the association had been conducted last year.