BOWLING CENTRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25299, 9 August 1943, Page 5

BOWLING CENTRE

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of delegates to the Dunedin Bowling Centre was held on Saturday night, the president, Mr St A. Wood, being in the chair. There was a large attendance. The chairman, moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, said they had the longest agenda paper to deal with that night that had been before them for some years. The report was adopted. Election of President The chairman then moved the election of Mr A. T. Robertson as president, the motion being carried with applause. Mr Robertson took the chair and presented Mr Wood with a past-president's badge. Mr E. Longworth was elected vice-presi-dent and W. W. Callender treasurer. It was decided that the ordinary levy on members of clubs be unchanged at Is 6d a member, with the entertainment levy at 6d a member. A remit from the Kaituna Club read as follows: “That in future the Fours Championship games be played on Saturdays as a section of the Saturday Interclub Competition.”—The effect of such an innovation on clubs with a small membership was stressed by Mr J. Forster, and the remit was rejected by a large majority. It was decided to recommend to the incoming executive that it should consider the advisability of confining the next Easter tournament to Singles and Rinks and that clubs be circularised concerning the lViatter. “ That the interests of bowling generally would be further fostered by the awarding of certificates to the winning four in the annual Leads and Seconds tournament ” was a remit submitted by ■ the West Harbour Club and carried, subject to the approval of the New Zealand Council. Sunday Tournaments The Talerl Club's remit: "That Sunday bowling tournaments be permitted by the Dunedin Bowling Centre.” caused considerable discussion. Mr G. Porter said that they would be inconsistent if they did not allow Sunday bowls, and yet played tournaments on Christmas Day and Good Friday. This statement prompted Mr W. J. McKay to say that if they searched the Scriptures they would not find one statement that either of the days named by Mr Porter was a holy day. They would, however, know that the Sabbath Day had been described in the Bible as a holy day. Mr R. L. Fairmaid said that the point the meeting had to consider was whether the playing of Sunday bowls was against the rules of the centre and whether the clubs which had played on Sundays had broken the rules.

Some speakers held that the matter did not come under the control of either the New Zealand Association or the centre.

Mr E. Longworth said that many places in New Zealand played on Sundays and held tournaments on Sundays. He considered that every man was entitled to his own convictions, but he must not try to force them on other people. The remit was defeated by a large majority. A proposal by the Taieri Club to make a charge for admission to the finals of certain competitions during the war, the proceeds to be devoted to patriotic purposes, was defeated. Allocation of Umpires Mr Porter moved, on behalf of the Caledonian Club, that in future the allocation of umpires for tournaments, etc., be arranged by the centre. Mr Porter said that the remit was prompted by an unfortunate incident which had occurred last season.

Mr J. Nesbit explained the method adopted by the Umpires’ Association in appointing umpires, and the cause of the incident referred to. He thought that members of the association should be appointed for finals. He considered that 90 per .cent, of the bowlers did not know the laws of the game and that they should learn them. If the remit were carried then there was no use for his association. The remit was defeated by a large majority.