BOWLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 1959, 10 September 1891, Page 29

BOWLING.

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NOTES BY JACK.

The resolutions arrived at by the members of the three clubs in Christchurch have been the theme of conversation in bowling circles here since they were published in the Daily Times, and more fully in your columns last week. Prom what I can learn Nos. 2, 5, and 6, which run thus — (2) •• That rinks and single-handed matohes be restricted to 10 heads, except the final, which should be 21 heads ; " (5) " That in drawing the singlff-handed match care should be taken not to draw two members of the Bame club againab each other; " (6) " That it be euggested that the rink matches and single-handed tournaments be played on separate days"— have been and are universally approved of; whilst the others— Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 7 have created a diversity of opinion. No 1 is as follows::—••• That rinka and single-handed matches be limited so that the tournament games be finished in two days, and that clubs of 50 and under be restricted to two rinks, and all clubs over 50 to three rinks."

Personally, I do not approve of this clause, I would prefer to see it modified in this manner : That the whole tournament, including all matches, be completely finished in four days. The greater part of the ties, both in single-handed and in the rink toarnament, can be got through in one day. Supposing 60 rinks entered for the rink prize they could easily play off four ties during the day between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and then there would be only two more ties for the following morning, and only 12 men would be engaged in it, and after the firat tie was pUyed off only eight men would be in it ; and if a rink from any club was so successful as to live so far, it could very easily afford to withdraw from all other contests in which its members might be engaged, whether single handed' or otherwise, and devote itself towards obtaining the major prize. In the late tournament ab Christchurch, the Taieri team in the ties in the North and South match, when they found that they were going to be jambed for time, gave one of the Caledonian teams, against whom they were drawn, a bye, and at the same tournament two of the members of Caledonian rink, which took the second prize, who were selected to play in the North and South match, were absolutely prohibited by their president from so doing, his instructions being that they were to reserve themselves wholly for the rink tournament. These examples can be followed in the future without any detriment or loss of prestige to any team or club. As to the proposal to limit the number of rinks from any club, whether they have 20 or 100 members, I am most decidedly and emphatically opposed. If the game is to be encouraged, fostered, and made popular it must be a sine qua non, that as many rinks as choose must be allowed to enter and compete. It it were limited the players would be the same old atagera that we have seen year after year, and no new players would have the slightest chance of ever being admitted to the sacred ring ; for I am sorry to say that in bowling coteries and rings do exist, tnore'a the pity. Ido not think I need aay more on this head.

No. 3 of the resolutions is as follows :—": — " That more prominence be given in future to interclub matches," and No. 4 is' --"That it be a recommendation to the association that the medal matches be abolished, that the association take interclub matches under their charge, and that parchment certificates with cames of players and results of games on the face thereof be given to the winners." I would simply point out that the association has no jurisdiction over interclub matches. They are arranged betwixt the different clubs themselves, and if the association were to attempt to put their fingers into these "kailpats" they might get snubbed by the clubs for their interference. Certainly the matches could be arranged by the clubs themselves, and then the association might be asked to take cognisance of them. Ido not see much use in having both medal matches under the auspices of the association, and interclub matches, perhaps between the very same two dubs, over which the association has no power. One of them must go by the board, and to my idea it is immaterial which. As to the " parchment certificates," the proposal is too ludfferous. We do not want a piece of sheepskin, like one who has undergone the ordeal of a Bankruptcy Court or a soldier retiring from the army. The parchment certificates can very well be dispensed with. No. 7 states " That if possible the North against South match and the club matches be played prior to tbe tournament matches." I do not think there is much in this. It is more a matter of detail for the managers of the tournament to decide when arranging the, programme than for anyone else. The North v. South has always since ita institution been made a specialty. The ladies have been invited on fchafc day, the greens on which it is, played have been decorated and adorned, refreshments suitable for the fair visitors are provided in lavish profnsion, and everything which the ingenuity and taste of the committee of the green can devise is supplied with an unsparing hand, so that when it ia played is to my mind quite immaterial, but somehow it seems more in the fitness of things that it should take place when the carnival is half finished, as hitherto has been done. To hold the interclub matches entirely before the tournament commences would not be wise, because so many players are sure to be at liberty during the rink matches, after the ties are played, and they might not care about returning h .°. me , ™' h out their companions, who may be still left m the tournaments, and they could amuse themselves and kill time by holding friendly contests. 8

I most thoroughly detest the next resolution, proposed by Mr Struthers : « That it be a recommendation to the New Zealand Bowling Assowation that, in order to discourage the introduction of even the appearance of professional play into New Zealand bowling tournaments, the valuable cups now given annually by the association be in future perennial or perpetualiq other words, they would be won two years in succession or three years cumulative by the same club before ownership is acquired" I have played on every bowling green between Oamaru on the one hand and Lawrence on the other, with the exception of Kaituna, and I never saw anything at all approaching profeaionalism upon one of them. Indeed, so far as I can remember, no one has ever attempted to introduce euch an iniquity into bowling, and it will be a sad day for the noble game of bowls when the ignoble army of bookmakers, spielers— efc hoc genus omne— manage or contrive to introduce their little finger into it. It has been the proud boast in the past that it ia the only game which ia entirely pure and uncontaminated by the abominable curse of gambling, and that it may long continue^ so is my earnest hope. Bat why this continual reference by Mr Struthera to professionalism? Does it prevail north of the Waitaki? One would almost imagine so from the manner in which it is referred to in the resolution moved by him. I have shown

that it does not exist in this province, and if, unfortunately, it has got a footing in Canterbury, the sooner it is stamped out the better. I will be glad to hear the opinions of other members of the clubs on these propositions. I know that you will find room for them in your columns.

Befora closing I may mention that I have been requested by a few bowlers to continue the history of the association— in fact, to bring it up to date ; next week, if nothing intervenes to hinder me, I will have another instalment prepared. The Milton green has been top-dressed, carefully levelled, and the hollows, caused by the traffic of the player?, filled up. The green promises to be, when open, as level and nearly as smooth as a billiard table.