NOTES BY JACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 37

NOTES BY JACK.

The annual meeting of the Council of the New Zealand Bowling " Association on Monday evening provided "a surprise packet" for those not in the know. Most bowlers were under the impression that the annual meeting' must be the annual meeting of the new council, but then they aid not know how anyone can read into the new constitution just What he desires. That .wonderful production has not yet been ooftxed into marching forward. The whole proceedings of the executive since its appointment by the last meeting of delegates to act as the council under the new constitution may be regarded as a screaming farce, and this final act on Monday caps everything. Little did the delegates think in adopting the new constitution that they were endowing the old executive with the hitherto unclaimed power to meet as the New Zealand Bowling Association, pass its own report and balance sheet, and then commit the hap<pv despatch. Yet the secretary says he took a legal opinion on the point, and was advised to adopt the proceedure he did. What a fearful and wonderful thing a legal opinion must be. Let me put the position shortly: The executive as such never held an annual meeting under the old constitution. What it did do was to prepare an annual report and balance sheet, which it submitted to the annual meeting of delegates. That meeting then proceeded to elect a- new executive. Now, if the new constitution swept away the old proceedings it seems extraordinary to the lay mind that without it being so expressly stated it should come . about that the executive should meet as the association, that the members thereof should pass their own balance sheet, deolare to themselves that they had been very good boys indeed, had done excellent work, had spent the money entrusted to them most judiciously, and that in • then* own opinion, they were entitled to. the thanks of the howling fraternity. Could anything more ajbsurd be conceived? By a stroke of the pen the obnoxious delegates who might want to know, you know, were consigned to limbo, the coming into office of the new council deferred, and in almost the twinkling of an eye. Everything that the executive did during an extended existence of close on 18 months -was declared by the executive itself to have been the proper and fitting thing to do, and with the halo it 'had thus placed on its own head it vanishes from the scene.

Dunedin. bowlers may ask — Where was the president? He was not at the meeting. Where were the two members of the Dunedin Centre on the executive, one of whom was honoured by the centre by being elected to the new council? They do not appear to have attended. As they have raised no protest it may be assumed they acquiesced in the farce that was played. As many bowling readers, or those who take an interest in the game, may not have the new constitution at hand, it might interest them to learn whi.t is said there. After defining how the council is to be constituted — and. by no stretch of the imagination can the "rump" of the executive be said to conform thereto — the mode of election is eet out in clause 13. Subclause 7 of the said clause, after defining how a majority of the votes of the centre shall determine the election, and the number of votes to which each centre is entitled, proceeds: — "The votes so received shall be counted at a meeting of the council, and- the council shall, by resolution, decare the result of the voting and tho persons so elected." It seems as clear as language can. make it that the actingcouncil, which was appointed to continue in office until ite successors were elected, should have met and declared the result of the voting on receipt of the certificate of the chairman and secretary of each centre one week prior to the annual meeting, as provided in sub-clause 6. It may possibly be urged that the badly-worded sub-clause 8, •of clause 13, which sets out the proceedure in case of no nominations being received for any office, implies that tho annual meeting is to be constituted by the 019 oouncil. That could only be the case wljere the centres had failed to' elect a sufficient number of officers and councillors to . form a quorum. In such a case it is provided in sub-clause 1 of clause 14 that the council shall remain in office until successors are appointed, and the then existing council would form the annual meeting. But there was no such failure in the present instance. ' The order of procecdure is: — Six weeks before the annual meeting each centre is to* be notified of the date of such meeting. Centres then proceed to nominate candidates for offices, and these nominations, with the written consent of those nominated, must reach the council four weeks before the annual meeting. One week later the complete list of nominations has to be sent to each centre, which proceeds to' vote, and the result of such voting must reach the council one week before the annual meeting. On receipt of these results the council meets and declares who its successors are, and having done so. automatically ceases to exist. The new council thon meets (the date having been appointed six weeks previously) and receives the annual report and balance sheet of its predecessors and their report as to the result of the voting by the centres, whereupon it proceeds p elect an auditor. By what mode of reasoning the opinion was arrived at that the annual meeting on Monday was of tne old executive it is impossible to conjecture. The whole thing is so ridiculous that in the interests of bowling it would be wise if everything could be wiped out and a start made with a clean slate, the "wretched past" being buried fathoms deep. But, ■unfortunately, it ell means delay, and further complications are likely to follow. Unless deemed a matter of urgency seven days' notice is necessary before a meeting of the newly-elected council can be held, and it v hard to say who is entitled to

deolare that the calling of the council together is a matter of urgency. The late secretary, it is reported, says there is no business to bring before any meeting of the council, as ail business was disposed of by the old executive. Then the question arises under this wonderful constitution that will not march — Is there a secretary? Sub-clause 1 of clause 14 says: — Each officer of the association, including 1 members of the council, but excluding the secretary, shall hold office until his successor is appointed or elected." What does that mean? It may not have been so intended, but evidently the old executive has succeeded in landing the affairs of the association in a most delightful muddle. Has the president of the new council sufficient enterprise to save the situation and force the constitution to march? Bowlers await his reply. What I cannot understand about the whole business is the apathy of the newlyelected councillors. They knew the annual meeting was fixed for Monday, but Mr Austin was the only councillor to put in an appearance. Had they attended they couFd neve proceeded to business -as soon as the acting-council had gone through its farce. Have the new councillors joined in the movement to bring discredit on the whole centre system before it has had a chance by taking up an attitude of passive resistance?

There was a pleasant gathering on the Phoenix Club's Green, Oamaru, on the sth, when teams from. Meadowbank and Waimate \.ere entertained right royally, and then beaten handsomely at bowls. The Phoenix Club's Green was at its best, afternoon tea wa-3 provided in a marquee, and complimentary speeches indulged in. In the game against Waimate Phoenix scored 97 to 65. Hewat beat Goldstone by 25 to 17, Waddell beat Akhurat by 25 to 16, Watson beat Inkster by 27 to 12, and Bee and Coltman each scored 20. In the match with Meadowbank Newton beat Taylor by 18 to 11, C. Bee beat Kennedy by 30 to 7, La Roche went down before Howe by 29 to 24, and Patter went under to Martin by 19 to 15. A rink of colts from Waimate defeated one from Phoenix by 21 to 18. Kaitangata and Balclutha Clubs tried conclusions on the Kaitangata Green, three rinks aside, Kaitangata getting home by a majority of 12 points on a green that was in good order. Captain Rutherford (17) went down to R. Dunn (28), His'lop beat Finn by 25 to 16, and J. Gage beat W. Guest by 29 to 15.

Bowling is going ahead at Riverton, and the club there has now a membership of over 30. The secretary and Mr R. Acheson, who appears to be a hard-working enthusiast, undertook to ascertain what support could be secured for the erection of a pavilion in keeping with the beautiful surroundings. The members responded generously, and a neat building- with a verandah will shortly adorn the grounds. One ot the Balmacewen "craoks" skipping in a four-ball game on Saturday evening in one of the heads drew every one of his balls on the" jack, the four touchers coming to rest within a foot or 18in of kitty, three of them counting. In a sportsmanlike spirit the Rangiora Club has made the officers of the Public Schools Cadet battalions honorary members durina the time they are in camp near Rangiora.

The Tourist Department is building a pavilion on its bowling green at Queenstown. The building is to be of two 6toreys, and is said to be artistic in design. In a six rink match played on Saturday on the Balmacewen Green Kaituna defeated Balmacewen by 17 points. The scoring in the various rinks was fairly even throughout, the Kaituna skips in four rinks winning, while Balmacewen led in one rink and was a tie in the other.

Green Island defeated Roslyn on Saturday by 2 points. It was a close thing; but that is nothing — it counts as a win. On the Roslyn Green only one out of the three rinks from Green Island was in the lead, while ' on their own green the Islanders had a lead in two rinke. The principal damage was done by D. Buchanan, who ran away from Throp. Taieri put down Caversham by 47 points on Saturday. The Caversham men shaped very wel) on the whole against such redoubted skips as Carewcll Tait, M'lntyre, and others.

St. Clair Club,

Tho new bowling green at St. Clair was opened on Saturday afternoon in weather that, unsettled as it w«b, permitted of the time-honoured match of President v. Vicepresident being plajed. The gvoen is 110 ft. by 100 ft. and gives ample space for eight rinks being played with comfort. It is only six months since a start wa6 made to form -the green, and the gras-s was only eown on September 4-, so that it could not bo expected that the gretn would be in such condition a« would permit of good heads being played. For the very short period that has elapsed since its formation the green looked exceedingly well, and gives promise that before long it will be a real pleasure to play upon it. There were a few bare patches noticabie, due in a great degree to extra lime having been spread. This, no doubt, wi'l have a beneficiai eff&ct later on. The spot where the green is, in Albert street, seems to bo somewhat exposed, and it is just possible that it will bo found necessary to grow a good macrocarpa hedge round it to keep off that 6t-rious hindrance to good bowling — the wind. On Saturday, however, there was a total absence of this, and the only thing that bowlers had to contpnd with was some uncertainty as to the "draw." This was naturally inevitable in so now a green. There was a very fair attendance of visitors', and a good many ladies were present, fieveral cf the latter being in charge of the afternoon refreshments, which were provided by the president, Mr J. H. Hancock. Shortly before- 3 o'clock tho bowlera assembled on tho green, and were briefly addressed by Mr Hancock, who extended a hearty welcome to all Ho said they were afraid at first they were net going to have a fine afternoon, but the sun was chining, and there were signs that the rain would keep off. and allow them to have a good game. He hoped they would all enjoy themselves as much as a new green would let them. It was eaid it took a hundred years to make a green, and the grass in this case had only been in a hundred day 6. "If you are not. satisfied," said Mr Hancock in conclusion, " come back at the end of the former period I have mentioned and I venture to think you will be satisfied."' — (Laughter.) He then called upon Miss Mollie Han oock to roll up the first bowl, which the young lady " laid" very well, and which with a little assistance to the jack became a " toucher." The game between sides re-

presenting Mr Hancock and Mr W. J. Love, ] the vice-president, was then proceeded with, and if the eccentricities of the green did prevent a very skilful exhibition, it did not prevent the party from being a very j merry and a very happy one. The match resulted in a. draw, eaoh side scoring 72 points. At \he conclusion of the game Mr Hancock thanked the visitors for their attendance, and expressed the hope that when next they visited St. Clair the green would be in better playing order. Messrs C. R. .Smith, J. J. Marlow, and P. C. Corliss (one of 'the founders of the St. Clair Club in 1892) responded on behalf of visitors f1 om the following clubs : — Kaituna, St. Kilda, Otago, Roslyn, Dunedin. North-East Valley, Balmacewcn, Fairfield, and Caledonian. AUCKLND BOWLING. AUCKLAND, December 8. The various bowling _clubs in Auckland are making preparations for the North Island Bowling Association's tournament, to be held in Auckland commencing on January 6. The various teams are being got together and practise indulged in. The secretary of the association advises that he expects record entries, and he believes it will be the largest tournament yet held in the North Island. A meeting of the local delegates to the Northern Bowling Association was held last evening. A programme of the various events proposed to be carried out was submitted and discussed, and ordered to be sent to Wellington for confirmation. It was announced that MiMyers had notified his intention of entertaining the visiting and local .bowlers at a harbour excursion on the evening of the first day of the tournament, January 6. It was decided to offer a citizens' prize, opento members -of any club affiliated to the North Island Association. The first prize will be a gold medal and trophy (value £3 38) to each member of the team, the second prize a gold medal and a tropvy (value 30s) to each member of the team, and the third prize a trophy (value £2 2s) to each member. With such handsome prizes and the all-round excellence of the programme, there should bo record entries for all events. '