PROPOSED AMALGAMATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 64

PROPOSED AMALGAMATION.

CONSIDERATION POSTPONED. A meeting of the degelates of the Dunedin Bowling Centre and local members of the New Zealand Council was held in the secretary's office on the 16th to discuss the question of amalgamation. There was a good attendance, the chair being occupied by Mr 0. Russell Smith, president of the Dunedin Centre, who remarked that ho would say nothing by way of introduction, but simply call on Mr Payne, who attended the conference at Chiristchurch, to place the matter before the meeting as i fully as he could'. J Mr Payne said he had been deputed by the council to address them on the matter.

and he would only ask them to approach the question with an open mind. _ The council, when approached by the North Island Association, thought it worth while appointing a delegate to attend the conference held at Christchurbh. He was sent, and found it mentioned there that throughout the whole of the North Island and throughout Christchurch they were practically unanimously in favour of it, Auckland and Wellington were in favour of it, and Christchurch strongly so. Dunedin also took the stme view, but with limited, powers only. When he came back and reported to the council what had passed, it was resolved that before doing anything the matter should be.. referred to all the centres to be discussed by them with a view to finding out what was thought about it. He might mention that the council itself was almost unanimously in favour of it. Mr Payne then read the terms of the motion carried at the conference affirming the principle of forming an association for the whole Dominion, having complete jurisdiction as to rules, visiting teams, and the New Zealand championship tournament ; the constitution to provide that as to other '.matters each centre should have control within its. particular boundaries. It was proposed also that the tournament should be held alternately in the North and South Island, while the headquarters of the association would. go round the centres in rotation. That was the proposition. It was not to the advantage of bowling that there should be three associations —one in Auckland, one in Wellington, and one in Dunedin—each having a oifferent constitution and each playing under a different "set of rules. They knew that the constitution of the New Zealand Bowling Association had caused friction with the centre. The council was really only a very nominal body, with practically no powers whatever. The centre had the practical powers, and it was the centre that ran the bowling for the Otago district. The same thing applied to Christchurch and to Invercargill, and amalgamation would probably do away with" the friction. The spsaker went on to say that whether-; Dunedin joined it or not_tne association was sure to be formed. Christchurch, Dunedin, and: Wellington had determined to fall in with* it. If Dunedin joined they could insist on its having limited powers, but the chances were that if they did not it would receive a constitution • giving' it full power over the centre, and should Dunedin wish to join later they would have no power to modify it in any way. It had also to be considered that such an association might join in with the Australian Association, and then Dunedin wiuld find itself put of it. A visiting Australian team would not come to Dunedin —(Voices: "Question!") —and, they would not have the opportunity of playing with them. Mr Payne referred at length to the working of the proposed scheme of a rotating headquarters, holding that the disabilities were rot so great as might be imagined. The powers of the association would be limited' solely to the question of rules and the championship tournament. The centre, by joining; would be a far more powerful body than at present, because it would have absolute control over the bowling under its jurisdiction. . He knew no reason whatever why they' should not join.

Mr A. Gillies opposed the proposal, and wis followed by Mr J. 0. Short, who said) that the only point in favour of it-seemed to be: the possibility of- their losing' a chance of falling into line with the Australian Association. Australian visits were not frequent, and he had 'no doubt they would get on very well as they were. The feelings at the present time between the North and South Islands was very friendly, and he would say let them stop at that. Before taking such a step they should weigh well what they were doing, for once they went into the scheme it was "goodbye." ■ .

Mr W. Allen dealt fully with the general position and expressed himself in favour of having a single body to make laws f»r the whole Dominion. That and a universal test for bowls were the strongest points in favour of the project. It was also within the bounds of possibility that Christchurch might go over to the north. He thought that, seeing- the powers proposed were so limited, it did not ssem to matter much, and he was inclined to favour the project. Mr W. M'Donald also spoke favourably to it. Mr J-. H. Hancock expressed entire disapprobation, amidst applause, while Mr JW- Nicolson gave it as his opinion that the two northern associations should have amalgamated first before approaching the south on the matter. So far as the matter of rules and testing was concerned the difficulty could easily be met by federation without amalgamation. He also • questioned very much if Christchurch would join, supposing that Dunedin were to stand out.

Mr 0. Balk thought the proposal good in theory, but there were considerable difficulties to.be faced -in actual practice. Mr W- M. Hogg said, that if unanimity of rules and the bowl-testing question could be brought into line throughout, the whole Dominion.' so far as the South Island was concerned, would be perfectly satisfied. The Chairman afterwards dealt at length with the various questions raised. Messrs J. Lindsay, L. Pope, and J. A. M'Kinnon had also a word to say, and Mr Payne was given an opportunity to' reply. Mr J. H. Hancock then moved a resolution in favour of the project, which was seconded by Mr A. Gillies. Mr W. M. Hogg pro-Dosed as an amendment that the matter be left over till February for further consideration.

Mr J. Abbott seconded, and on being- put the amendment was lost. Mr W.. Begg then proposed as a second amendment that it be ki£t until at or after the association tournament to bo held in December. Mr O. seconded, saying that they were only binding themselves to consider the matter and should take time to do so. At the tournament they might got : opinions and views expressed, of which at present thev had no idea, and would be in a better position to say yes or no. This amendment. was carried, and when finally put to the mooting was affirmed bv a vote of 10—7.