POPULARITY OF BOWLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 7

POPULARITY OF BOWLS

GAME IN NEW ZEALAND INDICATIONS AT CONFERENCE CONTROL OF TOURNEY PLAY (Pit Press Association.) DUNEDIN, lasi night. Satisfaction at the steady growth of the game of bowls in the Dominion was expressed by Mr. S. M. Stone, ol Wellington, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Bowling Association, which was -held to-day.

Mr. Stone said there had been an increase of 802 bowlers over the numbers for the previous year, and a number of new clubs had been formed.

In the absence of the immediate past president, Mr. Stone occupied (he chair until the president-elect, Mr. W. Connor, Dunedin, was installed. The others present were the newly-elected vice-president, Mr. F. A. Hocking, ot Auckland; the treasurer, Mr. li. Rowley. Dunedin: and the following councillors, Messrs. G. L. Gladding and A. E. Whitten, Auckland; P. li. Rowe, South Auckland; E. T. Petty, Taranaki; li. Mayo, Hawke’s Bay; W. Gilbert. Wellington; L. B. Evans and H. B. Oakley, Christchurch; T. Currie, South Cahterbury; D. IT. Thomson, North Otago: G. A. Nelson and R. Hanning, Dunedin: S. C. K. Smith, Southland.

In welcoming the delegates the Mayor, the Rev. E. T. Cox. said (hat he had been a howler for 15 years, and when he first came to Dunedin he played more bowls than he had ever done anywhere else, which was due to the favourable climatic conditions. Game a Wonderful One The president of the Dunedin Bowling Centre, Mr. J. If. Hinton, said hat on behalf of nearly 2000 howlers

in the Dunedin centre it was his great pleasure to accord to them, ihe bowling Parliament, a cordial welcome to Dunedin. The game ot bowls was a wonderful one, and all classes united in enjoying the game and the good fellowship and harmony associated with it. In returning thanks for the welcome, Mr. Stone apologised for the absence of the Dominion president, the Hon. W. Perry, who was prevented by pressure of business from being present. “It is pleasing to note that the membership of bowling clubs is increasing,” said Mr. Stone, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet. “Year bv year moie bowlers are being brought into the game, and the increase of 802 over the previous year is something to be pleased about." The finances of the association were healthv. The year commenced with a credit balance of .8395 18s 2d and ended with a balance of £528 12s. The association had a very good entry lor the Dominion tournament, and the entry fees showed an inreease of £94. Tt was not the object of the association to go on building up a large

fund, and he did not want to convey the impression that that was the major object.

'(’lie motion was seconded by Mr. T. Currie, South Canterbury. Mr. G. A. Nelson, Dunedin, asked if any of the funds were tied up and if all reserves were shown on the balance sheet. The chairman said that there were no reserves in any shape or form. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Presentation of Badges Mr. Stone invited Mr. W. Connor to take the chair, and congratulated him on his election to the important position of president of the New Zealand Bowling Association. Mr. Stone presented Mr. Connor with his badge of office. Mr. Connor returned thanks for his welcome and election, and then presented the councillors’ badges to Messrs. E. T. Petty, Taranaki, and W. Gilbert, Wellington. It was decided to forward messages of appreciation to Messrs. 11. G. Mayer and J. Kershaw, Wellington, and G S. Gordon, Wanganui.

Mr. Douglas Hanning was appointed secretary of the association, and Mr. C. Russell Smith as auditor. .It was, decided that the executive should consist of the president, Mr. W. Connor, treasurer, Mr.' ID Rowley, and Dunedin members of the council, Messrs. G. A. Nelson and R. Hanning. It was resolved that the tournament committee should consist, of the local councillors, together with those members of the Dunedin centre they desired to co-opt. Dominion Ttournament It was decided that the Dominion championship tournament at Dunedin should begin on Monday. January 10. I'he order of play was decided upon as follows: Singles, pairs and rinks, with rinks having preference in the post-section play. I'he recommendation of the executive “that the singles competition at he annua! tournament be played under the automatic two-life system throughout,” created some discussion, the motion being carried by nine votes to six. “That section in the pairs’ competition be confined to one day play, four games only to be played’ was recommended by the executive and a further recommendation lrom the executive that any player winning four or three games or ticing for sections with a lesser number should take part in the post sectional play on the sudden death system was carried. Mr, Smith. Southland, stated that the rules required members of pairs’ combinations to be members of the same club. The apparent aim of the provision was to avoid "pot-hunting, but it inflicted hardships. The chairman said that notice of motion would be required to deal with the matter and Mr. Smith gave notice of motion as follows: “That discretionary power be given to the tournament executive to accept entries for pairs from players who are not members of the same club," Championship Rinks Play A motion was moved by Mr, Hosking and seconded by Mr. Thomson that rinks’ play should be conducted ;s was tile case last year. This.was that rink teams should he divided into sections and that at the conclusion if section games, post-section play should follow. Where eight games constituted the section play, the teams to qualify for the post-section play should be (a) any team which won six or more games in its section; (b) any team which though it won less than six games, was winner of its section; <c) any team which, though it won less than six games, tied as one of the winners of its section. Unless clause (b) or (c) applied, any team which had been more than twice defeated in section play should not qualify for post-section. If the section play consisted of. nine games for the section, then the qualification clauses (a), (hi and <e) given above would, ipso facto, be increased to seven wins.

Post-section play would he on the automatic two-life principle, winners would play winners and losers play losers, hut’ the tournament committee would have power to play a winner against a loser if it considered such a course was advisable. The team losing two games would not continue play. Three games a day of 21 heads, or three hours, would be played. Mr. Smith moved an amendment that post-section play in the rinks be on one-life system. This was seconded by Mr. Currie. The amendment was defeated and the motion carried. Time Limits Fixed

The time limits for the annual tournament games were fixed the same as last year, singles 21 heads or li hours, pairs 21 heads or 2\ hours, rinks two gSlmes of 21 heads each day. Entertainment expenses incurred during the annual tournament of the association were the subject of a remit from a Christchurch centre, which recommended that the expense be a direct charge on the tournament funds of the association.

The view was expressed by Mr. H. B. Oakley, Christchurch, that the expenses should be curtailed, though not so far as wives of participants in tournaments were concerned. The remit was adopted unanimously.

PLAYERS ON TOUR

VICTORY AT AUCIIENFLOWER

(Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 8, 9.20 a.m.) BRISBANE, July 8.

The New Zealand howlers yesterday played Auchenflower. W. Dee won, 21—17; Polglasse won, 25—15; Chapman won, 25—21, and Kempster won, 20—19.