BOWLING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 29, 27 September 1912, Page 5

BOWLING.

ANNUAL MEETING STRATFORD CLUB. Fourteen bowlers attended the annual meeting of the Stratford Bowling CUd) in the Borough Council Chambers last night. The President (Mi 1 . R. McK. Morison) was in the chair. Annual Repcrt. The annual report was as follows: — “in presenting the 12th annual report and ualance-suoet, your committee iegret to state that tne past season Jnuy been anything but .satisfactory, ootn from a financial and players' view. Ino unseasonably weather experienced during the season, no doubt, nelpedi to damp the enthusiasm of oowlers, j both in play, and pay. The season opened with a fairly strong club or ( elected members (48); but, we, find tnat of tins number, only 36 nave paid, their subscriptions, and some of tneso I have been let down lightly. Tour committee consider it a disgrace to Stratford that better support is not given by the business people, and would like suggestions from bowlers, re attracting more support to tne club. Nine banner matches were played between tne various clues north, of which five were won and four lost. The club was also represented at the Taranaki Provincial tournament held at Patea and Waverley, by two rinks. Ten matches were played, six Wore won and four lost. Tne club was also represented by one rink at. Wellington, in the North Island Tournament, but failed to collect the championship. A most enjoyable holiday is spent at these tournaments, and if members knew what pleasure is attached to such a trip, they would live on the green, and endeavour to become proficient to take- part in them. The annual championship for the 0/ MCurtis trophy was won by Mr. G. Smart. The usual matches xer cue feathers were played during the season, and created considerable omhasiasm. After changing hands several times they returned to the holders at the end of the previous season (Messrs Sangster and Fopkes). The green ha'% received considerable attention . miring the winter, by a few enthusiastic members, being levelled and top-dri sled with papa. Wo anticipate during the coming season it will be in better playing condition than in previous years. Your committee are looking ’forward- to a favourable season for play, and would ask bowlers to do their utmost to enrol new members. The thanks of thfe club are again due to Mr. G. N. Curtis for bis liberal donations'to the funds. Thanks, also, are duo to the ladies for their attendance and assistance at afternoon tea arrangements.”

Balance-Sheet. The balance-sheet showed receipts £76 7s, including subscriptions iOi i ts, and expenditure £315 10s 3d, leaving the bank ovedraft at £239 3s 3d. The assets and liabilities were not shown, but it was stated that the former exceeded the latter very considerably. In moving the adoption of the annual 1 report and balance-sheet, the President said that he thought the acting-secretary should be complimented on the drawing up of this report. Especially as they considered that he was doing the work of the real secretary proper. Ho would \ say straight away that the members were immensely indebted to Mr. Smart faith© amount-of good work he had done for the chib. Not only has he been warden and'acting-secretary, but every thing he could do that the club wanted he had done. Ho thought that the key-note had been struck with regard to the success of the season, in saying that,.the weather had beep the determining factor. He thought that there was one matter in the report which might be omitted, and that was the remark re “disgrace to Stratford.” After all, it was to the bowlers jjiat they must look to keep the bowling green in order. They might, however, urge the business people to support the “best of games.” (Applause.) Mr. J. Masters, in seconding the report, said exception had been taken to “the disgrace to Stratford” clause in the report. He would not agree with that, but there was a disgrace, and that was to members, who had not paid their subscriptions. He asked if there was no way in which these gentlemen might bo dealt with, and the money collected. The Secretary explained that the club was under the Classified Societies’ Act. Mr Masters continued that the other remark in the report re “few enthusiastic” members was slightly objectionable. There were other members who would have given their time, had they known when the players were ‘■starting work.”

Mr. N. J. King referred to the apathy that existed among the busxueos men with regard to joining the dud, rather than supporting it financially. There were any amount of people who had the time if they only had the inclination. At the present time out of a fairly large town, the membersnip of the club was only 48. He considered that they could certainly, double that number. When the club.started they had 65 members, and he hoped, sincerely, that next year when the report was presented it would not dwindle down to 28. Otherwise they would very soon be in financial difficulties. They must see that they got more members. In conclusion Mr. King referred in scathing terras to the “unfinancial” members, and said that if other measures failed he was in favour of legal action. Mr. T. C. Fookes said that possibly some of the trouble was caused by the haphazard of proposing new members, sometimes without the consent of those gentlemen. He suggested that a membership card be printed, for intending members to sign before election.

The suggestion was adopted. The report and balance-sheet wore then adopted. Election of Officers.

The following gentlemen were elected as officers of the club :—President, Mr. N. J. King; vice-president, Mr. T. C. Fookes; secretary, Mr. J. Black; treasurer, Mr. McDonald.; auditor, Mr T. Penn ; committee, Messrs. J. Masters, S. M. Porritt, T. H. Penn. .1. Reeves, and H. Edgecombe; selection committee, Messrs. Robert Masters, G. Smart and Rl McK. Monson; warden, Mr) G. Smart. , Opaning Day. The opening day was fixed for the first Thursday in November. New Members. Over a dozen new • members won proposed for election to the club. Trophies. The retiring president offered a trophy for the young players, in the shape of a pair of bowls, his offer being accepted amidst applause. Rsvssirn cf Rules. It was decided that a committee, consisting of Messrs. G. Smart, T. C. Fookes, J. Black, and N. J. King be set up to revise the rules, with the view especially of dealing with unlinancial members. *