ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 15

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

AN INTERNATIONAL BOWLING TOUR

After the establishment of bowling in almost every township and certainly every town throughout the Dominion, and, furthermore, gathering into the ranks of the sport the large army of 16,000 players, a party thoroughly representative of New Zealand bowlers is setting out on an eight months’ tour of the world to unify, if possible, bowling on an international basis. The countries that will be visited are Australia, France, Italy, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Ireland, United States and Canada. It is not possible to embrace in such a touring team the cream of New Zealand players, but a selection has been available that will certainly uphold the standard of play here. It is not the intention to press hard for bowling victories. Indeed, from the opinions of those in charge of the team the primary motive is to visit as many places as possible and foster return visits to this country. The project is obviously ambitious. It is sincerely hoped that it will meet with a large measure of success, if not complete success. It may be expected that this spirit of cameraderie will find a ready response wherever the game is played, and the invitations will be warmly accepted. Hence it is that in the immediate years to come, wo may meet in this country bowlers representative of many lands. HANDS ACROSS THE SEAS Of the Continental countries— France, Italy, Switzerland—that are to be visited, it is certain that little success will be met with there, as greens are not available for an exposition of the game, and the team will therefore resolve itself more or less into an ordinary sightseeing tour. Hence the possibilities of the introduction on the Continent will have to await future developments. But' in the United States of America the position is entirely more favourable. The game has already been introduced through th© influence of New Zealand bowlers. Some three years ago when the international medical conference was held in New Zealand," some of the American representatives happened to be in Rotorua during the progress of the annual tournament. So attracted were they with this game, which is so admirably designed for men of mature years, that they took back with them full details of all the rules and a working knowledge of how the game was played. Again during the last visit of the Carinthia last year further interest was aroused. A member of that prominent American touring party was on friendly terms with Mr. W. Fielding, th e popular Hataitai, Wellington, member. So enamoured was this gentleman, Mr. Wentmore; with the attractive features of the game, that he had a moving picture taken of a game on the Hataitai green to enable practical lessons to be studied when he returned to Chicago. A bowling green has consequently been established and an invitation has been issued to and accepted by the touring party to play games in that far away city. Games will also be played at Buffalo and at several points in California. In the latter State, there is an association of five clubs, and it is interesting to note that the climate permits of play nearly the whole of the year and that many greens are lit by electric light, which permit of evening play. It is not known that bowling greens have been established in New York, but it is intended to keep a sharp look-out for such a contingency. There are a nuipbe.r of clubs in Canada and numerous invitations have been issued to the touring party to call and play games on the local greens from New Brunswick to Vancouver. THE BRITISH TOUR Of the tour of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales too much importance cannot be stressed. Indeed it forms the central pivot of the whole tour. The party will be the guests of the British Bowling Association. Most of the main towns will be visited and the association has mapped out a very comprehensive itinerary. As representatives of this far-flung member of the British Empire, it is certain that a hearty welcome will be extended wherever they go on their visit to the Mother Country. Receptions have already been arranged, beginning with the City of London and continuing right through the land. Nothing but good can come of such a tour. Already Australians and New Zealanders are on most friendly terms with each other. Indeed, the first annual bowling contest, played during the current season between these two countries, has fair promise of becoming in the future an important sports fixture of an international character, and the basis of much friendly intercourse. A similar extension to Great Britain, Canada and the United States of America is not beyond the bounds of realisation. The progress of this important tour should be watched by all sections of the New Zealand public with more than passing interest. THE MANAGEMENT Mr. J. W. Hardley, immediate past president of the Dominion Bowling Association, is in charge of the tour. This selection has been indeed happy. It is perfectly safe to assume that no more able person could be placed in such an outstanding position of prominence and importance. Mr. Hardley has shown remarkable enthusiasm and able administrative abilities, from the time he first became president of the West End Bowling Club until he accepted the presidency of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association. His career has been one long series of continued successes in bowling. Th© choice therefore has been a wise one. In his capable charge the tour should be characterised with the same success that has attended his earlier efforts, and as th e chief functionary of the party the selection has been on the lines of an outstanding personality. NOTES AND COMMENT The constitution of the party will be 54 persons in a 11—36 bowlers and 18 wives and relatives. A civic farewell will be given the party on Thursday just prior to the departure for Australia. Mr. James Pascoe, president of the Auckland Centre, gave a farewell to Messrs. J. W. Hardley, J. M. Thomson and A. Wilson, son-in-law of Mr. Hardley, on Thursday evening last at the Esplanade Hotel, Devonport. All members of the centre executive were present, together with Messrs. A. M. Bryden, E. V. Sutherland and T. R. George, past members of that body. During the evening presentations of travelling rugs were made to Messrs. Hardley and Thompson by Mr. Pascoe on behalf of the centre executive. Death of a Veteran Bowler On Saturday, Mr. William Culpan passed away. Mr. Culpan had been a continuous member of the Auckland

Bowling Club for 56 years. He joined the club when he was 21 years of age. Feeling reference was made to the loss on Saturday afternoon by Mr. E. A. Craig, vice-president of the Auckland Club. It was felt that the last link with the early history of the club was served in the death of Mr. Culpa n. Beep regret is also felt in the death of Mr. James Drummond, of the Ponsonby Club, and the tragic and early death of Mr. George Walker, of the E£muera Club. Both these players Were exceedingly popular and their loss will be deeply felt. The winner of the singles championship at the South Seas Bowling Carnival, to be held at Suva next August, will get something in the vicinity of his fare. The prize is £SO, while the second prize is £lO. Attached to the winning of the pennant, there will be a tortoiseshell scroll case on a stand containing a tappa manuscript on which the names of all visitors will be entered. The Challenging of Bowls In view of the remarks made in this column last week on the unfairness of challenging Mr. J. H. Trayes’s bowls at the Dominion tournament the following from “Bowls,” Melbourne, on the same subject will be of interest: “In one instance only was the question raised during the Australian carnival with respect to bowls not having insufficient draw, but before the matter could be inquired into the protest was withdrawn. “It was pointed out that the bowls in question were stamped with the 192627 Australian Bowling Council’s stamp, and in view of such fact the owner was certainly protected officially from any insinuation that he knowingly and wilfully had an unfair advantage over his opponents. Logically if a player is protected by the A.B.C. stamp and his bowls are subsequently challenged, the only conclusion to arrive at is that suspicion exists that the bowls have been tampered with after testing and stamping. “Not for a moment do we suggest,” continues the journal, “that such was done in connection with the bowls in question, but why, we ask, should a player who has conformed strictly to the laws and rules governing the game, be subject to the caprice of anyone after he has acted in an honourable matter.” It seems that in the Dominion, although a player has his bowjs stamped plainly with the latest official stamp, under the existing rules he may yet be subjected to having his bowls challenged by any irresponsible player, and at the same time be subjected to the indignity of public humiliation through the Press of the Dominion by the New Zealand Association. It is time the authorities took action to remedy this undesirable state of affairs. The attention of all bowlers in Auckland is at the present time directed to the annual Rotorua tournament. The progress of the play is being watched with close interest. No individual club in the Dominion conducts a tournament with such outstanding success. In fact, years ago, it had to be split up into two separate events, with a week’s intermission, to allow for the accommodation of the huge rush of entries. These are called the first and second tournaments, and indeed some entries are made even 12 months in advance to assure of secured positions. The splendid quality of the greens there, the picturesque surrounding, and the fairness in treatment of all the entrants all combine to make the event one of a perfect bowling holiday and competition. There is not a dull moment during the tournament. Every moment is filled with interesting incident. SATURDAY’S TEAMS The following teams have been chosen for Saturday’s bowling matches:— Mount Eden v. Grey Lynn. —At Grey Lynn: T. Nairn, Jones, McCarthy, J. Smith; Wright, D. Nairn, Tutt, H. Gill; Delaraore, Serjeant, J. B. Robertson, Cornes, McCauley, Harle, Miller, A. Nairn. At Mount Eden: Bignan, Boyce, Marshall, Bourke; Jos. Smith, Gribble, Vivian, Fraser; Douglas, Fulton, Hull, Surman; Faram, R. Robertson, Elliot, Findlay; Bailey, Johnston, Joll, Bigelow; Moore, Wagstaff, Battersby, Walton; Cave, Rintoul, Gatenby, Baker; Mueller, Shirriffs, Middleton, Daisley. Rocky Nook v. Rawhiti. —At Rawhiti: Cunningham, Wilson, Loram, Roylance; Martin, Hedges, Bain, J. Pearce; . J,. Kayes, Huston, Farley, Finch; Chambers, Hudson, Blakey, B. Kayes. At Rocky Nook: H. F. Kent, Finlay, T. Jones, Gribble; Baxter, Hall, W. White, Jury; Austin, Berry, Buckle, Keatley; Harrison, Mason, Campbell, Milner. Against Te Papapa.—At Te Papapa: Mayhill, Cadwallader, Sidler, Cliff e; L. Kent, J. H. Jones, Tongue, W. Williams. At Rocky Nook: Aughton, Yeo, jun., Alder, Bouskill, Goodall. Reid, Turner, F. Pearce. Against Mount Wellington.—At Mount Wellington: Compston, Mills, Stone, H. Jenkin. At Rocky Nook: Taylor, Cullens, Sadler, Randell. First-year players v. Rawhiti.-.—At Rocky Nook: Oughton, Lewis, Leather, Rutledge, against Epsom, at Epsom: Beatt, Pearson, Young, Beehre. Te Papapa v. Rocky Nook. —At Te Papapa: Paterson, Garnham, Whitehead, Thorpe; Angus, Fallon, James, R. G. Speight. At Rocky Nook: Speight, jun.. Allcock, Marks, Simpson; Johnson, T. Harriman, Dawson, Donnell. Grey Lynn v. Mount Eden. —At Grey Lynn: Pitkethley, Hutson, John Preston, Newton; Whyte, A. Lye, Walker, Capp; McLaughlin, Molloy, Newell, Baildon; Ingby, W. Preston, B. Young, J. Reed. At Mount Eden: Bull, Armstrong, Cronin. Davidson; Aggers, Thomas, Neilson, McLean; Lockie, Teague. Little, Goldsmith: McElroy, A. Young, E. Leydon, Gibbons; Hawke, Brown, Jos. Preston, Blamires; Street, Puddle, J. B. Preston, Christey: Snell, Cox, Sheridan, H. Reed; Knox, Wilde, Lang, J. Lye. St. Heliers v. Manqere. —At Mangere: Barrv, Hunt, Price, Norris: McLaren, P. S. White, S. White, P. White; Skinner, Stevens, Holdsworth, Knight. At St. Heliers: Gray, Cottrell. Smith, Philip; Twiname, Lovegrove, .T. Diamond, Porter: Brewer, Cameron'. S. Diamond, May. Hillsborough v. Papakura. —At Papakura: Preston. Sainty. -Thompson, Anderson: Smith. Clark. Ward, Pollard. Takapuna v. Waitemata. —At Waitemata: Oborn, Stallard, Bennet. Hanna. At Takanuna: Arrowsmith, Lisk, F. A. Smith, Christey.