PATRIOTIC BOWLERS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4430, 26 May 1941, Page 5

PATRIOTIC BOWLERS

PRESIDENT’S REVIEW. SPIRIT OF OPTIMISM. When welcoming delegates to the annual meeting of the South Auckland Bowling Centre the president, Mr S. Lewis (Cambridge), said prospects for a continuation of bowls as a popular pastime and recreation were not as good as a year ago. The Empire, and practically the whole world, was still under the cloud of war. The position of the Empire was very difficult to-day—perhaps worse in some respects than when the centre met last year. To-day it was still a case of “thumbs up,” following the example of the brave people in Great Britain. He was confident he need not impress on bowlers to look ahead instead of behind. “The clouds will disperse,” said Mi Lewis, “and we as a free people will come into the sunshine again.” Speaking for a very representative and influential body in the great South Auckland district he would say that bowlers would respond as readily and generously as anybody to patriotic appeals, and strive unitedly to reach a successful conclusion to the present conflict. Speaking more particularly of the work of the South Auckland Bowling Centre’s executive, Mr Lewis said every member had worked loyally, and all affiliated clubs could rest assured that their interests had been conserved and guarded. If the War caused a lowered membership it might happen that a few of the clubs would find it very difficult to carry on, but he hoped that would not be. Bowls was a healthy recreation that served as a mental and physical fillip in times of stress occasioned by the national crisis.