BOWLING

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1928, Page 11

BOWLING

SEASON OPENING THIS WEEK. BOWLS POWER FOR GOOD. (By “Toucher.”) The bowling season in New Plymouth opens ojcially to-day, and with the game already in progress in Hawera and Patea, it can be said that the game will be in full swing for the 1928-9 Beason in Taranaki. Old cronies will meet one another once again on the greens, and the friendships of former years will be renewed and strengthened.* 11l youth one may play cricket or football for exuberant love of physical exercise, but the comradeships, while sincere, are more lightly regarded than in late years, when the old. cricketer and the old footballer put aside the bat and the old striped jersey and meet on the bowling green. By that time they have learned the great lessen—that one of the best joys in life is the friendship of man and man. They soon learn, also, that there is no place like a bowling club for developing such friendships. These are the sentiments that pervade the bowling life of New Zealand and, in fact, wherever the game is played the same feeling prevails. There is something wonderful in the game which brings out the best in men. Devotion to bowls enrols a man at once in a freemasonry that has no parallel in other sports. While this may seem a somewhat reckless assertion, it really is not so, the explanation being that bowls takes its unique character from the fact that the majority of the players are men who have reached a stage of life when athletic prowess is only one part of their mission, the other being to enjoy the companionship of men with whom they find themselves in moral and mental accord. During the excitement of the game one does not ponder on these things. One is out to win, but in the hour of quiet reflection a man realises what he owes to bowls. And what he gets he radiates, to the greater happiness of his home and of all circles where he is a figure. It is true that bowls has been, is now, and w-iil continue to be, a great power for good in cementing friendships and understandings, not only of small groups, but of communities.

Men who travel to an outside country to play bowls are, in many instances, able to do so only because they have won distinction in a profession or business. That is an additional reason why bowls, with its large numerical following, is on a plane that is shared by no other sport except golf, and so far as golf is concerned, rich though its charms may be, if. will never satisfy the man who has had the experience of the companionship that is offered in the game of bowls. When men, with minds broadened by such contact, who have come from widely separated cities, get together during and after a game of bowls, the friendly feeling engendered has an influence that does not end when the carnival breaks up with Auld Lang Syne; Knowledge has been gained, there has been a renewal of faith in one's fellow men, a few prejudices have been wiped out, some beliefs have been confirmed —certain it is that the influence has all been for good. A. GAME THAT IS WORTHY. What strikes one in the bowling world, more than anything else, is the great service of a disinterested nature given by men of all walks of life, from the King down to the humblest, subject. A game which commands such is worthy of all the good things we can say about it, and also is worthy of ail wt can do for its general progress. We want bowlers the world over to use bowling towards the uplift and cementing of our glorious Empire. Were I to analyse the game of bowls I would say it is divided into three parts—the anticipation of the game, the game itself, but by far the best was the last part, the post-mortem held on its different phases at the conclusion. The good that bowls does to a town all folk recognise. I notice in a Sydney paper that a resident of Wagga stated that fully 50 retired farmers belonged to the local club. Before the club was established, the retired men used to make for Sydney or Melbourne to pass the rest of their days. Bowling clubs are a great asset in the civic life of the community. I consider that New Zealand has a splendid asset in the various clubs that exist in the many centres of this Dominion of ours. Bowlers are invariably men of standing in the community—men whose interests are wrapped up in the welfare of their country; men who have made good; men who when any charitable or patriotic movement is afoot are not afraid to dip their hands in their pockets to aid the cause that needs assistance. In every bowling club that nice, kindly feeling and willingness to assist, which is necessary for their welfare, can easily be traced. Some inherit this personality, others attain it by tuition. Those that are not so endowed miss many pleasures. If proof needs be, let me remind you of the things that are frequently done from the celebrating of important victories in true lordly fashion to the motoring of teams to the playing areas, and the everyday courteous acts. Occasionally the less fortunate in worldly goods recognise favours bestowed by presenting a small token as a mark of esteem and appreciation. How pleasant it all is. Apart from their ability as bowlers we like to have these good and thoughtful men in the teams; their bright and cheery manners assist in other ways than winning games, which is not the only thing in bowls. A COMMUNITY WITHOUT STRIFE. If we all played bowls, said ft bowler to me last season, we would be a community without strife. He seemed to b* of the view that the same should be

made compulsory. Would it not be pleasant to feel that there was no pos- • sible cause of discord anywhere in the community. It would not. If we had no strife we would be bored to death within a week. A man could not rise on stepping stones of his dead self to higher things without striving, and all the children would come bottom of the class, and there would be no champions, and no virtuosi, just a lot of folk who -would play bowls all day to keep themselves from going to sleep. No. Bowls is a very good game, but if it were to become compulsory, at the expense of all our lovely rivalries and dislikes and emulations aud strivings and our homelike rows and scraps and battles and jealousies, there would be a red revolution within a week. The annual report of the Dominion of New Zealand Bowling Association is to hand. It shows that during the past year one new centre, that of North Auckland, with headquarters at Whangarei, was granted affiliation. One new club joined the Wellington centre, namely, the Woburn Bowling and Croquet Club. The total number of clubs now on the register of the association is 309, with a membership of 16,054, which is an increase on the preceding year's figures. There are 182 clubs in the North Island, with a membership of 10,279, an increase of 562 on the previous year; while in the South Island thero are 127 clubs with a numerical strength of 5765, an increase of 29, CLUBS OF LARGE MEMBERSHIP. Seeing that we in New Zealand are so strong in numbers of bowlers, perhaps it may be interesting to point out where the strongest clubs have their being. The capital city, as seems only fitting, has the largest club in the Deminion, the Wellington Club returning a membership of 195. Carlton comes second with 171, while Dunedin is a close third with 170. ranks next with 168, and then conies Auckland 157, Nelson 152, I’onsonby 144, Kahutia (Gisborne) 140, Wanganui 130, Devonport, Epsom and Rotorua 126, Gisborne and W hangarei 125,* New Plymouth 124, St. Johns and Island Bay 120, Caledonian 118, Hataitai 116, Kelburn 115, Timaru 114, St. Clair 113, Victoria 112, Poverty Bay 109, Hutt 108, Thorndon 107, St. Albans 105, Napier and Mount Eden 10(1. The smallest club is Plimmerton, with 7 members. The largest centre is that of Auckland, with 2733 bowlers. Then comes Christchurch, with 1645; Wellington, 1589; South Auckland, 1580; Dunedin, 1385; Taranaki, 1056. The smallest centre is Marlborough, with 170 bonders and four clubs. THE POSITION IN TARANAKI. As is only natural we bowlers in Taranaki would like to know the numerical strength of the various clubs in the province. The return shows New Plymouth is the largest club, with 124 members. West End is second with 92, and Park (Hawera) third with 80. Fitzroy has 78, Avon 70, Stratford 69, Waitara and Hawera 66, Inglewood 55, Patea 49, Vogeltown 48, Paritutu 45, Eltham 41, Kaponga 29, Manaia and Opunake 27, Fire Brigade 23, Rahotu 19, Tariki 14, Auroa and Warea 12, Pihama 10. In comparing the returns from the Taranaki clubs with those of the previous year the figures show as follows: Increases: Stratford 11, Patea and Waitara 8, Fitzroy 7, Rahotu 4, Kaponga, New Plymouth and Fire Brigade 3, Opunake, Tariki and Vogeltown 1. Decreases: Inglewood 15, Hawera 14, West End 6, Auroa 5, Park (Hawera) 2, Avon and Manaia 1. The membership of the Eltham, Paritutu, Pihama and Warea clubs remained stationary. On the total the membership showed a decrease of 5 in the province. THE SPIRIT OF KINSHIP. Bonds is so good a game that it appeals to old and young and is fast spreading all over the Empire. It has obtained a hold in Canada and is making its appearance in the United States. Its devotees are of all ages, and even “colts” at 80 commence to play the game. Bowls as a section of sport holds its own with any outdoor recreation, whilst as a factor in advancing the social interests of the community there is nothing to compare with it. Let us, then, whilst doing our utmost to make ourselves and others proficient in the grand old game, also keep in sight those finer qualities that make the perfect bowler. Let the spirit of kinship permeate our every effort so that as the years roll on and our circle is enlarged, 'we may each and all be able to say one of another: — You are the folks that my thoughts agree with; You are the folks that I like to be with. Whatever life sends me of weal or woe You are the folks that I'm glad to know; And my glad heart blithely pens this line: “God bless you, glorious friend of mine.”