BOWLERS’ EXPENSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 19999, 5 January 1935, Page 18

BOWLERS’ EXPENSES

DUNEDIN SUGGESTION Some time ago Mr G. A. Nelson, the Dunedin Club’s delegate on the Dunedin Bowling Centre, made the suggestion that a special fund should be established by the payment of a levy of Is per player for the purpose of financing the expenses of bowling teams (says the “Otago Daily Times”). The idea was that by this means the best players could be selected irrespective of whether they were men of means or not. While the proposal met with some support, it did not find general commendation on the part of the bowling powers that be. consequently when teams go overseas to represent New Zealand it happens that they have been selected more on their ability to stand the financial strain of a tour than on their ability as bowlers. As things are it is only well-

to-do players who can nominate for inclusion in an overseas team. Admitting that anything savouring of professionalism should be avoided, it still does not seem right that a premium should be set upon wealth as the test for inclusion in what goes by the name of a representative team. Nothing more has been heard of this subject since Mr Nelson’s scheme was put forward, but recent Australian files to hand show that the question of bowlers’ expenses is a live topic across the Tasman. Mr Tom Yates, of New South Wales, is an ardent advocate of bowlers having their expenses paid or at least part of them. When last in Victoria as manager of the New South Wales team, he said “it was a farce to call them inter-state tests.” In supporting the contention that the only way to secure proper State representation is to pay bowlers’ expenses. A. B. Stanley, the well known Victorian player, says that to make a contest

interesting each team should be as near full strength as possible. A few good bowlers cannot carry too many passengers. “Bowls is an amateur sport and always will remain so, but I cannot see why there should be the slightest objection to the payment of expenses.” he says. “It would help to lift the game still higher. How would the Olympic Games get on if no expenses were paid? It is by this means that the greatest athletes in the world can meet each other in every branch of amateur sport. Bowlers should pull together to endeavour as quickly as possible to see that the best in each State can meet each other the same as other great athletes do. The only way this can be done is by payment of expenses.”