BOWLING IRREGULARITIES:

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19013, 2 August 1933, Page 9

BOWLING IRREGULARITIES:

(To the Editor.) j Sir, —This Is my final appearance in your valuable paper as a contributor on bowling irregularities. Any further effort needed will be done with the New Zealand Bowling Council. I depm it my duty In the interests of bowling and bowlers and the readers of your excellent paper that the writer should expose what has been secretly happening. levant to express the pleasure it affords pie to reply to statements expressed In the Waikato Times by Mr Wheeler and the new president of the centre (Mr Tyler), who holds a position the writer sincerely hopes Is only of a temporary nature; my reasons follow later.

Mr Wheeler, In his letter dated July 6, per your paper, cfTarges me with all manner of things and misrepresentations. In a letter dated July 18, also per medium of the Waikato Times, he accuses me of “ulterior motivos against the personnel of the new executive." I give that statement an emphatio denial. Mr Wheeler Imputed that I should return from Dunedin surprised, and (slo). Frankly I was surprised to hear I was "sic," for at present "I am sparking on all cylinders and full of pep.” Getting down to business: 1 am accused of misrepresenting and evading certain rules in my speech at Dunedin. That is sheer nonsense. I quoted every rule that our centre has bearing on tho point; and would this apparently keen observer of faots realise that "R.N.P. made his strongest claims and gained all his points on the very rule I am accused of misrepresenting."

Again, Mr Wheeler charges me with accepting and acquiescing in being given 40 votes at the meeting called to eleot New Zealand councillors when, aooordlng to the above gentleman, only 12 or 13 votes were actually In the meeting. Pleaso let us analyse tho last statement. Tills meeting was called to elect men for the New Zealand Council, and was poorly attended, only nine delegates being present—namely, Messrs North, Metcalfe, Rowe, Johnson, Barrell, Wheeler, Frost, Wycherley and tho writer. Discussion by the delegates centred around tho question whether, In view of the small attendance, the delegates could allocate the votes to the various candidates according to the numerical strength of our centre’s full voting power, or thereabout. The writer distinctly expressed his view that it would be irregular to vote that way. However, tho delegates discussed the matter for fully an hour, and Anally daoJdeii to allocate 45 voles to myself and the same number of votes to a further six candidates. All present, including Mr Wheeler, Mr ilarrell and Mr Frost and all the others abovementioned supported It. Why accuse the writer: the meeting sanctioned that action. Howover, nine other centres over which I have no control returned me to the council, without the 45 votes recorded here. How does that strike Mr Wheeler? In order to state rny case and furnish all concerned with the trutn relating to tho seething irregularities at the last annual centre meeting it is necessary (hat I should examine Mr Wheeler’s status and standing in Die bowling arena, more particularly in Ihc South Auckland Centre. Wli.it

official centre position does he hold? None. He has no official standing ot any description. This statement is an invaluable one, as my letter will prov; It Is Imperative that I should ask Mr Wheeler some hard, straight and Interesting questions, and will he please convey his answers through your excellent paper or to the secretary of the New Zealand Bowling Association? No. i—Will the gentleman referred to please explain to the bowling community how Mr Frost, of the Railway Club, was elected delegate for the Rorotua Club, considering Mr Frost’s name appears on the South Auckland register as Putaruru's delegate for the past two years, and acted as such? It must be obvious to any person with ordinary’ intelligence that had the Rotorua Club been desirous of securing Mr Frost as their delegate they would at the least oommunicato with him direct regarding same, otherwise how could he know of Ids appointment? Bowlers will be amazed and staggered to realise that Ibis proxy authorisation form was posted to Mr Wheeler; further, on the bottom of this same form appears a short nolc from Mr Webber of tho Rotorua Club, addressed and headed “Mr Wheeler,” elc., etc. The above suggests that something of a “sinister" nature is affloat. No. 2— lt becomes tho duty of Mr A. Wheeler to enlighten your readers on the following extraordinary position. He nlono holds tho key to the solution: Why was Mr Cleary, of Hie Hamilton East Club, appointed delegate by Tirau by telegram, the same telegram being despatched to Mr A. Wheeler, Hamilton; telegram arrived at 12.38 p.m. on day of centre meeting. Why, in the name of anything

reasonable, should Mr A. Wheeler be acquainted with Mr Cleary’s appointment? He is not even a member of the same club. Extraordinary procedure 1 No. 3—Will the member of Prankton unravel the following: Mr J. Cooney appointed to represent Okorolre by telegram, received Hamilton 9.59 a.m. on day of annual meeting? A further strange coincidence is, this telegram was sent by the Olcoroire Club to Mr A. Wheeler, Wesley Buildings. “The writer is beginning to realise that Mr Wheeler is the centre, lock, stock and barrel.” No. A —Mr Wheeler’s own statement per medium of Waikato Times, July G, stated ho hold the position of delegate for Frankton Club, a statement I honestly believe. This being an acknowledged fact, why did he seek and obtain by the proxy form the delegate’s, poistion for Tc Puke Bowling Club? Tills form distinctly appoints A. Wheeler, and is signed by Mr A. Cummings, secretary, and Mr T. Palmer, president. Mr Wheeler is well aware of the fact that he cannot act for two clubs. Why chase it? No. s—ls Mr Wheeler man enough to inform me, as a member of the New Zealand Council, who authorised 1 the printing and the sending out of these proxy forms to a large number of clubs? These forms all contain the same headings, and had lie any assistants in this business? Will he publish the text of his covering to these clubs? “It would be a line gesture on his part.” No. G—Will the new president of the centre adjudicate on the following glaring incidents that happened at the last Centre annual meeting? Mr Knrton, who represented Tokoroa, was never unpointed as delegate at all, yet he,

attended the meeting and voted. On Mr Tyler’s own statement (Waikato Times, July 28) Mr Baker was appointed their delegate, and Is their delegate on the centre books. Again, Mr Hawken, of the Hamilton Club, holds a seat on the centre executive, and he is not a delegate for any club in tho centre. These are the most striking and glaring incidents ever recorded in the centre’s existence; yet Mr Tyler claims there were no irregularities. Candidly, frankly, I express the opinion that if it had not been for these Irregularities Mr Tyler would not he president of this centre at the present time. Without imputing anything against Mr Tyler, what service has he rendered to bowls or the game? I say In all seriousness, “None." And the very first meeting he ever attended of the centre he was (excuse tho term) rung in as president. It seems Incredible to me how Mr Tyler could allow, and accept, nomination for that oillce and lend himself to a party whose only consideration at that Lime was “Sunday tournamonts and squashing tho executive in oillce.” 1 leave Mr Tyler with the following lines to ponder over—When the last great “Scorer" comes To write against your name, Not what service you gave to bowls, But how you played the game. Further, Mr Mathieson attended as a delegate and was subsequently appointed to the executive. Mr Mathieson disclosed no authority for acting for Putaruru; ho may have held a proxy form, but did not band it in. How Mr Mathieson can represent Putaruru when Mr Frost, lias acted two years for them Is a poser. Can a

club change Its delegate every five minutes? There is only one rule recognised, and that Is our centre rule —the New Zealand rule also; a delegate must be appointed by Its olub at Its annual meeting. This is the only delegate who has any standing. Proxies have not been, and I hope never will be, recognised by our controlling body. Why, if there were no Irregularities, was It necessary for the new secretary of the centre to write to the various clubs asking for confirmation of the appointments? Surely this is another strange procedure. It Is quite apparent to the writer that someone saw the fly in the ointment and endeavoured to liido or cover up the propaganda that has been engaged In. The whole business is rotten to the core. Quoting Mr Wheeler on July G (Waikato Times): "It is appalling to think that such tactics are resorted to by high officials in such a game , as bowls, where sportsmanship and high Ideals so largely hold sway.” Tho writer’s answer to tho above is, judging by Mr Wheeler’s actions, he is the negation of the glorious sentiments expressed In ids letter. In coni elusion, the writer considers, In tho interest of justice, he should state a easo to the New Zealand Council why Mr Wheeler should not show cause for ills actions. Does Mr Wheeler realise that ho aimed a blow at the very foundation of our bowling constitution, propaganda that surely helps to destroy the loyalty and materially assists In dissipating that I which is so essential and necessary, the "unity’’ of our members? If wo cannot uplift our sport, let us not degrade it. Bidding Mr Wheeler adieu,

I do so with a few lines written by! the Immortal Bobby Burns: "Oh, would some power the glftle gie us, to see oorsel’s as Ithers see us." All the proofs of my statements id this letter have been forwarded to the secretary of the New ZealancJ Council at Dunedin.—l am, etc., H. N. PILKINGTON. Hamilton, July 31, 1933.