THE DOMINION BOWLERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 194, 11 May 1908, Page 8

THE DOMINION BOWLERS.

>— FUNCTION AT THE WELLINGTON glus. RECOMMENDATIONS BY BOWLING CONFERENCE. Tho • Dominion Lowlirig representatives, who have just concluded a tour of Australia, passed through Wellington on Saturday, and w'ore accorded a hearty wclcomo at the Wellington Club's pavilion during tho aftefnooii. Originally twenty-nino bowlers left New Zealand, but one died and . a number returned home via South, leaving only nineteen to complcto tho tour as originally mapped out (i.e., returning via Auckland and playing matches at all ports of call). The team only included ono representative from this city, Mf. Thompson, of the Wellington Bowling Club, who informed a Dominion representative that ho had had tho time of his life. At the Wellington Club's pavilion Mr. Inos. Grundy, acting-president, accorded tho visitors a hearty welcome home. Ho referred to tile fine record they had put up in Australia; and voiced tho goncral opinion that they had upheld the honour of tho Dominion in no ordinary manner. He was" -sorry chat the weather had prevented them playing, in Wellington,' fof lie would have liked them to-taste tho quality of tho Club's green, hut that would not prevent them tasting the Club's hospitality. ■ He had'much pleasure in proposing the-health of tho Dominion representatives. This was dono with musical honours. > - ' Mr. Waddell, president of tho team, in respondingmadp referenco to the hospitality they had met everywhere and tho success tho team had achieved in Australia, At tho Bowling Conference, which he had attended, soveral matters of interest. to all bowlers were discussed. As far as tho length of. the green was concerned all the delegates, with tho exception of those from Victoria, had agreed to_ tho recommendation J that tho greens used in test matches should not bo more than 120 ft. in length. He had pointed out how obviously unfair it was for New Zealand bonders to' play , test matches on greens 155 ft. or 160 ft. long, instead of on greens 110 ft. or 120 ft, in length, . to which they wore accustomed. The mat question was also discussed, and lie said that lie had had to concede that'they wero right in Australia, and that- a part' of both feet 'should be oil the mat, when the bowl wi\s delivered, instead of only a part of ono foot, as is .usually tho'case in, New Zealand. 'With, a 3ft. Gin. or 4ft. mat it would bo quito. possible'to mako the step-forward in delivering tho'bowl and still/keep part of both feet on tho mat—it was only .a matter of the -sizo of mats. 1 All , those who had played in Scotland knew that tho greens were turfed, and could, stand tho wear, but - hero in New Zealand.' where they had. sown greens; they should be more' careful. The.. Conference had also ' decided to . recommend that an Australasian championship be held;! tjlie matches to bo. played in .Sydney. -Melbourne,' and ; Now ) Zealand -in turn. This would ensuro a .visit, of Australian bowlers at loast onon every three years.. • ' Mr. .Waddeil, in concluding his remarks, proposed tho health of the Wellington crs, which was drunk- witlv enthusiasm, and. fol.lowotl ,it up with the team's strenuous Maori war-cry, .which- 'had' been .esr>"cially. composed fov- the' tour, bv Mr. Charles Parata, of Wellington, and which had proved a star "turn"-thi-oufhout tho trip. A number, of local, bowlers saw the Wimmera off. at .4 p^m., : when-once more tliti bowlers'-gaye,' their formidable wnr-crv, and were rcrapbii-ally replied to from the Queen's Wharf by Mr. Parata. AN EXPLANATION. \ Tho writer has ■ been given to' understand that some of the local clubs-felt' a little soro at the action of tho. Wellington Club'in taking upon . .itself the entertaining and play with the visiting 'team of representative bowlers, who passed through Wellington on Saturday. The position is very explained. There is a Wellington' Bowling Centre, composed of.: r rep^csentat , ive?' l of,,airtho clubs,! and. it was. tliat body's, duty to take the matter up; of arranging, a function' of somo description in/cpnncctibn with the visit to Wellington of th^'riprdserit'ative'team which lias done so well in Australia. As there was no direct 'or, ; indirect • evidence :-that tho' Centre was moving in the matter, the directors of tho Wellington Club (as tho senior club in,tho city) decided that it was tlieir duty to do the visitors honour, and arrangements were 1 made to that end. Under the present circumstances action on the part'of tho combined clubs could' only emanate from tho Cciitro. ' ' " ■ '<