THE CONTROL OF BOWLING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 10

THE CONTROL OF BOWLING.

Sir,—ln yesterday morning's Dominion there appears an articlo on tho remodelling of the constitution of tho Northern Howling Association. Tho inauguration of the Wellington Centre and its efficient management of several tournaments havo demonstrated to the Northern Bowling Association that local tournaments can be conducted successfully on less extravagant lines than the tournament held under the auspices of the association. It is now proposed to form centres in various districts throughout the North Island, under which'groups of clubs-would hold tournaments under the management of local centres. These tournaments would in no way interfere with the tournaments held by the N.8.A., but it is feared that the formation of centres by, groups of clubs would lessen the influence of tho N.8.A., and lessen tho prestige of some mctrolpolitan clubs. The rise and institution of bowling centres has been, and is, severely deprecated by a section of the N.8.A., and every obstacle has been thrown in the way of. centre promoters to minimise their success. It is, however, the success of tho centre movement and the fear that tho N.B.A. would bo obscured, and relegatod that has led to n desire to remodel the association's constitution', and utilise the centres to galvanise its obsolete and dead tissues and absorb the centre movement as its' vitalising force. It should recogise that if it is to remain as a governing body, its powers of government must bo limited mainly to tho larger tournaments, and that it must allow tho local centres, or groups of clubs, to conduct local tournaments as the managing committees of tho various centres may themselves determine.

In a general way the Northern Bowling Association is tho supreme governing body for the North Island, and all clubs may bi affiliated under its banner, bnt if it is to continuo even this function, it must leave clubs and groups of eluba forming centres to conduct their own local affairs, subject, of course, in a general way, to its bowling rules. Given self-government to centres, there in no necessity for tho remodelling of the association's constitution, if that romcielling means tho government of all local subdistricts or centres from Wellington (its it assuredly will if tho proposed constitution is adopted).'

Bowlers and active members arc convinced that this.remodelling is not being dono in the bust interests of bowling. It is being dono with a view to weaken, if not destroy, the centre movement, and to utiliso the energetic and unpaid officials of centres to do the work of the paid official of the association. It might be asked: Who is the governing body of tho N.Ti.A.? It is u wcll-knowi. fact that it is chiefly composed of members of the Wellington Club, nominated by favour. The N.Ii.A. may therefore be said to bo the Wellington Bowling Club. Now, m contrast to this, who is the body of the Wellington Centre ? Every club in Wellington and suburbs is equally represented.

Having thus secured thorough representation on a body conducting local affairs of the local clubs to the advantage of bowlers as a whole, are Ihn bowlers or their clubs likely to allow their work as members of the centre to be annulled and their usefulness annihilated by a practically self-appointed body of bowlers virtually representing one club, and calling themselves the Northern Bowling Association? A brief examination of the proposed constitution will show to what extent tho Northern Bowling Association is prepared to go in an attempt to annihilate the centre. It is to be hoped that in tho interests, of the centre movement, and tho thorough independence and '. self-govern-ment of local clubs, tho bowlers throughout the North Island will so exert themselves as to safeguard tho interests of both their clubs and the centres.—l am, etc., FAIRWAY.