CRUCIAL TIME.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 14

CRUCIAL TIME.

IN THE HISTORY OF BOWLS, (By "Jack,") It is only tho few who are aware, perhaps, of the present crisis in tho administrative history of bowls in New Zealand. Thero aro some 1200 bowlors in Wellington alone, .and as this fino old game flourishes, not only in every city, but in every town and village an New Zealand tho question of tho central control must havo a certain interest. Tho position, in a nutshell, is that after years of more or less vague talk, tho Northern Bowling Association (North Island) and tho New Zealand Bowling Association (South Island) camo closo together on tho question at tho N.B.A. tournament held in Wellington a year ago last January, and subsequently got to closo quarters at the conference held in Christchurch a few months ago. Tho stage now reaohed is a crucial one. It appears as the result of negotiations that it was decided that tho amalgamation of tho associations should take effect as fro)n September 1 next, and that as a basis of operations tho Executive Council should consist of five representatives from_ onch island; that the country should be divided into centres (for the control of local bowling affairs and tournaments), nnd that as tho nucleus of a fund aiation should pay in the sum of If there is a rock on which tlie good ship Amalgamation is going to split it will be this question of money. Eighty per cent, cf howlers aro Scotch, or of Scots origin, and ..though many of them aro personally generous to a fault, they .look oannily at any proposal to put down a large sum unless they havo a "pull" on it of some kind.

But though the money trouble _ is a point to to overcome, the real point is whether tho Auckland Provincial Association should rank as an association in respcct to tho proposed monetary contribution!. In 'Wellington_ the howling fraternity have only recognised two asso- ■ ciatioiis—the N.B.A. and N.Z.A.—and have classified tho Auckland "Association" as a centre only. But in the south, Auckland's claim to 1m an association lias been rccojnised, and it was a Dunedin representative who suggested that Auckland should bo taken at its own value, and should, in launching the amalgamation, bo given its full rights, and so ask«d to contribute the 6amo amount as the other associations. When, however, it camo to a .money proposition, Auckland declined flatly to pay the contribution suggested, and so justified Wellington's attitude in placing the "association" as a centre merely. As a matter of fact, the nmalgamationists in Wellington do not think that' Auckland should bo asked to pay tho same amount as the other two associations, or any amount at all. What is suggested in a friendly way is that tho two big associations should pay in the sum of ,£75 to a fund, which would be augmented by an annual feo from each centra in the Dominion, and that clubs should pay an annual fee to tho centre to which they belong. Whilst many consider amalgamation a desirable thing in the interest of bowls, thero are others who are inclined to believo that the combination of tho two islands with tend to unweildliness, mid that -there is bound to be a deal of conflict between northern and southern players respecting trifling differences in tho rules, and that, anyhow, the Northern Bov,-ling Association was a very well-conducted and happily-constituted body, whoso tournaments gave the maximum of pleasure to all concerned. This latter is conceded by all who have played under the banner.of the N.8.A.,, and thero is consolation in tho thought that even if the amalgamation does not take place at all, wo can revert to tho -existing order of tilings. ' The advantages of one administrative head are many. Eepresent-ation is one of the chief elements that makes the union desirable. At present rinks go abroad to Australia and England belonging to this or that association, but they cannot really bo said to. represent New Zealand (though they frequently, do f.o), and tho ge.mes w*hich they may play 011 tour lose in importance. Similarly, if Australian or English rink parties visit New Zealand—and rinks aro coming from both

Australia and England nest summer—arrangements have to be made with cacli association, instead of with the one central body which would be the case were amalgamation to happen. Taking even the most pessimistic view the scheme is worth a three-j'ear trial. As far as the centres of the North Island, as outlined at a recent meeting of the Council of the N.8.A., aro concerned, they have practically been agreed to. Tho only town which demurred at the proposed arrangement was Dannevirke, which has prepared a request to be included in tho Manawatu Centre rather than in the East Coast (which centre takes in Napier and Gisborne). That has been readily acceded. Now the centres aro appointing their councils. When that has been done, tliey will bo asked to appoint fivo delegates for the North and-five for the South Islands, and having elccted them—and only the best men should be elected—a convenient dale .and place will bo npnointod for tlie first meeting of tlio Executivo Council. This will make all ready for tho big swing-off on September 1. In tho meantime Wellington bowlers are waiting to learn what view southerners (and in particular, the Dunedin m[n) take of the Auckland Association's rofusal to contribute to tho intiatory fund. If Dunedin sticks to tho idea that Auckland should shell out, thero is a very great chance of the amalgamation going up in smoke, in which case Canterbury might be induced to work in with Wellington and Auckland, and so "freeze" Otago out of the joke altogether. No one wants to do it, but in order to get' a strong united body, tho suggestion •is a contingency which Otago and Southland should consider seriously;