A MATTER OF MATS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2323, 3 December 1914, Page 7

A MATTER OF MATS

A BOWLING QUESTION LIVELY DISCUSSION 'A meeting of the Wellington Bowling Club was held at the club's pavilion last evening to consider the vexed question embodied in the two-feet-on-the-mat rule adopted by the Dominion Bowling Association, which has been given effect to by most of the clubs in tins district. '. .Mr. E. Moult (president) occupied the chair, and briefly stated the object of the meeting. Mr. F. Marshall thought that the new rule .made for -uniformity in style, and, quoting'a circular issued by Mr. W. J. Thompson, stated that he did not think that the old style of bowling from a small mat with .only one foot on the mat was an incentive to grace or betterment of the game. He moved: —"That as the Dominion Bowling Association has decided that players shall deliver their bowls with a portion of two feet, or two feet on the mat, and as tho Dominion Association, in its wisdom has seen fit to 'make this request, and as the Wellington Centre is represented by delegates on the council in whom tho Wellington Club has the utmost confidence, this meeting of the Bowling Club decides to instruct the delegates to loyally abide by its decision, and abide by the rule in all games, interclub, pennant, friendly, and practice." Mr. A. Veitch seconded the motion: He said that the question had been submitted to the Wellington Centre, and had been passed by that body. The Wellington Club had been largely instrumental in bringing about the existence of the' Dominion Association, and he thought it was only right and proper that it should be loyal to the body that now controlled bowling in New Zealand. Mr. W. J. Thompson moved as an amendment:—"That the Wellington Bowling Club does not approve of the rule recently passed by the Dominion Bowling Association which reads:—'That the player, while delivering his bowls, must have a portion , or the whole of both feet on the mat.'" Mr. Marshall protested that this was a direct negative, which objection the chairman upheld; • , Mr. J. D. Seivwright moved ae an amendment: —"That the old rule of one foot on the mat bo reverted to." Mr. Erskine seconded the amendment, and expressed his belief that the change made was a violent one. .Mr. E. J. Hill (chairman of the Wellington Centre) said that the new rule would have to bo played to this year. They had placed members on the council of the association, and they should show respect to the association, which only, had the best interests of bowling at heart. Mr. F. - L&urenson favoured the amendment. The two-feeixin-the-mat idea had only cropped up since visits had been paid to Australia. " Mr. W. Tanner wont into the Tiistory of the game at some length to prove that the mat was only used to mark the starting place of tho bowl, and adopting that thesis argued learnedly 'in tavour of one foot on the mat. Mr. Thos. Ballinger said that • the club, should havo been consulted] before the new rule wa6 adopted. Mr. Thos. Bush said that as a.mem,ber of ;tho council of the association, ho could say that tho council had only made this rule in the interests of bowling, and that instead of the council being abused it should be commended for/drawing up a constitution in which only one law was taken exception to. There wero several othor speakers who dealt with the matter. / On a vote being taken the amendment was carried by 39 votes to 12, and on it being made the substantive motion was carried on the voices.