BOWLERS AT VARIANCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2675, 22 January 1916, Page 3

BOWLERS AT VARIANCE

AT DOMINION TOURNEY PRESIDENT & PROFESSOR

In the course of his remarks at the conclusion of tho Dominion Bowling Association's tournament at,' Christchurch, the-president,. Hr. Barnett (according to a Ohristohurch paper), said: "Ihavo been asked by Mr. jcJ. J. Hill, of the Wellington. Club, to make a small explanation on' his behalf. Mr. Hill found fault with a game which lie played last night in a green final in the singles. The game was one of 16 heads, wliveas .on ail other, greens similar games went tho full 21 heads.' Mr. Hill therefore felt a little annoyed at being defeated under conditions not imposed upon other players. The fact is_ that Mr. Hill was unaware of the position. The position, so far as the association is concerned, is this—as the la3t game could not interfere with any other games coming, later, the players were allowed to play 21 heads, by mutual consent. If ; they liked to agree to play .21 heads the association did not interfere with them. Mr. Hill was not aware of this, so he has asked me to make this explanation on his behalf.' "Now," 'continued Mr. Barnett, "I want to say ] a few things about Professor Maxwell Walker. Professor Walker is one of the best of fellows, and a groat bowler, and . every tune I have met him" I have received nothing but kindness from him. There is therefore nothing personal in what I am going to say regarding him. Professor Walker took it upon himself to bo interviewed by the newspapers, arid 1 take great exception to the remarks ne made concerning the carrying on of this tournament. He was - clearly responsible for tho conduct of the tournament equally with every other member of the executive. :

. "Some of the Professor's, statements were not correct. For instance, he said that in,the Auckland tournament every winner of seven games in tho singles was admitted, to the ties. - That was not the case. To take part. in the. finals, a, player had to bo a green winner, as in this case.

u "lf any bowler outside tie executive wished to criticise its actions, lie would bo justified in; doing so, but Professor Walker is in. the position of a Cabinet Minister, and should support through thick and thin the decisions of • the council.. The only excuse—l was going to say reason, lait it is not a reas.on— which Professor Walker can. have for making his remarks was that he was not at the meeting of the council. That is really an additional reason why he should support its decisions. In future I advise all centres to nominate delegates to the council who will be able to attend the meetings. Auckland was not represented at the first meeting of the council, at which" practically' all the_ rules for the tournament were decided on, although the Relegates put forward plenty of suggestions by letter. But thero is no use trying to do these things by letter, especially when there is a man like myself at the head of things. (Laughter.) Professor Walker states that lie has been treated kindly, by the bowlers, of Christchurch, and that i the weather was beautiful. I am glad that he appreciates our kindness, but I do not know that we are responsible for the weather. Perhaps we had better have a meeting about it. (Laughter.) In conclusion, let me say again, 'Get councillors who will attend the meetings.'" PROFESSOR.WALKER'S REPLY. Professor Maxwell Walker was given an opportunity to reply, and he thanked the president'for his courtesy in allowing it. "First of all," he said, "I should like to express, on behalf of the visiting bowlers,_ our pleasure at being amongst our- Christchnrch friends once more. The game of bowls in this age of commercialism is a little haven to which all can retire and forget the cares and worries of 1 the world. "I stand here as a culprit at the bar. (Laughter.) I find that on bowling greens there is a considerable difference of .opinion. Mr. Barnett and I differ as to how councillors should carry out their duties. Mr. Barnett thinks that a councillor is a man who goes to a meeting and then afterwards throughout the tournament becomes a cipher. I refuse absolutely to become a cipher, and lose my own individuality. • "I am not speaking in., criticism of 'Christchurch, but as a Dominion bowler, with a view to improving these tournaments, wherever they may be held. When I was asked to give my views I did not think it was my duty to keep .silent because I happen to be a member of the Executive' Council. On the other -hand, I thought it was my absolute duty to give my ideas. The Selection of Greens. "One of the matters I. referred' to was the selection of greens for the different sections. It must : be realised right from the beginning that tournaments of this kind are championship tournaments, and must be' conducted under championship conditions. (Hear, hear.) If you are going to put superior teams on inferior greens when others are available, you a.ro not carrying out the . rules. One'green used in this tournament, J-hold, was not a bowling green at.all, as it is only 98 feet long, which prevents any variation in the length of heads. Another I have heard referred to as the 'corkscrew green.''. I am dropping complimentary terms " Mr. Barnett: That's all right; go on. "I am dropping complimentary terms becauso I have in view the future good of tournaments iiv every town in.the Dominion. It is absolutely- essential that tho executive should pick only the best greens available. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Elimination.of Pairs. "With regard to . the pairs -competition, I think that it would be bettor if it were done away with altogether, bo that a greater portion of the time could be devoted to the essential part of the tournament', the fours competition. The pairs competition, as conducted at this tournament, was not a championship test at all. You cannot have a-cham-pionship game with 16 beads. Twentyone heads, no more and 110 less, constitute the gamf. of'bowls, and if you >lter the rules you make it, not a championship game, but merely a friendly 'roll up.' "I made this statement regarding the doubles competition on Saturday evening, and When I discovered on Monday morning that the same conditions were to be observed for the singles, 1 was absolutely amazed. Further, on sonio greens thero was a time limit. Sucil restrictions aro surely going to vitiatethe singles game. There is absolutely nothing in the,rulebook to denote that these conditions were to be imposed. As a member of tho council, I never heard of anything sf the kind. I was therefore more than surprised to find that the limit had been decided on on this very green between 4 and o o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Those calling tho meeting simply got together a few members of tho council who happened to be handy. Naturally, I protested against being made responsible for alterations to tho rules, which were made without giving me an opportunity to oppose them. (Hear, hear.) "llie point I_ wish to make is this —at .the beginning of the tournament thero was no talk of tho imposition of a time limit. Tho council did not meet as an executive committee. Those opposed to the proposal were not asked to attcud. A Meeting of Bowlers, "Mr. Bamett objects to my advocacy cf an annual meeting of the bowlers of

the Dominion at the tournament. That is tho essential difference between us. Wo should not, as a council, be afraid to meet our constituents. If wo did, it would bring about a greater harmony amongst bowlers. (Hear, hear.) A championship competition is a championship competition, and must be conducted under championship rules. That is the position, and no other. Mr. Barnett thinks that a member of tho council must lose his individuality, and must not speak in public in criticism of the council. A meeting of bowlers would_ bring that about. (Hear, hear.) I again thank the president for his courtesy in giving ine this opportunity to state my case." Professor Walker and Mr. Barnett then shook hands cordially, amidst loud applause.