BOWLS CONGRESS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2883, 22 September 1916, Page 3

BOWLS CONGRESS

• 1 . /] THE COMING TOURNAMENT DOMINION ASSOCIATION MEETS. The first'meeting of tlio newty-olecfc-ed council of tlio Dominion Bowling .Association- was lield yesterday. Thero wore present: Gol. It. J. Collins (president), Messrs. C. Russell Smith (vicepresident), T. Bush (Wanganui and Hawko's Bay), E. J. Hill (Wellington), M. M'Callum (Auckland), H.. F. Mercer, J. J. Marlow, and "W. Nicholson (Dunedin), M. F. Barnett (Christohurch), J. J. Roberts (secretary), and A. E. Fowler (treasurer). In opening the meeting, Col. R. J. Collins returned thanks for the honour done liiin in electing him president for the year, and he also wished to con-gratulate-tho gentlemen who had been elccted to tho council. Mr. C. R. Smith, vice-president, congratulated Colonel Collins on [icing appointed president. Messrs. M. M'Callum and T. Bush also offered their congratulations to tho new president. Tho first business was tho elcotion of secretary. It was proposed by Mr. M'Callum> that Mr.. J.' .7. Roberts, of Wellington, be appointed seciotary. This was unanimously agreed to, and tho president heartily congratulated Mr. Roberts on his appointment, and complimented him on liis ability and tact, assuring him that ho was tho right niacin the right place. - Mf. C. Russell Smith also congratulated Mr. Roberts, and said that South Island players knew of Mr. Roberts's ability and knew they were perfectly safe in his hands. The president stated that the membership levy of 3d. had brought in £130 last yoar, and the association had £152 in the bank. Ho moved, and 'it was adopted, that tho levy bo 3d. this year. A Patriotic Tournament. It .was decided, on tho motion of Mr. T. Bush, that the Dominion Association tournament be a patriotic tournament, the net profit to go to ( soma fund to be dccided upon later on. , . Following up this decision Mr. 13. .J. Hill said that he liad a suggestion to make which he thought might moan tho raising of £100() for patriotic pur-, poses. This, lie contended, would bo a united effort on the part of tho whole bowling community of-Now Zealand, not'a Wellington or a tournament effort, but one in which thoy. would havo tho assistance of every club in the Dominion. Then the proportion of subscription could either bo given to any local fund tho club or centre concerned might nominate, or to ono big fund 1 . He had spoken to many people concorning the idea, and; had! agreed that it was a sound one. Ho, personally," had had a good deal to .do Tyiffi such entertainments, and' he was prepared to put his best energies into tho effort, and ho was sure that ho would get enthusiastic support in Wellington. ' ' ■ . Mr. Hill was' supported! cordially by Messrs. M'Callum, Marlow,- and Barnett, who promised to do all in their power to interest tho clubs in.the projects ... . ! Mr. Hill's idea is that the proposal should culminate in a monster entertainment. to bo given at the Town Hall during tho association's tournament in January nest. Comprehensive Programme. Coming to the important matter of' tho programme for tne January .tournament, Mr. E. J. Hill proposed that, 8s • tho tournament' was. to : pe"a: patriotic tournament, the programme consist of championship rinks, doubles, and singles. Ho, personally, would bo satisfied With rinks, but his friends from the north were very keen on doubles and, in the south must have their singles. He also thijuglit that the tournament should, commence on January •i—the middle of the week—instead of the - following Monday, in ort3er that the doubles and kingles could be got off on tho first tlireo days, leaving the following Week clear for the rinks. • Afte'r a discussion it was decided that the Dominion tourney should commence on Monday, January 8, and that ( the programme consist of rinks, doubles, and singles. It was decided that the doubles. should commence on Monday, January 2, singles on January 9, and rinks on January ll. 1 -' - . / Match Conditions. The scheme of play, outlined by tha_ secretary and adopted was as follows:' Doubles. —To be played in sections of four, 16 heads; section winners and ties to go into the finals. Final game, 21 Ijeads. Singles.—To bo played on the two-life system, 16 heads; final game, 21= heads. Champion Rinks.—To be played in sections of ten; three games of 21 heads to bp played each day. Rinks scouring wins equal ; to wins scored by any section-winners or ties for first place, to remain in the competition. These to be formed into sections of four, and to play three games of 21 heads. Rinks securing wins equal to wins scored by any section winner or ties for first place to plav off on tho Tuesday on the sudden-death principle, Rinks securing the greatest number of wins during the four days' play to have preference in byes (if any). I No Time Limit. Mr. M'Callum (Auckland) wished to know whether a time limit was to. bo imposed on any of tho matches. Ho was. aware that none was intended to bo imposed at the last tournament, in Christchurch, yet tho umpire on ono green made a time limit. Mr. T. Bush moved that there bo no time limit. This was agreed to, with the proviso (proposed- by Mr. Marlow) that tho executive have power to impose a timo limit should a game be unduly. prolonged. Executive-Tournament Committee. On the motion of tho. president, tho Wellington members of the council were appointed tho executive. Tho president moved that the Tournamont Committee consist of tho mem•bors of the council of the association, and such other members as tho council may appoint. Ho stated that tho intention was to appoint tho president of the local centro (Mr. Frank Meadowcroft) to bp a member, an honour which ho thought only right and proper. This was'agrecd to. Standard Certificate for Centres. Mr. M. C. Barnett staled that at last year's meeting of tho council it had been decided that it was advisableto havo a standard certificato for centres issued ,undor the authority of tho association, and that tho certificates that had been issued independently by Cpntrcs bo called in. Ho Ijad given a good deal of attontion to tho matter, and submitted tho design of a proposed standard certificato for tho approval of the council. This certificate contained three cut-out spaces, which were to bo ' filled , in by (1) tho name of the centre, (2) a photograph of tho winner, or a "snap" of the game,- and (3) a card bearing tho namo of the tournament, mat-ch, and winner. It also boro tlie. namo-sign prominently, "Now Zealand Bowling Association." This, it was pointed out by tlio president, was wrong, and -would have to bo altered to the "Dominion of Now Zealand Bowling Association." Thero was somo littlo opposition to approving tho design on tho grounds that somo of : the Contres. had stocks of'their own on hand, which had cost •

a good deal of money. Finally, Mr. Marlow (Duncdin) moved that tho design, with the necessary alterations, bo approved, and that thoy be supplied to those Contros which needed them. As that would allow Centres to nso up their own certificates first it was agreed to. Medals for Champions. Winners of last year's championships at Christchurch are to bo informed that the winners may havo the association's medals on paying for them. Tho reason of this decision ivas that winners wero not awarded medals at the Jasfc' tournament, it having been decided that certificates only bo awarded on tho' grounds of patriotic economy. Representation on Centres. ' Some discussion took placo on a letter received from the Centre, asking on behalf of the Newtown Club for an interpretation of tho rule dealing with delogato representation on the Centre. Thq Centre has ruled that the Newtown Club should bo represented by ono delegate or by one delegate for every forty members, though that one delegate is allowed tlio voting strength of ono dolegate for every forty members. It was hold that the matter was purely ono for tho Centre, and they .had acted in aqcordanco with the rules of tho association. Bowl-Testing. Contros aro to bo asked.for reports on tho work of tne bowl-testers in tho various districts, such reports to bo furnished to tho association by tho end of the year. t Two Feet on the Mat. Tho Southland wrote, mentioning that the two-i'eet-on-the-mat Paw had been generally observed by. that Centre, but when they attended tournaments thoy found tho law ignored, and they wished a direction on tho matter. Tho Dunediu Centre also wrote, urging that this law bo enforced. •. This matter was .also introduced by Mr. C. Russell Smith, who said it was a highly contentious question, but ono they should face. There w,cre tlireo things they/conld do. Ono was •to rescind tho law, another was to laavo' things as they were, and another was to imposo a ponalty_ for its infringement. After consideration, lib thought that thoy might leavo things as they were. It was perhaps a mat-, tor of evolution. In tlio south tho rule had come to stay, and it bad many adherents in the North Island. The opposition to-the rule, bo thought, camo from a small section of tournament players, who fancied they wore losing something. Mr. K. J. HUI was an ardent supporter of tho rule, but found when they went to Auokland that it was not being observed, and he realised that it migbt imposo a slight hardship on old players. Perhaps it would bo bettor to- lot things go as thoy" were, but he strongly advocated ' that a penalty should be imposed where players did not keep tho wholo of one foot on the mat.. ; After further discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Mr. Marlow, tq. .request Centres to see that tho rulo lis -observed, and that they ask clubs to provide tho regulation mats. It was decided that three members of'a clftb unable to get a fourth to mako up a rink should bo permitted to select a player from another club under exceptional cirfcumstanccs (under permission from tho association). Permission was granted to ythe Dunedin Centre to hold a doublos tournament at Christmas, in addition to their annual tournament at Easter. Mr. M'Callum gave notice of motion thaf a permanent' secretary, resident in Wellington, bo .appointed, same to be considered at the next annual "meeting. Votos of thanks wero passed to the Wellington Club for the uso of the pavilion and the hospitality afforded, and Mr. Nicholson moved a hearty vote of thanks to tho president for presiding. ~ 1 BOWLERS ENTERTAINED A PLEASANT EVENING; The members of the council of tho Dominion Bowling Association, 'Wellington Centre, and the presidents of the various local .fclubs wero entertained by Mr. Frank Meodowcroft (president of the local centre) at his residence 'in Mount Street last evening as a wind-up to tho first mooting of tho council in Wellington. During the -evening Mr. Meadowcroft took the occasion to /toast the Dominion Association, coupled with the name of the: president (Colonelß. J; Collins). In doing so he congratulated Colonel Collins on being' elected president, and said that it was their desire and 1 intention of making tho coming tournament the 'finest that has ever been held in New Zealand. Colonel Collins said ho was j>roud of the honour done him. The association was originally a Wellington proposal, and they were all pleased that it had come about, as it nnited all bowlers in the Dominion. Tho association had been in existence now for four years, but the first meeting in Wellington had been held that day. The. first had been held in Duncdin, then in Auckland and Christchurch, and Wellington'had come in last. It was their intention to try and make the tournament here the best in New Zealand, and they meant to work to that end. 1 At' the conclusion of-1 lie gathering Mr. C. Russell Smith (of Duncdin) expressed the thanlre of tie visitors for the manner they had been entertained by tho ohairman of tho Wellington Centre, .and lie was sure that in his hands tho centre would continue to bo one of the most progressive in tho Dominion. Ho also returned thanks for the manner in which they had been treated ever since thoy had arrived in Wellington. The harmony of . the , evening was contributed to by Messrs. E. J. Hill, H. Woods, and Geo. Holloway. Mr. Norman Aitken recited, and Mr. Marcus Marks told a few humorous, stories. To-day the visitors will be taken for a motor' drive round tho City and suburbs, and during the afternoon they will play a game of bowls on tho Hutt Club's groen. , v