WINTON NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21097, 31 May 1930, Page 5

WINTON NOTES

PROPOSED NEW BOWLING GREEN.

(From Our Correspondent.)

A general meeting of the Winion Bowling Chib “was held on Tuesday evening to discuss the proposed new green; the president, Mr M. Driscoll, .was in the chair, and' 21 members were present.

The Town Clerk, Winton, wrote stating that the application from the club for permission to form a bowling green on the railway reserve behind the memorial gates had been considered at the last meeting of the council. If the club could show reasonable prospects of carrying on successfully on the proposed site, the request would be granted on the understanding that no improvements were to be effected without the consent of the council. Mr F. Tilley reported that he had gone into the matter and obtained the services of Mr J. B. Perks, a bowling green expert, Gore, and in company with Mr Perks and a nufnber of the Bowling Club members the proposed site for. the green had been inspected. Mr Perks, had just finished laying down a green at Mt Cook, and he was certain that his opinion was one that could be followed. Mr 'Riley read a report by Mr Perks stating that he had inspected the site of the proposed new green, and he considered it a .most convenient one. Mr Perks advised that the area be ploughed as soon-as possible to a depth of about 6in, and then fallowed until about January next, as this made much better soil for the construction of a green, otherwise the best of the soil would have to be skinned off and put in for a bank. The probable cost of making the green with a filter bed of 6in of gravel would be £lBO. Further details of the necessary work could be supplied when required. Mr J. R.’ Hamilton also reported that he was present when Mr Perks .inspected the green, and he was certain that the bowling green expert was satisfied with the site. He considered that the matter of cost see'med to be the main objection to the new green, and he thought that if the 6in filter of gravel could be done without, there would be only labour required. He considered that the club members could supply this. Mr Hamilton stated that' he was quite willing and prepared to plough and fallow the green for the club. Mr J. B. Cowie said that as far as he could see, the cost of the green was the only objection and he thought that, the money could . be raised. Mr Hamilton said that the matter of finance should not be the stumbling block, but the object of the members should be to make the club successful. He thought that if the proposed green was decided , upon, the present membership' would be

doubled, and the club would be far easier financed. Mr Hamilton added that if the present green was to be continued in the same manner there would eventually be no club at all. The president stated that the club membership has been the same for the last ten years, and if the new green was decided upon the club would be changing over from a free green and there would be no guarantee as to the membership on the new green. Mr Tilley said that if the membership had been the same for ten years there would be a big influx of members if a change was made and the future success of the club could be depended upon. He considered that if a vote was taken the majority should rule, but the matter was entirely for the club to decide. The secretary suggested that a vote be taken and the members go with the majority and be unanimous about the matter. The president expressed the opinion that a vote could not be taken as a notice of motion was required. Mr H. A. Pierce stated that the meeting should not be held up for the sake of five members.

Mr E. Ward said that the meeting was to decide whether ballot-papers were to be sent out or not, and he moved that ballotpapers be sent to all members so that they could express their opinion. Mr N. Metzger stated that the” council wanted some finality as to the club’s intentions, for if the Bowling Club was not going to form a green on the reserve the council had other proposals. A secret vote was taken, and it was decided to send voting papers to all absent members. Letters were received from the Rovers Basketball Club and the Winton Basketball Club asking for permission to use the green as a basketball court if it was deserted. The latter club also asked for a quotation for improvements (lights and pavilion, etc.), the property of the Bowling Club. No action was taken in the matter, the letters being held over in the meantime.