BOWLING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 99, 29 December 1913, Page 7

BOWLING.

Local b6wjers are having a good time on the green these days, the past week having provided ideal weather. Heal sociable gamqs are the order 01 the day, even the little added responsibility of the Buttons or Feathers being absent. The green was floodeti after the week's dry spell, and it should be in capital playing condition for the present week. Writes "Jack" in the Otago Daily Times: Bowlers should bear in mind the fact that entries for the forthcoming association tournament in Dunedin close on Saturday, January 3. I T p tiit noon on. Wednesday the entries received were 32 rinks, 76 pairs, and 70 singles. Among those who have entered are last year's champion rink—namely, Wolff, of-the United Club, Christchurch, —rinks from Greenmeadows (Crowley, Napier), Petone, Te Kakaha (Nelson), etc. Invercargill bowlers have entered freely, and Hain, Lillicrap, and others intend to make a bold bid for the championship. At least two rinks are expected from Auckland, and Messrs Collins, Burks Veitch, and Roberts have engaged room's, but whether these four will play as one rink, or bring other players with them, is not yet definitely known. As the Railway Department and the Union Company are making concessions to bowlers, a very large entry is expected. ' The arrangements for the entertaining of Visiting bowlers are well forward: On Saturday. January 10th, there will be an official reception of visiting bowlers on the St. Kilda Green, the St. Kilda Club boing the one of which the president (Mr Marlow) is a member. The rinks matches will commence on Monday, 12th. January. In the evening as many visitors as can attend will be entertained in the Otago Club's pavilion. On Tuesday the evening entertainment will be in the Dunedin Club's pavilion. A smoke concert will be held on Thursday evening in either the Arti Gallery or the Otago Early. Settlers' Hall. As usual, visitors will be admitted free. On-Friday evening the entertainment will'be at the Caledonian Club's pavilion. If will thus be seen that a strenuous effort is to be made to give the visitors a good time of it.

A full meeting-of the council of the. Dominion of New Zealand Bowling As-' soeiat'ion is to'be held in Duriediii on January 14, when it is expected'thai for the first time the.whole of the members will be present. The .suggested alterations in the constitution and laws of. the game" will be considered, and probal>ly dealt with finally. The wisdom of dealing with such important matters during tournament week is doubtful. The season is now so far advanced that time is- not an immediate object, and it is advisable to adopt, "festina lente"-'as "a* motto in such important matters: In this connection it might be pointed out that, if possible, some attempt should be made to make the laws of. the game uniform in Australia and Now Zealand. Some three or• four years ago, after, a conference between-representatives of the Australian and 1 New Zealand Bowling Associations, the Ta.ws were -altered so as to make them 'practically ivriiform. Ko.w.that, further alterations. are ; proposed, it is desirable that: the Australian Association should be consulted t;o ascertain h6w far that association is prepared to go with the New Zealand Association.

A much more urgent matter so,far as New Zealand is concerned is the coming to ft definite decision, over the matter of bowl-testing. Now that New Zealand is under/one governing body, it is absolutely necessary that there should be a uniform system of testing bowls, and the sooner the question is : taken in hand the better. Wellington members appear to piii their" faith to the table test,, while Dunedin\men', who have tried the table and'green test, are convinced that the latter is the most' reliable when the operator is efficient. However that may 'be, it is essential that there should be one standard- for the whole, of "the Dominion.