ON THE GREEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 56, 28 May 1927, Page 14

ON THE GREEN

Bowls and Bowlers

(By JACK HIGH.) The annual delegates’ meeting of the Auckland Centre of the Dominion of New Zealand B.A. will take place on June 28 in the Chamber of Commerce, Auckland. Before that date, however, all the annual meetings of the respective clubs in the centre are required to be completed, and the delegates elected and instructed by their clubs in matters which are to be discussed at that meeting. Regret has been frequently expressed by those who realise the possibilities to be gained by such discussion, that this golden opportunity afforded in this truly representative gathering is not more freely used. It is unfortunately customary that after the genera! business is dispensed with and the election of officers for the ensuing year is completed, that the meeting is regarded as finished. It may, however, be pointed out that there is presented a splendid opportunity for proposals to be tabled, which embody in their nature the character of collective effort on behalf of the prosperity of all the clubs in the centre. This is the great opportunity that is overlooked repeatedly. This is the time to more intimately come together upon the many important matters of vital interest, collective concern, and the mutual welfare of bowling. CHAMPION FOURS This year the Carlton Club was the first to hold their annual meeting. This took place on Thursday evening. The affairs of this club are indeed in a happy and prosperous condition. The club is clearly treading the high road of rich prosperity. This season the Epsom Club introduced the open champion rink competition to its members. The innovation was a complete success. Carlton has now followed suit in this respect. To encourage this almost necessary competition in his club, Mr. J. M. Thomson has donated the sum of eight guineas as a prize, and the contest is now added to the list of club contests. There is no doubt that such a competition is entirely in the interests of progress in the game. The Wellington Centre has for many years held a champion of champion rinks competition, which has been regarded there as the blue ribbon of rink competition among the clubs. The champion rink is found in each club and the Wellington Centre arrange to find -the champion of champion rink in May each year. 0 Now that the Carlton and Epsom Clubs are finding their champion rinks, it might be rightly regarded as the forerunner to a similar competition in Auckland. Probably this was at the back of Mr. Thomson’s mind when he made the proposal to his club. Now that it has been introduced it may reasonably be hoped for a similar extension to the system adopted in Wellington. “HONOURS OF THE CHASE”

Mr. J. M. Thomsojj and Mr. George Gladding attended Carlton’s annual meeting in two capacities. They are both personally members of uhis club and the Centre Executive. However, in the latter capacity, as members of the Centre Executive they had a pleasing duty to perform in presenting the handsome silk pennant, that accompanies the Auckland Centre Banner, to the winners, Messrs. Clarkson, Coutts, Ball and Truscott; also the certificates to the members of this team.

The certificates to the winners of the Executive Fours competition, Messrs. Brittain, Rowe, Kilgour, Perry, were also presented on the same occasion.

It is interesting to note that the members of the Carlton Club were sounded on their opinion in respect to their individual interest in the vexed question of the Centre Pennant competition. As this club can be rightly considered as having the strongest all-round playing membership in Auckland, the decision and how it was received is worthy of prominence. By a majority of six they decided to support the continuance of the competition. At the same time it is interesting to note that the executive was unanimously in favour of its discontinuance, and friendly inter-club competitions arranged on those dates occupied by the Pennant competition. Now that this big question is opened up by such a powerful club as Carlton, similar tests of opinions will be worthy of note at the annual meetings of other clubs.

After considerable pressure, Mr. James Pascoe, president of the Auckland Centre, has again consented to allow his name to go forward for reelection in that office. The announcement will be hailed widely with ex-

treme satisfaction and pleasure. Mr. Pascoe has been an ideal president. That a man of such marked ability is available again to grace this important and high office in bowling in Auckland can be regarded as a complete gain to the sport. If elected, this will be Mr. Pascoe’s third term as president of the Auckland Bowling Centre.

In allowing himself to be nominated for this position, Mr. Pascoe has done so conditionally that Mr. Gladding also allows himself to be nominated as secretary for the ensuing year. It will be obviously seen, therefore, that Mr. Pascoe has the keenest appreciation of the outstanding abilities of Mr. Gladding in the office as secretary of the Auckland Centre. Such opinion is not exclusive to Mr. Pascoe. It may rightly and safely be contended that such conviction is widely expresed by every individual bowler who has had the pleasure of coming in contact with the work of the secretary of the Auckland Bowling Centre. FINE RECORD OF SERVICE There are two important officers who are retiring from that body. They are Mr. Arthur Parsons and Mr. C. W. Garrard. Both these gentlemen have served long terms of excellent work. Mr. Parsons has been on the Auckland Centre Executive since 1918, no less than nine consecutive years. While Mr. Garrard has similarly a record of seven years.

Mr. Parsons feels that he has a stronger call in his club (Ponsonby) to his personal services. The Ponsonby Club has not been quite so successful either in competition or in club progress that it was a few years ago. Mr. Parsons’ preference therefore to help his club and leave the administration of the centre’s affairs in other hands can be considered as most laudable.

Mr. Garrard has accepted a new position in his professional life. This will entail his absence from Auckland at long intervals, hence his retirement. . _ GATE-MONEY FOR FINALS

Mr. George Rudd, that dashing young Auckland player, has taken up residence in Melbourne for the time being. He sends some interesting news as to the progress of the game in that city.

The Australian Bowling CarnivaJ is to be held in Melbourne next Christmas. When the finals of these championships were played in Sydney last year, the attendance was estimated at no less than between 4,000 and 5,000 spectators. The question is being raised that the time has arrived when a charge can reasonably be made to see important bowling matches and arrange suitable seating accommodation. It is estimated that out of the huge attendance only about 600 actually saw the games. The proposal is that suitable stands be erected, the spectators given a good view of the game, and a charge made as in tenr.is championships. This lead could be easily adopted with advantage in New Zealand. Although the attendance was not so large as in Sydney, it can safely be said that half of the spectators then had no opportunity for viewing from the bank many of the splendid games played.

* A new rule has come into force in New South Wales. Skips are now saddled with the responsibility of examining all bowls and seeing that they are stamped prior to the commencement of play. This has a similar claim to adoption in New Zealand. It is high time that the responsibility of seeing that bowls are stamped is nailed down to specified and responsible players. In this respect, the nomination of the skip is sound, for if there are advantages to be gained with narrow bowls, it certainly redounds to his personal profit in the game.