BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1917, Page 8

BOWLING.

MEETING OF TARANAKI CENTRE. CHALLENGE BANNER MATCHES. A meeting of delegates of the Taranaki Centre was held at .Stratford yesterday, tho following being present: Messr* -S. .T. Smith (president, Fitzroy). AV- K. Smart, and W. Brooking |Xew Plymouth), J. Johnson (West End), W. Fercival and A. Leslie (Inglewood), J. W. McMillan and J. W. McDonald (Stratford), McKenzie (Manaia). W. Lambie (Pihama). J. D. Wyllie (Waitara), and 0. Firth (secretary). The president said the principal business was whether the banner matches should continue or some other means of arranging games be devised. He had an open mind on the matter. Mr. Smart said there were no delegates from Hawera at the executive meeting, and they did not know what were Hawera's wishes in the matter. Since the executive had met several clubs had held meetings and suggested the discontinuance of banner games. Tie thought they might set up a committee to arrange dates and places where club., Bhould meet. If they could crowd all sections into one, well and good. If they made two sections and included Stratford in the northern end it placed Hawera with a good membership up against weak clubs and small rinks, qiul thus Hawera members would lose interest. A lew years ago Stratford was in the northern end, and then found there was too much travelling, having to lose four full days. This was the stumbling block. Now the trouble was that the central division (Stratford, Eltham, and llawera) was too weak. He thought they might arrange matches which could count for the banner. For instance, his club could very well send two or more rinks to Okato, and also have five rinks against Inglewood the same afternoon. The president said they might arrange , it in the way suggested by Mr. Smart, the banner going to the club with the best percentage of wins. Mr. Smart said they had no guide regarding Eltham. This club had probably not held their annual meeting, and they , did not know what the club's intentions were. Mr. Smith said that probably the clubs would be largely guided hv to-day's meeting. Perhaps they might make, two sections, say, New Plymouth, West End, and Fitcroy, and thg second, Nan; (Ply-

mouth, Waitara, Inglewood, and Stratford.

Mr. Smart said it was possible all would agree to .two divisions, but Hawera must also be considered. By bringing Stratford into the northern end it meant that Hawera would only have a few rinks going against Eltham and Auroa.

In answer to Mr. McDonald, Mr. Smart stated that if a series of games were arranged against each club it might not be necessary to have return games. The president said that, so far, they had not gone very far in the matter. Perhaps a committee might be set up to bring down a report. Personally lie thought that when the executive was appointed they would discuss the banner question, and if the clubs were in favor of discontinuing same, that would be the end of the matter.

Mr. McMillan said they need not bother about banner matches just now. They wanted to carry on as a whole. The executive should study the maiir from a general standpoint. As far as the New Plymouth, Inglewood. and Waitara clubs were concerned they could carry on, but with Stratford the position was different. Their club desired more matches than was the case last year.

Mr. Lambie said the Pihama Club held the banner. It would not hurt New Plymouth clubs to challenge them for the banner and also to have a friendly game with another club. Pihama would only have one rink, certainly not more than two. He wanted to sec the banner go round, and welcomed challenge games. Mr McDonald agreed with the idea of holding challenge games, and thought it would create much interest.

Mr. Firth said the main object was to so arrange games as to permit clubs having matches each week. They desired a continuity of games, and it was to meet the wishes of the Stratford Club that they were agreeable to discontinue banner matches. The challenge games, however, was a haphazard way of getting games.

Mr. Smart said they would have challenge and friendly games. His club 'hoped during the. season to have rirtfs visiting Pihama, Opunake, and round the mountain to Hawera. They might also visit Stratford.

Mr. McMillan welcomed the discussion. The main desire wag to get the games going.

.Mr. Lambie (Pihama) moved that the banner be played this season on the challenge system, the challenger to have the right of nominating the number of rinks to be engaged up to the capacity of the club holding the banner, challenges to be accepted by the holders in the order of receipt : the club holding the banner to have the right of naming the day on which they will play, provided that tho holders must accept a challenge for the date named by the challengers if such date is the recognised half-holi-day of the district in which the holders' club is situated; all challenge matches to be played on the ground of the holders. unless otherwise agreed to by them. —The president seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously.

TWO FEET ON THE MAT. The president said they required to have some distinct [understanding regarding players keeping their feet on the mat while delivering their bowls. This might be taken in hand, and club members should be instructed to keep both feet on the mat when delivering the bowl. Mr. Smart said this was a matter he had always tried to get endorsed by players. They should keep their feet on the mat, and, if possible, they should insist on players keeping the front foot at least three inches on the mat. Mr. Lambie agreed. He thought the clubs should also adopt a uniform size of mat. It was decided that the rules concerning same should be adhered to, and carried out as suggested by the Dominion Conference.

fROPHIES AND HOSPITALITY. The president stated that he desired to draw attention to some items of expenditure that might be curtailed. He held that at the tournament they might very well make a charge for afernoon tea and hand the receipts over to patriotic purposes. Again, they gave away £l4 in prize money, and lie thought they might play for the pleasure and fun they got out of tho game. The secretary (Mr. Firth) said that from a financial aspect the tournament went back, and this was because they were giving away too much in afternoon tea, which need not be done at tournament games. Regarding the suggestion to out down the prize money, he thought this was hardly advisable. In holding the tournament they desired to cater for visiting club rinks as well as the Taranaki teams, *and, however small, any team winning liked to have some memento of the occasion, Mr. Smart concurred. lie mentioned that lie had attended several tournaments, and found Palmerston North giving £2!! in prizes. Whilst they might reduce the Taranaki tournament prizes, they should give something. Mr. McMillan also believed it neces*.arv to continue giving trophies, but he thought they might ma'ke a charge for light refreshments. No motion was carried, and after touching on minor matters the meetui" closed. . °