BOWLING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1922, Page 6

BOWLING.

TARANAKI CENTRE. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Bowling Centre was held in the Egmont Club, Stratford, on Saturday, the president, Mr. J. D. Sole, being in the chair. The following delegates were present: Messrs. A. L. Roberts and E. Dingle (Fitzroy), J. Lobb and F. .1. Hill (West End), J. W. McMillan and G. Smart (Stratford), G. Morton and F. Spurdie (Inglewood), A. Robertson and T. Corkill (Hawera), J. Hickey and F. T. McCarthy 'Manaia), C. N. Johnson, A. K. Smart and D. H. Thomson (New Plymouth), G. Smart (Patea), A. C. Johnstone (Auroa), H. C. North and J.' Masters (Avon), W. Latnbie (Pihama and Opunake), J. Foy (Hawera), A. T. Moore (Vogel town). In welcoming the delegates, Mr. Sole said the representative attendance augured well for the success of the coming season. THE ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report recorded another highlysuccessful season. Although weather conditions had not been too favorable for bowling, nevertheless interest in the sport had been fully maintained and all arrangements and competitions completed. The open tournament in January was easily a record for the centre as far as entries were concerned, the total being 68. -Most of the clubs affiliated to the centre were reforssented. Unfortunately, the weather conditions during tournament week were unfavorable, yet the fixture was very enjoyable, and appears to be increasing in popularity every year. All the greens in New Plymouth were used, and played very well, and with the vast improvements made during the year, visitors and local bowlers need have no apprehension about the greens for next tournament. The new year tourney did not attract quite so many entries as usual. It was won by Mr. ! A. K. Smart’s ’ rink, a New Plymouth rink ; skipped by Mr. Cressweli being the runnersup. In the banner competitions, greater interest than usual was evident on account of the large number of competitors. New Plymouth winning in the Northern Division, Stratford in the Centra), Hawera B in the Southern, ad Manaia in the Western. The final was won by Stratford, who defeated New Plymouth B. The thanks of the centre are extended to the Stratford club for the arrangements made in connection with the banner finals. A test match, North v. South Taranaki, was played at Stratford, and was won by North by a large margii It is to be hoped that this fixture will become an annual The Wanganui centre paid us a visit during the season, playin'; two games, winning the first by tht nar. rjttrgin of one point, but suffering defeat by a fair margin in the second game. Taranaki paid Auckland a visit, and played, in addition to three test matches, a number of inter-centre matches. The hospitality of the Auckland bowlers was lavish, and ..II our members speak in the highest terms of the treatment accorded them. Although Taranaki was defeated in all the test matches, this not detract from the enjoyment of the tour. During the coming season wc are promised visits from the Auckland centre and South Auckland, who, through the courtesy of the Auckland centre, played a test match against Taranaki during their visit to Auckland, Taranaki winning somewhat easily. The growth of the centre continues, Patea and Hawera Park clubs having affiliated during the past season, bringing the total number of clubs in the centre to 17, while it is expected the Warea club will apply for affiliation during the coming season. Congratulations were tendered to the New Zealand rink which won the Brighton open challenge tournament during the visit of the New Zealanders to Great Britain last season. The winning rink comprised three Taranaki players—Messrs. F. J. Hill, J. N. Johnson and J. W. Hayden—while the skip was Mr. H. Bray, of the Ponsonby club. They won against all comers, and their performance was a most meritorious one. All the clubs were thanked for their loyal support. The balance sheet showed the credit balance as £6B 17s, as compared with £57 2s 8«1 last year. In moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, the president said the January tournament showed a profit of only 12s O'! This was caused by the fact that all four greens had to be used, the expenses being thus increased. The other touranments had been most successful. The centre had finished the year £lO better off than they had started. He took it the object of the centre was not to build up a reserve of profits. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow: President, Mr. J. D. Sole; vicepresident, Mr. J. Foy; executive, Messrs. ♦V, Lambie, E. Dingle. J. W. McMillan, A. K. Smart, F. Spurdie and D. H. Thomson; secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. T. Moore; assistant secretary, Mr. F. J. Hill; auditor, Mr. W. N. Ewing. THE BANNER COMPETITIONS. The principle of holding the banfier com- , petitions was discussed, Mr. Foy moving that the clubs be allowed to draw on their full strength in the finals regardless of the number of teams entered. Mr. Spurdie objected. He said in the ’nterest of the sport the clubs were split into teams which, to all intents and purposes, became separate clubs and should fight out the finals with their own players. Messrs. McMillan and G. Morton supported this contention. It was pointed out that the clubs were not split into sections for the purpose of equalising the strength of the teams, but to give ail the players a game. Mr. Sole suggested that if ciubs were not split into sections, the larger clubs could play two smaller ones on the same day. This would also allow of the competitions being completed fully a month earlier than had been the case in the past, and thus overcome a great disadvantage. Some rinks from th a larger clubs could play at home and some could visit other clubs. x After considerable discussion, Mr. Spurdie moved as an amendment that the banner competitions be continued as last year. The amendment was lost and the motion was carried. INTER-PROVINCIAL MATCHES. Discussing inter-provincial matches, the< president said he thought the scheme was one of the best the centre had even inaugurated, and that the matches should be continued. The response from players to the call for nomination for inter-provincial matches, however, was very disappointing, and he appealed for greater interest and support. No better entertainment than the touring teams received was possible. Mr. G. Smart, in moving that the matches be continued, suggested that the executive should select representative teams and • ask them to play. He also suggested that representative matches should be played in both North and South Taranaki, to allow of better selection of a travelling team. A motion on these lines was carried. The president pointed out that it was not possible to arrange the location of the representative matches until the visiting clubs’ programmes were available. It was hoped to olay test matches In North, South and Central Taranaki, and to spead the inter-club matches as equally as possible over Taranaki. The arrangement of inter-provincial matches was left to the executive. GENERAL. was decided to hold the open tournament in January, the date to be left to the executive. On the motion of Mr. A. K. Smart, it was decided to also hold a new year tourney, -Mr. Smart appealing for better support from the clubs. Od the motion of Mr. J. W. McMillan, It was decided to purchase a shield to replaoe the weseut b ana ar, asq w havy Um

jof the winning clubs placed thereon. The I purchase was left to the executive. j Mr. Lambie suggested, on behalf of the i?i- -| Hama club, that all clubs open their greens in 1 the same week at the beginning of the season. | The president supported the suggestion, and j hoped the recommendation would go forward to the clubs. A motion that each division be recommended to open all greens on the same week was carried. A motion recommending the centre to impose a charge for afternoon tea served to locally-residing onlookers at matches was carried, the amount being left to the executive. Mr. Smart moved that the centre inaugurate I a singles champion of champions competition, ’ to be played on the two-lines system. He explained that the clubs would find their own champions before the end of February and then play off. The motion was seconded by Mr. North and carried. On the motion of Mr. G. Smart, It was decided to continue the North v. South competitions. Messrs. Dingle, Hill, Sampson, Moore and A. K. Smart were appointed a committee to arrange banner matches in the Northern Division, the presidents of the Stratford and Avon ciubs in the Central Division, the presidents of the two Hawera clubs in the Southern Division, and Mr. Mason in the Western Division. Messrs. A. K. Smart, J. W. McMillan, and J. Foy were appointed selectors for interprovincial matches, and Messrs. J. W. McMillan for the south and A. K. Smart and J. D. Sole for the north, in representative matches. The centre was recommended to procure badges available for representative players and the executive, the design to be decided later.

Mr. A. K. Smart was nominated for .election as the centre’s representative on the Dominion council.

The secretary was granted an honorarium of 25 guineas, Mr. A. K. Smart saying that the centre was increasing in size every year, the- work of the secretary increasing accordingly.

Mr. Smart, if elected to the Dominion council, was recommended to advocate that the Dominion tournament be held earlier in the year than usual.

Mr. J. W. McMillan moved that executive meetings be held at a place more central than New Plymouth. The president said it was a matter of inconveniencing the least number of members. Mr. McMillan’s motion was withdrawn and a motion by Mr. Foy, that the meetings be continued in New Plymouth but in the morning instead of at night, was carried. \

Mr. Lobb gave notice of motion that the rules be amended to provide for the election of more than one vice-president.

Votes of thanks were accorded the president, the Egmont club, the Stratford _ bowlers (for arranging the meeting), Mr. A. K. Smart (Dominion representative), and the Press. Stratford was again fixed as the place for the next annual meeting.