AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 58, 8 March 1913, Page 16

AQUATICS.

aownto. yREGATTAS. ' March 17—Ngaruawahia. March 22— X.Z. Championship*. March 24—Rotorua. April s—Auckland.5 —Auckland. The Auckland Rowing Association at a special meeting held during the week unanimously decided to oppose definitely the proposed changes in the amateur rowing definition, concerning which so much has been heard lately. These proposals will be discussed at a special conference of dominion rowing delegates at Wellington on the evening of Easter Saturday (Championship Regatta Day). Mr. W. G. Mason (chairman of the Auckland Rowing Association) will attend the conference as a direct representative from Auckland to act in conjunction with the other Auckland delegates resident in Wellington.

It is satisfactory to learn that the question has been keenly considered by rowing men in Auckland, and that the members of the local Rowing Association were in possession of the definitely expressed club feeling on the matter. A further very useful contribution to the volume of opinion was gained by representative members of the association who met representatives of the country clubs in conference at Mercer at the end of last week. The country clubs unhesitatingly condemned the proposals to alter the existing amateur conditions.

The feeling may, perhaps, be fairly summed up in a statement of this kind. Rowing, considered as rowing, is conducted on s'trdfctly amateur lines in Now Zealand to-day. Men who may be professionals of one sort or another in some other branch of sport are allowed to indulge in the pastime of rowing so long as they abide by the conditions laid down for the government of this particular sport. John Smith makes boots for a living, but when he goes home he enters into friendly rivalry with his neighbour, William Jones, the bank manager, as to who can grow the best tomatoes. They hobnob on level terms over the back fence, and occasionally lend each other a spade. Enters a third party, who says: "Smith, if you will give up undesirable companions like Jones, 111 bring along Robinson to show you how he grows tomatoes." And Smith replies: "If Robinson doesn't like my friends he can stay in his own backyard. I don't fancy' the banking business much, but Jones knows how to grow tomatoes, and if Robinson wants to put on side, he had better- stay away till he gets over it."

It may be interesting just here to notice how it is proposed to alter the existing amateur definition in order to bring it into line with the Australian definition. .Mark the addition of the words: — "In any branch of athletic sports." Thus: —An amateur oarsman or sculler is one who— (a) Has never entered or competed for a stake or money prize, staked bet, or declared wager—" in any branch of athletic sports:" \ (b) Hn.s never derived any pecuniary profit, directly or indirectly, from rowing or sculling, or from the funds of his or any club—" in any branch of athletic sports"; (c) Has never competed in any crew with a professional, or knowingly or without reasonable inquiry against a professional : Provided always that any person competinguf or ? ra.onev for., the sole, benefit of his club.mahaU.mofc thereby lo6e<his amateur status, and that no member of any club shall lose his amateur status byreason of his receiving remuneration for purely clerical services rendered to his club if the amount of such remuneration shall have been previously approved by the council of the Association. The above is all that matters of the definition rule. The only alteration proposed is the addition of the quoted words to clauses (a) and (b). It is also proposed to require each member of a club to make a written statement certifying that he is a bona fide amateur within the meaning of the constitution as amended above. The next drastic change proposed, concerns the "Rules for Amateur Regattas," on pages 19 to 24 of the 1911 rule-book. The chief point of the change consists of the substitution of the word " donation " for the words "prize money" in rules 1, 3, 4, I], 12, 13, 15 and 28. Wherever the words "pay the prizemoney" occur it is proposed to substitute the expression, " make a donation." Instead of having "After the settlement of the dispute the council shall remit the money .to the club entitled to it," it is suggested that the rule should read: " Transmit the donation." If one wished to be unkind he might say that all this juggling with words was curiously like humbug. JJoes it ever occur to these meddlers in half a dozen sports that possibly it may be the Australian rules which require alteration, and not 'the New Zealand rules at all?