"WRONGFUL DECISIONS."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 19

"WRONGFUL DECISIONS."

CORNWELL CUP RACING.

OTAGO HOLD AN INQUIRY.

DELEGATE CROSS-EXAMINED.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DUNEDIN, Fridav

With the exception of Mr. G. F. Bewley, the Otago delegate to the contest, the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association's members were unanimous last night in the opinion that Otago had been deprived of the Cornwcll Cup by the wrongful decisions of the contest sailing committee. Mr. Bewley made a long report to the association and defended the committee's action. However, other members had their minds made up, and Mr. Bewley had to undergo a strenuous crossexamination in defending the committee and his own actions. After going over the rules and reports of the racing, the Hon. J. T. l'aul declared that the Otago crew had won by fair sailing and superior skill and speed. The chairman of the sailing committee had acted wrongly by arguing that Otago had won the race by other means. He complimented the crew on its sailing. Mr. Anderson had three questions for Mr. Bewley. He asked if Auckland and Canterbury were fighting for positions throughout the fifth race. Mr. Bewley: No. The Canterbury skipper admitted to the committee that ho took a risk in crossing the bows of the Auckland boat. Mr. Anderson: Do you honestly think that in a fair and above-board race Auckland would have passed Otago? Mr. Bewley: I would not say that. I have never said or thought that Auckland would have beaten Otago, but Auckland had a good chance of winning the race, and so had Canterbury. Mr. Camp: What about the other boats ? Mr. Bewley: They were so far back that their chances were poor. Mr. Camp: Otago was well back in some of the races, yet the crew won. Boys Made no Complaint. Mr. Anderson: What effect did the decision have on the feelings of our crew ? Mr. Bewley: The boys took the decision in a sporting spirit and made no complaints about the resailing. Mr. Anderson supported Mr. PaulN statements, declaring that there was not a rule on which the sailing committee could honorably base its decision. He moved that the Otago Association take the necessary procedure to have its protest vindicated.

An interesting point was raised by Mr. Martin. The president of the committee had wired that the decision was unanimous. Was that so? asked Mr. Martin.

Mr. Bewley: Not in the first place, Mr. Lidgard opposed the decisions and voted against it. He later told me he was in accord.

To Mr. Paul, the delegate also admit

ted that Otago would have won if it had not had the misfortune to foul Hawkc's Bav.

Mr. Paul: Well, does not the "superior speed and skill" clausc hold there?

Mr. Bewley further stated that he had realised that a resail was an important thing for Otago.

Mr. Paul.: Then I suggest that your proper course was to have communicated immediately with the association. If you had done so, I, on behalf of the members, would have ordered the boys to return home. . You say that you are not conversant with the customs and practice of the sea. I admire you for that admission, but you should have asked the committee to hold its decision in abeyance and wired your association for instructions. Mr. "Bewley replied that he was still convinced that the sailing committee had made a sound decision, and the Y.R.A. ruling would be interesting. Auckland Crew Prompted? a delegate said that the Auckland boys had riot wanted a resail. It had been reported to him that the Aucklanders had said-: "Let Otago have it, we .are satisfied." The boys had not made a request for a resail, under rule 40, until some time after the race. j Mr. Camp said the boys must have been prompted, for they would not have known what rule to make their protest under. It was clear that Auckland had rammed Canterbury. According to the rules, Auckland should have avoided the other boat, and then protested against its not giving way. Auckland was liable to disqualification for not avoiding the collision. Mr. Bewley said neither the Auckland nor the Canterbury crews saw the other boat coming. Members said the issue was clear-cut, | and the following motion, moved by Mr. Paul, was carried: — Ruling to be Sought. "That the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, having carefully considered the action of the sailing committee in deciding to resail the fifth race in the Cornwell Cup series of races, and all rules and ordinary customs of the sea, together with the published defence of its actions by the sailing committee, is firmly of the opinion that such decision was contrary to the Yacht Bacing Association rules and yacht racing practice, and, therefore, wrongly deprived the Otago crew of the race and the honour of holding the cup. The association, further, resolves that the decision is of such importance as to warrant a case being stated for the opinion of the Y.B.A. (the highest authority in the yacHt racing world), such case to be impartially prepared and agreed to by the Takapuna Boating Club and the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association." °