"LIKE MAD DOGS!''

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 10

"LIKE MAD DOGS!''

ROWERS INCENSED.

CHARGE BY PUBLICAN.

ACCOMMODATION REFUSED.

FEELING HIGH AT PICTON.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

PICTON, this day

Ono of the chief difficulties experienced by the committee responsible for planning the New Zealand championship regatta at Picton to-day, has been the provision of accommodation for more than 300 visiting oarsmen. The problem was complicated by the reluctance and, in one case at least, refusal of some hotel proprietors to take rowers

as guests.

The proprietor of one hotel flatly refused to find room for one oarsman. Others made room for perhaps a score all told, but the vast majority of competitors are either lodged privately and in boardinghouses or in camp.

The attitude of the liotelkeepers is deeply resented by the oarsmen. One of the most experienced rowers in New Zealand mentioned to-day that one proprietor had said there was no difference between rowers and mad dogs. Such charges are regarded as a slur on the sport and prominent oarsmen as well as officials say that to charge rowers with uproarious conduct is not fair. They say that there may have been trouble in the past, but only a few people were responsible and it is not just that the sport afe a whole should be blamed for the actions of one or two.

The hotels' side of the case is that damage has been done in the past. In one case a licensee declared that furniture was thrown after a regatta from an upstairs balcony and considerable damage was done. The licensee admitted that he had no reason to believe that the rowers would behave similarly on this occasion, but he was taking no chances. So strong is feeling running that some leading oarsmen have discussed boycotting one hotel as far as the bar is concerned. One club, with one of the biggest representations at the championships, has actually brought beer over from Wellington and will drink it in the open at their celebration after the regatta, rather than patronise tlii.; hotel. Even some proprietors of boardingliouses have eyed oarsmen askance and asked for a definite assurance of good behaviour.