THE BRISBANE REGATTA.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9110, 22 May 1895, Page 5

THE BRISBANE REGATTA.

THE AMATEUR STATUS QUESTION.

Preee Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

BRISBANE, May 21. Speaking at a picnic it» honour of the eight-oared crews from Victoria and New South Wales, the Hon. Thos. J. Byrnes, the Attorney-General, referring to the action of the Rowing Association of Sydney in order* ing the New South Wales crew to withdraw from the contest because one of the Victorian crew was alleged to have raced for cash in bicycle races, said if the men had withdrawn it would have been a death blow to inter* national contests. He considered there was nothing in the point raised, and looked with great concern on arbitrary definitions regarding professionalism being introduced into rowing. To his mind a professional was a man who applied his skill for professional purposes, and all the colonies ought to agree as to the definition of amateur, which should cover the whole of Australia.

MrQaisb, of New South Wales, said the Victorian crew had been formed long before the New South Wales crew, left Sydney, and if the Rowing Association had wanted to take exception it should have done so before the Victorian crew left Melbourne. In refusing to obey the Association he was guided by the rule that men should be recognised as amateurs when accepted as such by their own colony. He considered he would have acted in an unsportsmanlike manner if be had withdrawn. No doubt he would be censured by the Association, but in what he had done he was supported by the whole of the crew. . , .. Mr Upward, of Victoria, endorsed the views of Mr Quiet.

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