AQUATICS

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14350, 9 May 1912, Page 5

AQUATICS

CANTERBURY ROWING ASSOCIATION.

Tho Canterbury Rowing Association committee wet last night, when Mr F. D. Kesteven presided. -here wore also- pros-cut Messrs L. Deighton, H. Haskell, E. Baser, T. Chambela, \V. Duggnn, A. XicLachlan, JH. 11. Smith, L. Campbell, J. Kcetley, S. J. Pickett, P. Lynskey, 11. J. Ilobbs and M. S. Gentles (hon. Eec). Tho aocrotary.cf the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association wrote notifying '.hot tho proposed new ook.u.s of tho Timaru C/ub could not bo painted. It was decided to wtilo to the Association lor further information on the subject, and to enquire why iio colours had _ol been passed. A circular letter was received from tho New Zealand Association regarding the ineligibility of tho New Zealaitd oarsmen to compete in Australia as amateura. As Jong as the New Zealand amateur definition remained as it was new any New Zealand oarrman who desired to row in Australia, could only do K o after being reinstated by on© or other (A tho Australian Ass:c-ciation«. Tho matter of reinstatement was one which should be amended, because reinstated men wero debarred by iu!o from competing in inter-State contests. It would appear from tho strict reading of tho Australian amateur definition that Newi Zealand oarsmen en the occasion of each regatta infringed their status because they competed ft r money. No pro virion was mado to allow members to competo for money, for their c>j_s, consequently they broke the rule, and though the offenoo was only a technical or.« it was regarded as sufficient to be an offence. In New Zealand r.lio, professionals in other branches of athletic sports wero allowed to compete as amateur onrsmen. Thnt it wa r > maintained was entirely detrimental to the true spirit of amateurism, and tho New Zealanu. Association would hive to consider whether their definition should nut be amended accordingly. There was no 3-uhi thnt Iho widrness ci the New Zealand definition would be an obstacle should a crew cr crew? bo entered to compete at, for ins '.arc*, the Olympic Other branckto .£ (ith'ellcs did not allow professionals of other branches to compete as amateurs in their own particular pport, nnd there, did net seem to be much t that the Now Zee land definition needed amcrdinp. A i?p«?in! nwetiiv.' of delegates fo consider the mn'.ter was to bo held a* Wellington on Juno Ist. A long discussion followed, in thc course of which it was pointed '.v.*. *.ha. Now Zrwlard oarsmen were :inder:"nbly rraa'rur«. and fhould bo accepted as such br o.her emmtries. Areord-'ns {.-> th" Olympic fi.Tcea rules the siatiu of o„i.rv»si:?r:i as armif-c-nrs depended uprn the d.-fim_-«i of amateur ir. their respective count-ic.a. Finally it ins decide.! to aproint Me»sr* Kestfven and Htby 'o at'vvtd the rriiivrr-vr. at VTellirg'on, and tVt thc opinion-- 'J ni« pnnns local c'tibs on the matter be obtained :n the mc-ar.tiaic.