ROWING.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 12

ROWING.

CONTROVERSY OVER I'EARCF/S STATUS. . EMPLOYER DEMANDS APOLOGY.. - ■ i-Ni-i I".r> ]'r;.;= as-"-'".tk.v ny r.I.ECTBH TTi.rx.r- \:'ii ■• ■'r.rvmu r > (Received July 11. 11.40 p.m.) HAMILTON (ONTARIO', July 11. ■'■ Mr H. B. Clcland has threatened ';■ legal action. unless an apology j« forthcoming from Mr James Owen, j president of the Canadian Association ',. of Amateur Oarsmen, for a statement in a resolution passed by the executive of the association at Ottawa regarding the amateur status of Bobby Pearce. and also stating that there ' had been lack of frankness on the ; part of Mr Cloiar.d and Mr Walter ■."' Abernesser. ' ; In .statements to members of the ?■: executive. Mr Clcland. in a letter, ',; said: "The statements in the re3olu-. '• tion, insofar as they refer to me, are'•'■•' entirely without foundation, exceed- ■■• ingly offensive, and. I am advised; > libellous. So far as lam aware,, I "r, have had no communication with, nor, "'- made any statement to, any members' : of your executive regarding Pearce,' - in any shape or form, nor have I arty f authority to make any statements on. - his behalf. Your unwarranted res So-"-' lution is injurious to my reputation,'*? inferring that for personal or selfisa 'fi reasons I would be a party to uh- ;$ worthy practices in relation to airfl' : : : (eur sport. I must accordingly demand the immediate retraction of Ihis-vjji resolution, and an unqualified apology ft from your executive. Otherwise the,? matter will be placed in the hands ;of'';. my solicitor. Pearce lias been em-:** ployed by my company on the recom* j: mendation and suggestion of the Brit-s ■ '•■ ish firm he formerly represented in '--;i Australia, and for no other reason. I'.'i have at no time been a party to '.he ."■■. exploitation of Pearce. and do no£_ know of any suchi Whether he has decided to turn p&>'s i essional will not affect his ment so long as he continues to pffsf''" - " form his duties in the same lory manner as in the past. On thk/ft only occasion he asked my advice. I-l made it clear to him.that I was ing as a friend, not as his ernploy«&.¥i and advised him to remain in the -.ft amateur ranks." rjj