NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 93, 18 October 1915, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR ROWING ASSOCIATION

TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING. • EFFECT 6F THE WAR. At the Star Boating Club's committee room on Saturday night, the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association held its twenty-eighth annual meeting. There were present the following delegates :—: — Messrs.; E. Innes and H. Blampied (Auckland), S. L. Partridge (Canterbury), J. C. Widdop and D. R. Menzies (Wellington), R. W. M'Villy (Otago), J. W Barnes (Southland), A. Gray and G. Lauchlan (Wanganui), and A. D. Bayfield (Nelson). Mr. R. W. M'Villy took the chair In the course of his speech he said that, in common • with all other branches of amateur sport, rowing is feeling the effects of the great war now raging, and this is the/cause of the greatly decreased membership this year. He (Mr M'Villy) was proud to announce that the total of members now on active service had passed the thousand mark, roughly, 50 per cent, of all the members having enlisted. This is undoubtedly a record to be proud of, especially when il : ♦aken into consideration that the remaining 50 per cent, includes a number of young members ineligible for active service. '" This is assuredly a direct contradiction to the statement that we take our sports too seriously," continued the Chairman. The report and balance-sheet (a summary of whidi appeared in Saturday's Post) were adopted without discussion. Despite the _war,' the financial position of the association is as satisfactory as can be expected. Some discussion took place as to whether the usual championship regatta, should be held this year or not. Mr. A. '• Gray (Wanganui) stated that his club did not desire a regatta, and he thought it would be a graceful tribute to the «oidiers now fighting for us on Gallipoli if the meeting was postponed this year. The best thing to do was to "rest on their oars " until next year. It was finally decided that the championship regatta be not held this year A motion by Mr. A. Gray (Wanganui) that "the minimum weight of coxswains used at regattas under the jurisdiction of the N.Z.A.R.A. be five and a-half stone, and any deficiency in weight to be made in lead, sand, or other approved ballast" was' lost. The Canterbury delegate moved that Rulo 23, regarding amateur regattas, be amended to read : " The committee shall appoint one or more judges, who will include at least one member of the local association of the N.Z.A.R.A. The decision of the judge or judges as to the order in which the boats pass the post shall be final." (Carried.) The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows :— President, Mr. G. J. Riddell (re-elected); vicepresidents, Mr. P. Evans and Mr. A. I. Fanner (re-elected) ; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. D. Bayfield (re-elect-ed) ,• council, Messrs. R. W. M'Villy (chairman), E. Innes, G. LauchJan, D It. Menzies, and J. E. Widdop (all reelected). Messrs. S. L. Partridge and J. W. Barnes were elected to the council to fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of Messrs. R. M. Isaacs and W. Bedford, who have left the district. Mr. G. C Fache was re-elected auditor of the association.