IN THE BOATS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 89, 14 April 1923, Page 15

IN THE BOATS

A SUCCESSFUL SEASON

MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE,

(By " Stroke.")

With the advent of the winter months, oars and riggers are ' returned to' their cases; and boats are carefully stowed a\yuy on their trestles and there covered with canvas, to remain till they are required next, season. In the local rowing world the programmea of the clubs have now been completed, and nothing more remains to interest members. . Taken on the average, the season just concluded has been rather ordinary locally though as far as the sport in New Zealand is concerned, it has been very successful; An important step has been made in connection with the annual interprovincialfours contest, by raising it to the status of a championship event. Though the honours this season went to Canterbury, it is to the credit o{ the AVellington supporters that the fixture was such a success. In this connection, mention must also be made of the regatta club which was firmly established ■ here this season.; The success, of the Wellington regatta was due wholly to the efforts of the club, and the scheme for obtaining members and funds proved in every way ■satisfactory. . . : . Another movement that is sure to have an important bearing on rowing in this country in the near future, is the question of inter-colonial championships! For several years the New Zealand Rowing Association has been negotiating with the controlling rowing body: in Australia with a view to holding annuul inter-co-lomal rowing championships,' and now it seoms that the efforts of. the council are at last to be successful. At the annual State conference next month at. Perth, tho Australian authorities are to discuss New Zealand's proposals, and there is no doubt that tho result will be awaited anxiously hero. Briefly, the programme outlined by the New Zealand Council is that annual championships should be held each year between crews representing Australia and Now Zealand, alternately, in either country. ' It was hoped to send a delegate to the Perth conference, but this has been found impossible on account of both time and expense. Should" the proposals be suitable, the subject will be discussed during tho winter months, bo that by next season something definite may be arrived at. The question as to whether the contests will.be judged-oh eight, four, or pair oar rowing, or by sculling, \ has not been determined yot; However, the council has notified tho Australian body that provided all. difficulties are overcome, New' Zealand representatives would be prepared to visit Australia next soason.

Following upon the unsatisfactory state of _ affairs that existed at the championship regatta this season, it has been suggested as a remit to be discussed at the annual meeting of delegates of. the New Zealand Association that championship regattas be held not earlier than 31st January each, season. Such a proposal should commend itself to the_ minds of.delegates for the reason that it is rarely that as early in tho season as January do crews attain a standard of rowng expected of them at a championship fixture! If the championship regatta is held too early in tho season,-it will not only rob the latter half of the season of much of its interest, but will also tend to lower the standard of championship rowing. Before long tho local authorities and the New Zealand Council will seriously hove to consider the question of eightoared rowing. Rowing in eights has been customary on (ho Wanganui River for several years, and a few . weeks ago it was most successfully established in Auckland. If, as is auito possible. New Zealand and Australia meet on tho water in annual contests in tho future, New Zealand will have to be represented by eights to bring this country's rowing into line with that of Australia's, and to keep it un to th« itandard set in nthw nauntri".