A ROWING MATTER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 86, 10 April 1924, Page 9

A ROWING MATTER

TO .THE EDITOR.

'Sir,—As' my name has been brought into prominence in conection with the selection of the crew to represent Wellington in the interprbvincial fours, would you kindly grant me space-.to state the following facts: I recevied on 31st January a. letter from the Wellington Rowing Association requesting me to accept the position of sole selector of the Wellington crew. The following day, in conversation with the secretary, Mr. Biehl, I informed him that I intended fen decline the position. This V confirmed in a letter, dated 2nd February, to the association, thanking them for the honour, done me and stating that I regretted I must decline, as J did not consider I had the necessary qualifications to fill such an important position. This ended the matter as far as I was concerned,. no attempt being made on my part to select a crew. Mr. White, the present selector, announced his crew on or about '24th March, some seven weeks after I. had declined'to act. At this stage some feeling ,was expressed hi certain quarters as to the personnel of the crew. A general meeting of the Star Boating Club was called, and a motion was moved by Mr. Hereford and seconded by Mr. Anyon. I submit. Sir, in the part of that motion concerriinomyself neither the mover nor the sec° onde'r had the slightest foundation on which to base^ the request for tlie inquiry they asked for. The suggestions contained therein are an insult, and it is. regrettable they had not made some inquiry before casting the reflecting- they did. The motion was amended when these gentlemen were informed they had been "barking up the wron<r tree" ; but where was that sporting spirit that would have led to x an expression of regret at the error, and the tendering of an apolo"v'— I am, etc.,- . W. J. THOMv Blh-April* ' .