ROWING IN WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 10

ROWING IN WELLINGTON

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ilay I be allowed space to add a iew remarks to the letters of "Oarsman" and "Amateur"? During his speech atthe opening of this year's rowing season, the Mayor stressed the point that rowing and swimming were two of the finest sports in the world, and that they were the only two which exercised every muscle of the body, yet, by giving, the *ire Board notice to vacate their present premises, and offering them the boatingclub sites, is he not sounding the death, knell of rowing in Wellington? No doubt he is satisfied that there is another suitable site for the rowing clubs m Wellington, but men who have been connected with rowing for thirty years or more are all of the opinion that no better site than the present one exists lhe only alternative the rowing clubs have is to remove to Evans Bay which, from all angles a totally Unsuitable for their purposes. Living near the Bay I have seen it every day for five years, have seen the water when northerly and southerly winds have been blowing, and as an old rower state definitely that it would be positively dangerous to attempt •ft°» W^ h Clther ™nd blowing. Adroofafhnt rt" are °De Or two Weltered spots, but these are not extensive enough to permit members of the rowing clubs to indulge m their sport *. tJ? e Ckanest and manliest sport there is (orfe has ju 5 t to note the large number of Wellington's prominent citizens who have been connected with rowing practically all their lives to contan this statement), and it does not seem right that lovers of this sport should be deprived bf the enjoyment and physical fatness this sport affords. With very little inconvenience to anyone" the clubs concerned could be allowed to continue to occupy the present site as a new buildmg could be erected to house both rowimr clubs and the fire brigade. There is a large amount p£ vacant land in front of the present building, and if more land wa« required the building could easily be set back about twenty, feet. If the Fire Hoard accepts the site surely some" arrangement can be agreed upon so that the ' rowing clubs will not have to leave their present site, and thus have to suffer extmction. Surely the council can see-the justice of the rowing .club's requests and make some attempt to keep them on the only site in Wellington suitable for their sport.—l am, etc., OLD OARSMAN. L