AMATEUR ROWING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1931, Page 4

AMATEUR ROWING

CONTKOL IN DOMINION

REGATTA TO AUCKLAND

CHAMPIONSHIP EIGHTS

Thirteen delegates attended the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association last evening. Mr. S. G. Styche (Otago) There were also present Messrs. A. J. 'Madame, A. My Hale (Marlborough), G. Lauchlan (Wanganui), D. R. Menzies, E. S. Innes (Auckland), A. Cockroft (Southland), VV.

G: Dent (East Coast), G. Cooke, R.

Meadows (Wellington), H. Paton (Otago), C. F. Turner, A. D. Bayfeild (Canterbury).

The report and balance-sheet, details of which' have already appeared in "The Post," were-adopted unanimously.

SPORT IN ASCENDANT,

. In moving, the adoption of the report ana balance-sheet, Mr. Styehe said it was very pleasing to note that the sport of rowing jn the past year was in the ascendant. The eight-oared championship he,ld. in. Dunedin in March was admirably controlled by the Otago Association, and the. con test was one of the best that had been held for the Hallyburton Johustoue Cup, the"Canterbury and Otago crews fighting out a great finish. Dealing with the question, of the centralisation of the championship, Mr. Styche said that the Otago Association was not in favour'of such a step."" ■•' ••■...-. ••■'■■

Mr. Styche referred to the capital fund that had been obtained by the Olympic aud British Empire Games Association as a result.of the art union, and said he sincerely hoped that funds would be available" to eend a crew, of oarsmen to. the Tiext"Olympic Games.. The chairman expressed appreciation of the work of the council of the association and of the services jjiyejv by. Mr. A. D. Bayfeild, and urged upon delegates the necessity of developing a good feeling and spirit among the different associations and clubs.

Mr. A. 11. Hale (Marlborcmghj said that the eight-oared championship at Dunedin was the finest he had seen both in point of view of the competition and the interest it attracted. The Otago Association staged the championship in a magnificent manner, and entertained visitors lavishly. The Wellington Association was unfortunate in regard to the weather for the championship regatta, but the conduct of the regatta did not reflect adversely on . the Wellington Association. -. CRITICISM OF COUNCIL. Mr. E.-. S. Innes spoke deprecating what he ■ .characterised as. ■ "wild and extravagant statements" being broadcast in the Press in regard to the control of rowing in New Zealand as a result of misunderstandings that appeared to exist among members of some of the local associations. Statements made recently at two annual meetings were very far from' the point and made the council of the New Zealand Bowing-"Association appear as an autocratic, almost plenary,, body. That was not so. The New Zealand Rowing Association was the governing body; it laid down a policy which the council, j elected from the association, simply carried [out. .The council last year consisted of leyeMreaded men of "mature judgment. The | whole council workedfor the betterment ofithev'Sßprt in New.. Zealand, and it was not in the interests of rowing that such extravagant statements as had been made should be broadcast all over New Zealand.

Mr. A. J. Maclaine, a past-president of the association, said it appeared quite clear that oarsmen as a whole were satisfied with the work of, the council, because all the members had been nominated to continue in office and there were no other nominations. . ' CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA. '"Two'applications, one: froth.- thfe Auckland Association and, .the other., from, the Wanganui "■Association, were: 'received for the champfonsbjpV regatta', and th'e'iquestiou of -aroused considerable discussion, in which reference was made to the suitability of the respective courses, the Waikato and Wanganui Rivers. The date suggested by Auckland was 30th January and the date proposed by Wanganui was 27^h February, providing the tide was ■■agitable. .--—-;-.

-.InV inj9¥vßg"'{Ee. adoption of the Auck-land-Association's application, Mr. Innes suggested*: jthat the rule ,'providing that the Tfegatta'.'feKould • not be> held before Ist February; shojiia..,Be\. .waived:: Mr. Innes said ;that; the last. regatjta;;.held ,in Hamilton, under -the auspices- of the Auckland Associationr wasin -192.1, and, in 44 years the.Auckland Association had had contrq! of the" regatta;! only four times. There had been' some criticism of the course at the 1924 regiittav; in but the course had • sinpe :b'eeh. buoyed. Mr. G.F; Turner; seconded the adoption of Auckland's "application, and said he thought that if "the regatta was held on the Waikato River the Auckland Association and-affiliated clubs would make \it a great success. :: , :-" ■. ■ • Mr.Cf. Lauehian, Mr. "R. Meadows, and Mr. A. M. Hale in .opposition to the regatta being held on the Waikato River. Mr. Hale declared that the course was the most.unfair course in New Zealand. He was strongly in favour of the regatta being : allotted :to Wanganui, but he did not.approve of the date suggested. His view-was that six weeks, should be available to associations after jhc regatta to work up combination in preparation for the eights championship, for which the Marlboroiigh -Association applied. After 'several other delegates had spoken, a motion to uspend the standing orders to allow the regatta to be held at Hamilton on 30th January was defeated, i

Mr. Innes then moved that the regatta be allocated to the Auckland Association, to be held on a date in accoidance with the rule^ Mr. Lauehian suggested that the Auckland Association might not want the regatta on ■ date other tbap 30th January, and the whole "matter would then be "thrown, back" on the association. :

On being put to the vote, the regatta was allocated to Auckland by nine votes to seven.

CHAMPIONSHIP EIGHTS,

OiilyC oneJ application, from the Marlborough Association, was received for the interprbvincial championship eights, and the application was approved, the, regatta to be held at Picton.

Mr. Hale- said that as soon as the date for the championship regatta was decided upon, the Marlborough Association would make known the date for the eights championship, which would be at least five weeks .after the "date of the championship regatta." , vV.-.v; ■ .

Mr. ,A; :Sli.\ Bayfeild: You can't say that. Supposing; the ■>Auckland Association decides to -hold -the championships at Easter?" - ' ;. " "

Mr. Hale said it was desired to take! advantage of the Daylight Saving enact-1 ment, and it was. to. be lipped that Auckland would give support', in the date it selected for the championship regatta. : . ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected:— President. MTv W. G. Mason (Auckland); vice-president*,- -Mr. Frank Hayward (Wanganui), Mr. A. J. Maclaine (Marlborough); council, Messrs. B. A. :Marris, 0. F. Turner (Canterbury), E. S. Innes, D. R. Menzies (Auckland),' W. &. Derit (East Coagt);H. Paton (Otago), G. Lauchlan (Wanganui); hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. D. Bayfeild; hon. auditor.- Mr, W. S, Wheeler.

Mr. Bayfeild was voted an honorarium of 20.guineas:for his services.last year.

NEW RULES AND ALTERATIONS.

The following new rules were adopted: (1) At least one month must elapse between the date of the championship regatta and that of the eight-oared championship, and no departure from this rule Lmust.be made without the consent of the council. (2) At all championship regattas .the champion fours to be rowed before the. champion pairs. (3) An oarsman who •represents New Zealand and competes "overseas shall be classified as a senior.

Rule 13 was amended to provide for the payment by clubs of their annual levy on the total membership at the end of their financial year. It was decided to call lip only 6d of the levy this year.

An'addition ivns made to rule' CD to tlr: effect that all championship events must

be decided on smooth water and in daylight.

The following addition was made to rule ]S: "The proposed date for the holding of the regatta shall accompany each application and no departure from this date can be made without permission of the council." '''

An application by George Welch, oi Akaroa, for reinstatement as au amateui was refused by 9 votes to 7.

It was decided, on the application of Jlr.' Cockrdf't, to authorise the council to provide the Southland -Association with an eight-oared boat. ■ • ; A suggestion by the Canterbury Association that a grant should be made annually fo: -the maintenance of the eight-oared boats did not find favour.