PAST SEASON SATISFACTORY

Evening Star, Issue 21519, 18 September 1933, Page 13

PAST SEASON SATISFACTORY

ROWING ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL REPORT FINANCE A THREATENING PROBLEM “ Although the association was hampered in its activities through loss of i income, the executive was able to carry out its full programme to the satisfaction of all. The past season cannot but bo considered a satisfactory one, but a review of the balance-sheet shows that finance is a problem which will, in no small way, concern the incoming committee if the association is to carry out the same programme as m former years. Assistance from the general public in these times.of economic stress is out of the question, and delegates will bo well advised to impress on their club members the necessity' of assisting the association in the raising of funds.” Thus states the report to the submitted to the fortieth annual meeting of the Otago Rowing Association on Wednesday evening next. The report continues Despite the fact that many members of affliated clubs were forced to leave the district in search of employment, the membership of the clubs is on the increase. This year capitation fees were paid on 219 members, an increase of thirty-seven over the previous year. The newly-formed Otago University Club was welcomed to the association during the year. Adverse weather conditions prevailed for all fixtures except the Waihola regatta. At Macandrew Bay, and the two regattas held at Port Chalmers, strong wind interfered with the racing; and at Portobello heavy rain marred the regatta to a great extent. Keen disappointment was felt by the competitors at the abandonment of the 13urkes-St. Leonards and the Queenstown regattas on account of rough water. Despite the inclemency of the weather at_ the regattas, the clubs showed as high a standard of rowing as in previous seasons, and close finishes were very frequently seen. The formation of the Portobello and Waihola Regatta Committees during the season seems to show that rowing is once more coming into popular favour. Congratulations are extended to these committees on the successful outcome of their first regattas. At the close of the 1931-1932 season Mr S. G. Styche retired from office after occupying the position of honorary secretary and treasurer for nine years. To mark its appreciation of his outstanding services to rowing, the association presented Mr Styche with a gold watch suitably engraved. Thanks are extended to Messrs O. 11. Caffin and H. Paton (delegates to the N.Z.A.R.A., Wellington), to Messrs James Brown and Co. (auditors), to the Press and the secretaries of clubs and regatta officials for assistance, and to the members of the Otago and the Queen’s Drive Clubs for taking care of the eight-oar boats.