ROWING ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 21582, 30 November 1933, Page 6

ROWING ASSOCIATION

AUSTRALIAN CREW’S PROPOSED VISIT HQ FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM OTAGO Repeating the decision already reached by Wanganui and Christchurch, the Otago .Rowing Association decided last night that it could not afford to guarantee £75 towards the expenses of the tour of a New South Wales eight and sculler in March next. The association, it was stated, already had too much money to for its own use without assisting the New Zealand Rowing Association, which is to be advised that if it decides to invite the visitors it should find the money itself. Present at the meeting were Mr W. G. Glengarry (president) and the following delegates;—Messrs J. P. Vallis (secretary), C. R. Coffin. S. G. Styche, F. Rrough (Otago Club). F. W. loggers, (.'. Butterfield (North End), W. Robinson, S. Whitburn (Alacamlrew Ray), T. F. Mackie, AY. FI. Ly.saght, .1. 10. Coltbor.pc (Fort Cbalmcrs), W. ,'J. Wilson (Queens Drive), P. J. Priest, 10. AV. Pickford (Oamaru), and Fred. Foster (University). It was advised by the secretary of the New Zealand Rowing Council that if the New South AVales eights’ trip eventuated the crew would leave Sydney either on March 2 or 9, arriving at Wellington on March 5 or 13. Alternatively, it would leave on March 1 or 9, and arrive at Auckland on March 5 or 13, As soon as it could he ascertained what date the visitors preferred. and associations gave their financial guarantees, the programme could bo drawn up. If the crow arrived in New Zealand on March 5 it could row on March 10, 17, 24, and 31 (championship eights date), hut if it arrived on March 13 it would only leave three rowing Saturdays, On the other hand, even if the crew arrived on March 5, it might prefer to wait until March 17 before its first race. In both cases it was possible that there might he a midweek appearance at cither AVanganni or Hamilton. The total expense would be about £325 for races at Auckland. Wanganui, and Wellington. There would bo an additional £3O if Picton were included, and still more expense if the crew wont further south. say to Otago. Associations were asked to guarantee £75 in the meantime. As an alternative to the crew visiting Dunedin, it was suggested that Otago should send its crew to AVanganni, at the N.Z.A. R.A.’s expense, to meet the New South Wales crew, after the interprovincial contest at AVellington on March 31. The Chairman said that the association’s financial position at the present time was at a fairly low ebb. There was about £3O in the bank. The association’s regatta had to ho financed, and they had to consider the eight’s trip to Wellington for the interprovincial contest at AVellington on March 31. How, then, could any grant be guaranteed for the visiting crew’s expenses ? Mr Vallis said that if the council had taken a broad view of tho matter, the eights contest should have been, allocated to Otago; in which case the association would have been able to guarantee tho amount it would now have to spend on sending its own crew north for tho race. If Auckland could have its votes registered for Otago’s allocation (recorded to AVellington through an oversight), this province would then have a majority, and the speaker failed to see how the decision already arrived at could not be upset. Otago would then have the majority instead of AA 7 cllington. If Otago had had the eights a different complexion would have been placed on the matter, said the Chairman. It was desired that the Otago eight should compote at AA T ellington, but should the crow later go to AATingnnni In meet the Australians? asked Mr A’allis. The only race in which tho visitors would meet all the best dominion crews was the interprovincial contest, said Ah’ Rrough. Some discussion then ensued as to whether it would be possible for Otago to be allocated the eights at this stage by trying to upset tho recent decision to give AVellington the race. The majority of members were of the opinion that the decision could not bo altered. Tho Chairman read an apology from the Auckland Association stating that it regretted tho omission to instruct its delegates to vote for Otago’s allocation in tho event of more than one ballot. That was only an apology, said the Chairman. He did nob think the association could now have the votes recorded in favour of Otago. Mr Mackie: it is a question of ruling. The onus was on the Auckland Association, said Mr AVilson. The delegates had a free hand to vote, and Auckland’s delegates wore resident in AVellington. They would not consider provinces at all. Mr Vallis; The trouble arose out of the second ballot. Did wo instruct our delegate what, to do in such a case? No; therefore we are as much at fault as Auckland. Air Foster: Auckland does not want to send a crew down hero. It is cheaper to send it to Wellington. I would not take too much notice of the apology, Mr Mackie prevented further discussion in this strain by saying that Auckland had a kind thought for Otago, and would not have voted against Otago’s application intentionally. It was unfortunate that tho delegates had not been instructed accordingly. Discussion was then reverted to tho guarantee for tho visiting crow. .Air Styche; Wanganui and Canterbury do not intend to pay anything. As the majority of associations would probably lie against the scheme, Mr Cnffin said that he did not believe the visitors’ trip would eventuate after all. “ That the council be advised that it would he impossible for Otago to raise sufficient money to pay (lie expenses of its own regatta, eights’ trip to AVellington, and a guarantee toward the New South AVales eight, and that the council itself devise the best moans of financing the visitors’ trip,” was moved by Mr Mackie and seconded by Air Brough. It was felt that if the Now South Wales crow were invited it should compete only at tho interprovincial race in AVellington. It would ho unable to meet anything but local crews at other centres. Therefore discussion in regard tn sending the Otago eight to AA’anganui at the expense of the N.Z.A.R.A. was considered futile. The motion was carried unanimously. N.Z.A.R.A. BUSINESS. Reporting on his delegation to the annual meeting of tho N.Z.A.R.A. on October 31. at AVellington, Mr Styche said that Otago would have been allocated tho interprovineial eight-oar contest had it not been for an oversight on the part of the Auckland delegates. who, in tho second ballot, voted for AA’ellington to please themselves, without instruction from their associa-

tion. That was not at all fair, especially as Auckland was opposed to centralisation. Marlborough had adopted a very unsporting attitude in holding out against Auckland for the championship regatta on a technicality. Marlborough should have given way, and allowed Auckland to be allocated the regatta. On the motion of Mr Stycho it was decided to forward a letter of thanks to the East Coast Association for supporting Otago’s application for the eights. Mr Styche was thanked for his report. A copy of the minutes of the N.Z. A.ICA.’s annual meeting was received from the secretary, Wellington. It was decided that the New Zealand Rowing Council be advised of the Association's agreement to the purchase of an eight-oar boat (from the fund set aside for the purpose) for the East Coast Association. Mr Vallis drew attention to the fact that the purchase of an eight from England would amount to £l6O plus exchange. The sum of £25 would thus be given to the banks. There were boatbuilders in New Zealand competent of building an eight equally as good as that available in England. Alter some discussion, it was decided to instruct the council that the order for the new boat be given to a Now Zealand boatbuildcr. Several delegates expressed confidence in the ability of local boatbuilders to produce a boat as good as those owned by the Association. MACANDREW BAY REGATTA. The Macandrew Bay Regatta Committee advised that £2O had been allotted for rowing at its fixture on Boxing Day. It was decided that eight races be included in the programme, and the following officials were appointed:— Starter, Mr Lysaght; umpire and timekeeper, either Mr W. Leftwich or E. A. Newman; judges—Messrs Caffin, Robinson, and Leftwich or Newman; N.Z.A.R.A. representative, Mr Glengarry.