THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2127, 28 February 1908, Page 2

THE SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

AFTER THE RACE. THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT. Special to Times. WELLINGTON, Fob. 27. Now that tho boat race and all the attendant excitement is over, it may not he amiss to refer to an idea that one often heard expression given to in Wanganui, and which seems to he becoming pretty general, viz., that there is a grave danger of (ho world’s championship degenerating into n more commercial speculation. This feeling is also given expression in today’s New Zealand Times, which says: “The explanation advanced by the master of ceremonies and 'keeper of the cash box, at the Wanganui sculling race, to account for the unprecedentedly shabby manner in which the press representatives were treated is a great deal too thin. To say that because New Zealand visitors had to pay to witness the contest between Wehl) and Towns in New South Wales the reporters should have been denied ordinary privileges in Wanganui, is grotesque. The Wobb-Trcsidder match has been an expensive luxury for the newspapers, which will probably ho found a little less helpful on the next occasion, when it is realised to what extent a national sporting event can ho converted into a purely commercial speculation.” This feature of tho great match was impressed upon visitors to Wanganui at evorj' turn, and tho worst of it was the flagrantly open manner in which hotting was conducted. In one particular public house bets were offered and accepted, and money was changing hands in front of the public bar. As the special correspondent of the Post says: “There was much open wagering, oven blatant crying of odds, almost on the public street, and oven oil the highways the traffic flourished. In the interests of the sport it would perhaps be well if in future championships Webb were to act as his own backer, and if some attempt wore made on the part of the authorities to suppress the flagrant gambling that went on in connection wit!) the last race. Everyone thinks so highly of Weld), that even if ho were unabie or willing to put up any considerable sum of money in connection with “the stake,” the necessary sum could easily bo secured by public subscriptions in a day or two, indeed, even 'apart from this, if the arrangements were in the hands of a public committee a sufficient sum of money could be obtained from the gate to defray’ all expenses and leave enough as a handsome prize for the victor. There is some talk of revising the rules and conditions in connection with the world’s sculling championship, and if the event could be conducted under the supervision of a trustworthy public committee, it would no doubt lift it out of the region, of commercialism and gambling into the realms of pure sport.

AUSTRALIAN VISITORS DEPART. Press Association. WANGANUI, Feb. 27. Most of the Australian visitors to the sculling championship, including Tresidder’s trainer, pacemaker, and backers, left by the mid-day train, and were accorded a lieart.y send-off. The party, together with Webb, visited tho Putiki pah at the invitation of the natives, and were welcomed in true Maori fashion, the natives dancing liakas, and Webb and Tresidder were the recipients of several presents from the natives. Tresidder remains here for a few days. It is probable Fogwell will return in a few weeks’ time.

FOGWELL TO TRAIN ARNST. Press Association. PALMERSTON N., Feb. 27. William Fogwell passed through Palmerston to-day en route for Wellington, where he joins the s.s. Moeraki, for his return voyage to Australia. Interviewed by a representative of the “Manawatu Times,” W. Fogwell stated that lie would probably return to New Zealand in about a month’s time, and take up his residence at Wanganui. He will train Arnst for the match with Webb. Fogwell states positively that Arnst will row ; as a New Zealander, and not, as lias been stated, an Australian. The match will probably not take place till November, as the Wanganui river will be too subject to flooding before that. The race will be the hardest Webb has yet had to row.