ROWING

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12092, 3 November 1933, Page 7

ROWING

N.Z.A.R.A. CONFERENCE LOCAL DELEGATE’S COMMENT ALLOCATION OF AN EIGHT Some interesting comments on proceedings at the annual conference of the N.Z. Amateur Rowing Association were made yesterday by Mr A. F. Allen, who attended the gathering as delegate for the East Coast Association and returned to Gisborne by' the early morning service. Regarding the important matter of tho allocation of an eight-oared boat to this district, Mr Allen said that, with Mr A. Ross, resident delegate for the East Coast Association, lie interviewed a number of prominent men on the council, and they promised their support to the .suggestion. At the conference tho two East Coast, delegates put forward a definite proposal that ail eight be allocated to this district, and the trend of the discussion indicated that- the conference was fully in sympathy with the request, it being realised that this district was the only one -of its numeral strength not yet supplied with this means of competing in the eight-oared pionshipThe difficulty proved to be that the council had only a- small annual income, insufficient "to cover die cost of an eight, -its funds being on fixed deposit. It was eventually suggested that the council might break up the funds on deposit in order to have greater spending power and the Council was recommended to approach district associations for opinions on fids suggestion, on receipt of which they! should act accordingly. , Messrs Allen and Ross spoke to. representatives of many associations and .they all appeared favorable so that there is every prospect of an eight being allocated to this district.

Suggested centralisation of the national championships and eightoared provincial championships was given short shrift- by the delegates, Air Allen further stated. As it happened, however, on the merits of the individual applications, the national championships were allotted to Picton and the eight-oar contests to Wellington for the current season Auckland’s application for the national regatta was invalid, owing to it being filed after the date set. Mr Allen also placed 1 before fihe conference the merits of the Wairoa River as a suitable venue for the championships at some future time, and the delegates were very interested, while the suggestion was supported bv several speakers who bad some knowledge of this excellent testing place. Nevertheless, delegates considered that transport facilities were too heavy a handicap in the meantime, but it was agreed that Wairoa be favorably considered when transport had improved. More than one delegate praised the enterprise oT the East Coast clubs in sending crew to the last Dominion regatta at Wanganui, •while the 'Wellington and Marlborough delegates expressed the hope that this district would he represented at the forthcoming regattas in February.