STIGMA ON AUCKLAND.

Grey River Argus, 8 December 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

STIGMA ON AUCKLAND.

IF SANDERS CUP DIED. I COST OF CONTESTS. SEVERAL CLUBS APATHETIC. “ Southern men look upon Auckland yachtsmen as the»creamof: participants in the sport in Australia and New Zealand, and they .’therefore look to boating men of the Waitemata to give a lead. It would, be disaster and a stigma on this, city‘if the Sanders ’Cup contests we4e 'allowed to die. ’’ So said Mr O. A.-Moller, ■ chairman of the Auckland Yacht ; and Motorboat Association, when the question of sending a challenge for the Sanders Cup, to be competed for in February at Akaroa, was brought forward. Mr A .J. Collings, secreaary of the association, remarked . that the financing of a challenger was, becoming more difficult every year. Last season the expense to the association was £6B, and to meet this £53 . was contributed by the various clubs, and £5 was given as a donation.',The deficiency to the association was .therefore £'o. “There has been a deficit for several years," said Mr ;Collings. Mr Moller said that Auckland had virtually saved Otago, yachting as a result of the institution of the contests. Waitemata men apparently did not realise what the Sanders Cup meant to southern yachting. It. was the boating classic of New Zealand. “We are spoon-fed ,here in boating, and we simply say we. have as much as we want, ami why worry?" <b dared Mr Moller. “I appeal to you as yachtsmen of New Zealand, and not only as yachtsmen of Auckland. What a disgrace it would b”e if we ' dropped out! We thought the contests good enough to start, ami, arc we going to pull out because of 'a cost of £5 to each local club?" “If I belonged to a club that could not pay £5 for the’ Sanders Cup. I

would resign," he concluded. “The Devonport Yacht Club will not support the contest this year because th© committee feels the', object of the Sanders Cup has been defeated," said Mr M. Ensoll. “We'feel the boats arc not being built for the sport, but fo r other purposes. The rich man has put up the prices, and excluded the boys for whom the contest was originally designed." UNMEASURED BOATS. Mr 11. J. C. George stated that the present opinion of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron was antipaathetic toward the contest. It considered that when unmeasured boats were permitted to compete, ai had a certain Southern boat for the past three years, there was no incentive for Auckland o r other parts to challenge

their respective clubs. He would endeavour to visit clubs and to present the case for the continuation of the contest. It was unanimously resolved to forward a challenge, although some delegates pointed out that they would have to consult their clubs as to whether they felt disposed to bear a share of the expense.