YACHTING RIVALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20959, 24 August 1931, Page 11

YACHTING RIVALS.

CLUBS ON THE MANUKAU.

AMALGAMATION QUESTION.

CLASHING ON RACE DAYS. A further effort to bring about the amalgamation of the Manukau Yacht and Motor-Boat Club and the Manukau Cruising Club was made at the annua! smoke concert of the Yacht Club on Saturday evening. Mr. E. Morton, president-elect of the Yacht Club, said when the Cruising Club was formed just after the war yachting on the Manukau was at a low ebb and the advent of the new body put fresh life into the sport. At the present tirn-\ however, there was world-wide depression and the carrying on of two clubs on the Manukau was not only hard on club finances b't also on the donors who were expected to give trophies to both bodies. He thought it would be far better if the clubs amalgamated and made one strong club. If, on the other hand, that could not be brought about, the}' should work together especially on their main racing days. Mr. T. Pardington 7 retiring president of the Yacht Club, agreed with Mr. Morton that there was room for two clubs a few years ago. but such was not, the case to-day. There were not sufficient boats on the Manukau to race in one club alone, and the result was that many boat owners competed in both clubs. That meant that business people who supported yachting were asked to give two prizes instead of one. The Yacht Club would be only too pleased to see the Cruising Club join op, and to get over any difficulties he thought bis club would even agree to holding a fresh election of officers in order that the Cruising Club might elect some of its own officers on the committee. It must be understood, however, that as the Yacht Club was the oldest in the Dominion it would not agree to any change of uam«. Mr. W. Claydon, commodore of th* Manukau Cruising Club, said although thev were rivals on the water, they met as friends ashore. He thought them was room on the Manukau for two clubs and his club was not prepared to lose its identitv. Some arrangement could be made in regard to holding races without clashing. Mr. A. J. Collings. secretary of the Auckland Yacht and Motor-Boat Association. said he would like to see the amalgamation of the Manukau clubs brought about. He also expressed the opinion that there were too many clubs on the Waitemata and it would be in the interests cf yachting generally if something could be done in the matter c-f amalgamation of various clubs in Auckland.