SANDERS CUP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21577, 23 August 1933, Page 10

SANDERS CUP

FUTURE OF TROPHY OFFER TO YACHTING COUNCIL ASTONISHMENT IN AUCKLAND "LOCAL BODY'S PROPERTY" Astonishment was expressed by Auckland yachtsmen yesterday when it was learned that tho Sanders Cup, which has been in the control of tho Auckland Yacht and Motor-Boat Association since 1921, when the contests for 14ft. Jellicoq class boats were inaugurated, had been offered by Mr. J. Hislop, representative of the donors, to the New Zealand Yachting Council, and accepted by that body. The view is held by tho Auckland Association that the trophy cannot bo disposed of in this manner, sinco tho terms of the gift governing the cup state that it is and shall bo tho property of tho association. Tho New Zealand Yachting Council is a new body, formed in February, with its present headquarters in Christchurch. It was created, at the instance of Southern yachting associations, for tho purpose of controlling and fostering aquatic sport and all inter-port, interprovincial anc\ inter-colonial sailings and power-boat racing contests. The Auckland Association decided not to join the new council. The viewpoint of Auckland yachtsmen in this connection was expressed in the following resolution, carried unanimously at a meeting of tho association on March 21: — Designation Challenged "It is the view of the Auckland Yacht and Motor-Boat Association that such a council is neither desirable nor necessary, and this association does not propose to participate in the activities of the council. Furthermore, this association challenges the propriety of the council designating itself the New Zealand Yachting Council, having regard to the number of New Zealand yachtsmen who are affected by it." A recent report from Christchurch states that Mr. Hislop communicated with Mr. G. R. Curtis, chairman of the New Zealand Yachting Council, expressing regret at Auckland's decision not to join the council, and asking whether the council would accept the trophy and carry on tho contest. Mr. Curtis replied accepting the offer. In a letter received by Mr. Curtis last week, states the report, Mr. Hislop said:— "For tho past few days I have been in almost daily contact with the chairman of tho Auckland Association, Mr. Palmer. I have done my best to make him see that under the present constitution of the New Zealand Yachting Council there was, in my opinion, no tangible reason why, for the sake of interprovincial racing and for tho sake of the honoured name the contest bearß, the Auckland Association should not throw their weight in. However, a special meeting of the Auckland Association was held, and they decided to confirm their previous action. . . . Auckland Association Criticised "Mr. Palmer and Mr. E. H. Northcroft are to wait upon me as a deputation to discuss the matter with me. Personally, I see nothing to discuss. . . . This is tho opinion of a great many of the older members of the yachting circles in Auckland, and although today the Auckland Association has decided not to throw its weight in with the council, it does not mean wo will let the matter rest there. We will keep up tho pressure and perhaps early next year, when the delegates aro being appointed to the association,- we will endeavour to get men who have more of a national view of yachting than a provincial view to control the affairs in this city. "As the position is. now, it is beyond the power of the Auckland Association to carry on interprovincial racing, and there is nothing for it but for them formally to relinquish the cup. It will then give me the greatest pleasure to! ask tho New Zealand Yachting Council.' to take it over and carry on the good work of interprovincial boat racing. "I am extremely sorry that Auckland' has taken tho view it has, but still I cannot see that if they are determined in their action, this should stand in the way of the Sanders Cup contest being; parried on of that the object of com-, memorating the name of such a gallant 1 hero as Lieutenant-Commander Sanders should be in any way stultified by provincialism. ... It will afford me the greatest pleasure to be responsible personally for the miniature given with the cup ea6h year." Local Secretary's Reply

Mr. A. J. Collings, secretary of the Auckland Yacht and Motor-Boat Association, said last evening he was surprised to learn of the reported action taken by Mr. Hislop in offering the Sanders Cup to the New Zealand Yachting Council. "In the first place," said Mr. Collings, "the cup is the absolute property of my association. Secondly, Mr. Hislop, who has been kept fully conversant of all matters pertaining to the contests and the formation of the council, expressed, at a meeting of the association on March 21, his absolute confidence in the association, and the manner in which it had carried out. the Sanders and Cornwell Cup contests, and said he saw no need for a change.

"Ho further confirmed this attitude in a letter which he addressed to tho Stewart Island Yaoht Club on April 11, saying, among other things: 'I have, therefore, in fairness to tho Auckland Association, expressed my complete confidenco in them. It mustbe remembered that tho Auckland association could have conducted theso contests entirely on their own account. They did not do this, but, on their own suggestion, handed the contests over to the from each centre, and they have themselves -stood by every decision that has come from tho conferences.'

Interview with Mr. Hislop "At a meeting of tho association on August 15," said Mr. Collings, "Messrs. C. H. Palmer, chairman, and E. H. Northcz'oft, vice-chairman, were deputed to interview Mr. Hislop and ascertain for the information of tho association his views on future contests for the Sanders Cup. This they did on August 18. Mr. Hislop said that as an intor-provincial contest did not seem to bo possible, he did not know what the position was, nor what should bo done about it, but ho was very anxious to sec tho Sanders Cup maintained as an intor-provincial contest.

"Surely Mr. Hislop should have been frank and admitted to tho deputation that ho had previously offered to tho New Zealand council the cup, which was, in fact, not his property to dispose of? This morning I received from Mr. Northcroft a report on this interview, which ends: 'The conference terminated without any decision being reached.'

"Mr. Hislop erroneously infers that the decision of the association not to join the New Zealand Yachting Council -was arrived at by the delegates themselves. In point of fact, the question of affiliating with the council was first referred to every club affiliated to my association. Every club instructed its delegates to vote against affiliation to the council, on the very good and sufficient grounds that tlio objects of the council are to foster and control yacht and motor-boat racing, and not merely' the Sanders Cup, as Mr. Hislop would have us believe." The cup is at present held by the Canterbury Yacht and Motor-boat Association, Canterbury having won tho trophy last year.