WHAT IS AN AMATEUR?

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7029, 18 January 1910, Page 9

WHAT IS AN AMATEUR?

THE EECENT SCULLING HANDICAP'S. DEFINITION EEQUIEEDAt last night's meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Mowing Association, Mr W. Coffey complained that some very prominent members ot affiliated clubs or associations had been taking part, in the capacity of officers, in recent professional regattas. Ho was aware there was no rule on the sul> ject, but such proceedings were totally opposed to the spirit of amateurism. A person who had held a prominent position on the Amateur Mowing Council had acted as starter in the Foxtou handicaps, and other persons prominent in amateur circles had taken part in the Wanganui professional races. The secretary (Mr A. D. Bayfield) remarked that such was the cose. It was pointed out by one ol tao member® that tbo council bad already ruled that Webb could be a member ot the Wanganui Mowing Club, although he could not take part in amateur regattas. Mr Coffey held to his point, stating that rowing was one of the cleanest amateur sports in existence. The. council should hare .some rule prohibiting members of amateur rowing bodies from officiating at professional gatherings. Mr IV. Bridsou said that what Mr Coffey objected to applied the whole \vorl<l over. Mr BlacKiiuin, the captain, of the Mercantile Bowing C-lub in S.vuney, was one of the most prominent officials in regard to professional races on the Parramatta river. Tlie 1 act that such men occupied positions ot responsibility in amateur circles mad© lor clean sport in professional sculling. 1 Tactically all professional rowers iiad graduated from amateurii. When, amateur officials took part in the controL of professional races they were controlling the same bodv of men they Jiad. been in the habit "of controlling, the only change being that there were different rules. Mr E. W. MoVilly: Personally, I would not take up the position. What is the position of a man who is an amateur and starts a horse race ? Mr Coffey: Horse-racing is a different 1 thing altogether. , • 1 Mr. MoVilly remarked that the difference evidently was that a man.who started a horse race was an amateur, but when he started a professional boat race ho became a professional!. Mr Q. Lachlan asked. Was professional rowing improving amateurism or was it I detrimental ? He thought it was iin- 1 proving amateurism. , Mr'MoVilly.suggested that the subject should be discussed at the annual meeting. It was too-big a question to tackle without notice. ■ ■ ■ It was decided to draft a rule defining an amateur, in order that a full discussion could taka place at the annual meeting.