PROFESSIONALISM v. AMATEURISM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7300, 2 December 1910, Page 1

PROFESSIONALISM v. AMATEURISM

. SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP NEITHER ARXST NOR HIS BACKERS AFTER "BOODLE.” SPECIAI, TO THE "TIMES." CHRISTCHEECH, December 1. At the presentation to Mr Richard Arnst last night Dr Thacker (his principal backer) .said it had been stated in the papers that Arnst had said ho would go where tho most “boodle” was, but Arnst never said 'any such thing. What •ho did say was that he supposed he would 'have to go where the best inducements wore, where ho would get the best match. He never mentioned “boodle,” and no man thoiight less of “boodle” than Arnst did. Dr Thacker went on to say that this rowing club business gave him mal de mer. When, he offered J 250 for a sculling match at Akaroa Air F. D. Kesteven, the head of the Rowing Association in Christchurch, came and asked him why he did not give the prize for amateurs. That man was down on Arnst because he was a professional, and yet lie was after the money himself. As far as recognition by Christchurch went it was not to bonded warehousemen, and such that Arnst looked, but to the ordinary men about town. Ho (Dr Thacker} would never give* a “bean” to rowing in Christchurch as far as amateurs were concerned.

In tho course of further remarks Dr Thacker said that Arnst's supporters had received nothing out of his winnings, and that they were ready to “put up” the money agtii-n.

Tho chairman added, that there was an impression, which was quite wrong, -that the supporters had received a percentage of tho champion’s winnings. They provided the money. In the event of his winning they stood to get their money back without any recompense whatever, but if he lost the match they would lose their tnoney. Nothing could bo fairer than that.