SELECTION OF ROWERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21021, 9 May 1930, Page 2

SELECTION OF ROWERS.

PROTEST FROM OTAGO. NOT ENDORSED BY CANTERBURY. A resolution embodying various points of difference with the selection of the rowing eight for the Empire Games was Veceivcd at this week’s meeting of the Canterbury Rowing Association from the Otago*Association. However, the Canterbury Association decided to dissociate itself from the Otago views and passed a motion to that effect. The letter from the Otago Association contained objections to the system of sending 12 - men into camp for training from whom 10 would be chosen. It was claimed that the additional expense of the two extra men was unnecessary. It also objected to the inclusion of A. H. Eastwood, a professional jockey, as coxswain for the crew. It was claimed that Eastwood was not connected with the sport, and was not of amateur status in the true sense of the word. The association also objected to sending a coach with the team when a member of the selected crew could act as such. The Otago Association is forwarding a copy of the resolution to other affiliated associations asking for their views on the matter. The chairman (Mr B. D. Kesteven) said that the Canterbury Association did not want to take part in the discussion at the present stage. As regarded the jockey, he was quite eligible. Mr F H. Booth considered that the views of the association in Otago were right. The expenses of a manager should be saved. The secretary (Mr R. J. Hobbs) said that a special manager for the rowing team was not being sent. There would be one manager for the whole New Zealand contingent. As a matter of fact, it was hoped to get a manager who would pay his own expenses. Referring to the cox, Mr Hobbs said that Eastwood had given up his positionas a solicitor’s clerk to go to Australia “« cox for the New Zealand eight, and on returning had to take up a new place. He had taken a position as a jockey. The New Zealand Council had cleared up that point, for riding was Eastwood’s living. Mr W. L. Whittington said that if a rower was a professional jockey he would be unable to compete. Mr W. S. Godfrey pointed out that Eastwood had been nominated by the Canterbury Club, but if he went to Canada he might not be accepted as an amateur.' Mr Hobbs informed members that he had received a letter from Wellington stating that Eastwood * conformed to the amateur status absolutely. The letter {torn the council also stated that it would be better not to send a crew than send it without a coach. Mr Booth said that he had been informed that only two or three crews would be competing. If that was true it would he a waste of money to send a crew to Canada. Mr Hobbs then moved —“ That the Canterbury Rowing Association disagrees with every section of the Otago Rowing Association’s resolution, and regrets that it thought fit to, pass same at a time when collections for the fund were in progress.” Mr D. Lee seconded the motion, which was carried.