ROWING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 6

ROWING

OTAGO ASSOCIATION MEETING OF DELEGATES A meeting of the Otago Rowing Association delegates was held last night, Mr T. Mackie presiding, There was a good attendance of club delegates. Council Criticised Considerable discussion took place on the verdict of the New Zealand Council on the Otago Association’s remit regarding the powers of umpires, and it was eventually decided to make a strong protest against the unsatisfactory discussion on the remit which had ensued at the council’s meeting. The Otago Association's remit was an addition to rule 1 6 that: “After any race has been started the official shall have no power to slop it other than for the reasons set out in the Laws of Boat Racing, namely, on account of fouls or interference from outside boats.”

Mr W. J. Wilson suggested that the opinion of the New South Wales Association should be got in the matter. Another delegate suggested that the matter be referred to “ the fountain head of boat racing regulations—the Oxford-Cambridge organisation.”

“ The discussion at the conference on our remit was unsatisfactory from every point of view,” said the chairman.

“The governing body has sidestepped the issue, and it is definitely in the wrong,” remarked Mr W. G. Glengarry. After considerable discussion it was decided to lodge a complaint with the governing body regarding the unsatisfactory attention and treatment accorded the Otago Association’s remit.

Interprovinolal Eights

Although there has been considerable delay in circularising the other associations with a view to having the date of the interprovincial eight oa* event moved from Easter to March 25 it was decided that the proposal should be gone on with. Considerable discussion on the matter ensued, and the chairman suggested that somebody should move that “Otago does not want the eights this year.” No reply was forthcoming. Mr E. V. Fairbairn moved that a circular be sent to the various associations requesting their co-operation, in holding this race on March 25. and the motion was carried. The chairman stated that he felt sorry that the motion had been carried. “ I feel,” he said. “ that we have done something that will interfere with our support from the public. Oarsmen appear to prefer a local fixture to a national one. Rightly or wrongly, we have arrived at our decision.” Advice was received from the Wanganui and Wellington Associations that they would be competing in the Interprovincial Eights. The Canterbury and Marlborough Associations reported that they would defer their decision until a date was fixed.

The Queen’s Drive Boating Club advised that it was not in favour of the holding of the Interprovincial Eights at Easier. If another date was to be fixed support would be given. General

It was decided to hold the Interclub Eights on February 11 at Dunedin. Reference to the transfer to Wellington of Mr T. Porter, the Queen’s Drive delegate, was made by the chairman, and a minute of appreciation of Mr Porter’s services was passed. The North End delegates reported that their interclub regatta would be held late in January.—Mr E. V, Fairbairn, on behalf of the Oamaru Club, thanked the harbour clubs for their support, particularly the North End Club, which had advanced the date of its fixture to allow the Oamaru regatta to be held unopposed. The St. Leonards Regatta Committee advised that it was intending to include six rowing events, with prize money totalling £l6, in its programme. The Otago Annual Regatta Committee submitted for approval the programme for the annual regatta to be held at Port Chalmers on February 25.—Received and approved.