OARSMEN’S DISPUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 67, 21 March 1933, Page 7

OARSMEN’S DISPUTE

INTERPROVINCIAL EIGHTS SHOULD ARAMOHO NOMINATE? OPINION SHARPLY DIVIDED.

ASSOCIATION GIVES PERMISSION. By nine votes to seven the Wan ganui Rowing Association decided lasi night that the Arainoho Boating Club be given permission to enter an eight oared crew in the Intel-provincial race to take place at Wellington on April 1. The club is to pay all expenses and; in the event of its winning the race, the donations are to be handed to the association. Feeling was sharply divided over the question, some members holding tha--bv giving permission to Aramoho the association was out of order, otlicis maintaining that the association was right in considering merely whether the club s request be acceded to or not and in not countenancing a question concerning the rescinding of a forme i motion. Mr. E. Ciotty (Union) described Aramoho's action as unsujrtsinanlike. Mr. G. A. Healey (Union), objecting to the principle involved by over-rid-ing the motion declaring the winner oi the Head-of-the-River race to be the Wanganui representatives in the inter provincial race, said that his club would not compete if Arainoho were given permission to race. Interviewed by a -‘Chronicle” reporter after the meeting Mr. Healey said that the matter would be referred to the crew to decide. Mr. D. Holmes (Aramoho) said that his club would send a crew whether Union competed or not. The subject was introduced by letters being read asking for permission to Aramoho to compete. Mr. A. Gray (chairman) said that providing Aramoho paid all expenses he could sec no objection to the club being granted permission. He asked for limited discussion and pointed out that Mr. Bayfield and Mr. Stylchc, of the New Zealand Rowing Association, together with Mr. F. Haywood, the president, could see no reason why Aramoho should not compete. Mr. A. Campbell (Aramoho) proposed that Aramoho no given permission to nominate a crew. Air. P. Evans (Wanganui) seconded. The Minute Read. Mr. Crotty asked for the minute to be read stating which crew should re present Wanganui in the interprovin cial event. Mr. J. Whetton (secretary) read the motion pioposcd by Mr. C. Aitken and seconded by Mr. Healey, that the winning crew of the Head-of-the-River race represent Wanganui at the interprovincial race. In doing so he considered that any motion on the matter would be out of order. Mr. A. Kitchen (Wanganui) agreed and considered that unless the previous motion was rescinded it must stand. Mr. Evans could see no objection to Aramoho sending a crew. That Mr. Gray had overlooked the vital point that the race might be , rowed on the Korokoro couisc on a windy day and that the crew on the ! outside would have the worst course. : was Mr. Crotty’s opinion. He said that i Aramoho might have the inside posi tion and Union be placed further out. • Mr. Gray contended that, if neces-

sary and if it could be arranged, the crews could change courses. Mr. P. Wilson (Aramoho) considered that Aramoho should go. The associa tion was out to foster eight-oared rowing and this was one of the directions • in which it could do so. Referring to the suggestion that Union could change places in the field with Aramoho, Mr. Crotty asked what the position would be if Otago (for in- ; stance) drew No. 7 position, Union No. ’ 8 and Aramoho No. 1, and Union and Aramoho changed places. What would ; the other crew have to say? It could not bo done. ! Mr. W. Coombes (Union) said that . such a position would not be fair to . Aramoho because they would not by going to 'Wellington to have a row = over the harbour? “Why didn’t Aramoho make their application in December?” asked Mr. Crotty. il ßecause they thought they would • win the Head-of-the-River,” said Mr. 1 T. Walsh (Aramoho). s Mr. Evans failed to sec how they ' would be clashing with the original motion for the Aramoho application was to compete as a second crew. Calling a Spade . . . “I believe in calling a spade a spade and I consider that in making the application Aramoho is showing poor sportsmanship,” said Mr. Crotty. “I object to that,” said Mr. Holmes. “And I am not going to allow it to be called poor sportsmanship,” said Mr. Gray. He referred to the opinion of members of the New Zealand Association, who considered that it was quite in order for Aramoho to com pete. Mr. Crotty replied that the association meeting was the proper place to j express opinions and he reiterated that Aramoho’s action was unsportsmanlike. He knew of two members of the Aramoho crew who did not wish to go to Wellington. In order to save the question being voted on Mr. Healey said that the Union crew would withdraw in favour • of Aramoho, on one condition: That • Union race Arainoho next Saturday and that, win or lose, Aramoho visit Wcllingtn. He disliked going under the • conditions suggested. If Aramoho had won the Head-of-the-River Union would not have entered a crew. He p spoke with no ill-feeling at all, but from a matter of principle. Mr. Wilson and other members hoped that Union would not adopt such a step. He suggested to Mr. Holmes that, if such were Union’s intention, then Aramoho should withdraw. f Mr. E. Gullery considered that the association was most inconsistent in its decisions concerning the previous r motions about representation. It was ’ admitted that Aramoho could not beat ‘ Union. His opinion was that Union p would not be far up in the field in Wel- ’ lington, so that if such was the case . what ex’perience was to be gained by . Aramoho ? , Mr. W. Coombes (Union) agreed and did not see how Aramoho could gain » experience by rowing over the course . once. If they wanted experience they could find it by rowing every night with Union. Advancing experience ai

I a reason for going seemed insipid. After further discussion the motion was voted on, it being decided that Aramoho be given permission. Mr. C. Breed (Ajamolio). was appointed manager of both crews and Aramoho were - given permission to use the eight-oar ; boat in the Wanganui shed. I Mr. Gray congratulated the clubs on their successes at the championship : > . gatta and thanked the association for its energies in connection with that 1 event. He had no doubt that Wanganui had retrieved its name for organ- - isation in rowing circles in New Zea- : lane* on account of tho success of the regatta. He had received letters from all over New Zealand congratulating the association. If members would keep together there was no doubt that it would be placed at the head of the ■Dominion in running the regattaA tribute was paid to Mr. Gray and Mr. Whctton for the manner in which they had organised the regatta by Mr. Kitchen. All would agree, he said, ’ that a great deal of the success was due to their efforts, thereby making the regatta probably one of the best hel< in New Zealand. Mr Gray had beer, associated with rowing for many years and it was fitting that he should 5 be president when such a successful re--1 gatta had been held. Mr. Whetton, as i secretary, had carried on the general : work and the burden. The association : owed a debt to him for his organisation. Mr. Walsh had also done excel* I lent work as chairman of the winning Queen Carnival Committee5 Mr-, Gray said that he claimed no kudos for the organisation, whicn had been carried out by Mr. Whetton. , A motion was passed expressing ap- ] preciation of the work done by Messrs. . Gray and Whetton. On the motion of Mr. Gray it was ' decided that Mr. Whetton be granted a donation of £lO 10s for the work ho had done. Mr. Kitchen seconded and the motion was carried with acclama--5 tion. The following members were present: —Messrs. A. Gray (chairman), A. Kit--1 chen, P. Evans, B. R. Durie, D. Corby, E. Gullery, R. Boyland, T. Wilson, T. ’ Walsh, B. Cox-on, D. Holmes, G. Sloan, r E. Crotty, P. Wilson, C. Healey, A. Campbell, W. Coombes, C. Breed and isJ. G. Whetton