AT EMPIRE GAMES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 257, 29 October 1937, Page 9

AT EMPIRE GAMES

N.Z. REPRESENTATIVE CREWS QUESTION OF FUNDS (Special to “Chronicle.”) WELLINGTON, Oct. 28. It still depends on whether sufficient funds are forthcoming to enable New Zealand representative crews to participate in the Empire Games at Sydney in February next. It was stated at to-day’s meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association that the council was prepared to put up part of the funds provided the provincial associations found the rest. Mr. A. D. Bayfield, secretary and treasurer, said the present position was that Wanganui had guaranteed £5l ss, Auckland £4O (which they expected to raise to £6O), Wellington £6O, and Marlborough £3O. So far no replies had been received from Otago or Canterbury. East Coast and Southland would be good for £lO or so. It was aimed at raising £4lO from the associations. A remit from the Otago Association suggested that a sum of £5OO should be released from the association's invested funds for the purpose of financing the team. The Otago delegate, Mr. W. J. Wilson, said that it was felt that when the association had £lBOO locked up in investments some should be released for the purpose. Mr. T. Hinkley (Wellington) said that his association had considered the matter closely. Clubs had come through the depression with their plant badly in need of repairs and replacements. They had in many cases delayed necessary repairs to their premises and had ’’urgent works of their own that required money. The local associations’ funds were bound up with those of individual clubs. While they did not ask the council to touch its invested funds they asked it not to apply any extra strain on the local associations at the present moment. The chairman, Mr. D. R. Menzies (Auckland) said that in 1926 the council had taken part in the promo-

tion of an art union as a way of raising funds for the purpose of providing eight-oar boats. After the purchase of these the residue, amounting to £lBOO, had been voted as capital to be preserved intact, and the interest devoted to overseas visits and similar purposes.

Mr. Bayfield said that in ten years the interest had amounted to over £BOO, and £2OO and £3OO respectively had been spent on the Empire Games and the Olympic Games crews. In all £BB3 had been spent and £BB2 3s 8d raised out of interest on the invested funds. The council would be in a position to offer about £lOO toward the expenses of the team. “We must go to Sydney. We must take part in the Games,” said Mr. A. Hale (Marlborough). “Some of you delegates are resting on your oars. If you can’t get the money you must make way for those who are more energetic, but of course you can get it if little Marlborough can.” He stated that Marlborough had raised the full £3O guaranteed. “I should be very sorry to see the arrangements dropped completely for lack of funds,” said Mr. I. Tregurtha (Wellington).