GENEROUS RESPONSE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 81, 6 April 1938, Page 6

GENEROUS RESPONSE

REGATTA DONATIONS CANVASS IN WANGANUI PRESIDENT’S APPRECIATION “I am proud to be associated with a community which has made such a generous response to a canvass for funds for the New Zealand championship regatta," remarked Mr R. J. McDonald, president of the Wanganui Rowing Association, in the course of an interview with the “Chronicle" last evening. Mr McDonald intimated that the response had exceeded expectations, and the objective at which the executive committee had aimed was already in sight. During the past month Mr McDonald has conducted a personal canvas of a large number of business people in Wanganui, soliciting donations for the championship regatta, fund, as the association considered that over £3OO would be required for the successful running of this important event. Practically without exception, he said, he found the business community in full sympathy witn the canvass, and large and small sums had assisted to build up a fund which would enable the Wanganui Association to distribute the largest prize fund ever offered at a championship regatta, as well as organise the gathering on a scale not hitherto excelled "There is no doubt about the keen interest taken by Wanganui citizens in rowing affairs, ’ said Mr McDonald. “In proportion to its size, Wanganui maintains a greater membership in its three rowing sheds than any other city or centre in the Dominion, Also in proportion to its size, Wanganui gives more generously than any oilier city in the cause of rowing. No wonder, then, that Wanganui is regarded as the Mecca of oarsmen, and 1 feel sure that record attendances may be expected for the championship legatla on Easter Saturday and the interprpvincial eight-oar championship on Easter Monday. Our generous business people are in no small measure responsible for such a happy state oi affairs in the world oi rov.ing,' - 1