YE VETERANS ROWING RACE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 66, 21 April 1944, Page 4

YE VETERANS ROWING RACE

Sir, —Altho vice and greed are bywords these days, still it comes as a shock to find bribery and corrup-. tion creeping into our sporting activities. While we do not blame the Editor of your paper directly it is displeasing to note that his reputation as an oarsman is to benefit through such an act. At the recent rowing regatta someone (we do not actually name the Editor or the Borough Foreman)— some one "got at" the judges who are equally in disgrace. The King St Ha-has were given the verdict against the Hillqrest Haw-haws, and as a further affront to the real winners, they received with puffed chests and hypercritical modesty, the acclamations of the large crowd present. Sir, we can produce photographic evidence to show that the brazen laurel-seekers lost by a wide margin and apparently resorted to bribery. How else could such a verdict have been given. And the camera, Mr Editor, canrjpt lie! We feel that we can leave matters in the hands of our fellow oarsman, Mr B. S. Barry to deal with the Borough Foreman but are some-» what at a loss to deal with your base self. Possibly we will pay a year's subscription to your paper and then refuse to read it. alone might help you to repent. Lastly, we ask in the interests of the sport, that you should print this impartial criticism, and so reasure the many admirers of our rowing prowess. Yours etc., THE HILLGREST HAW-HAWS per Stroke, 3, 2 and Bow. (Were we. to give Avay to our baser feelings in the face of the above; scurrilous and unwarranted attack upon our universally acknowledged integrity we undoubtedly would have; set to work and put our sculls to more militant and practical use, at the expense of those who seek to rob us of our just glory. Being honest Ha Has, however, from that part of Whakatane renowned for its patience and forbearance, we propose to remain in dignified aloofness and treat" the matter with the contempt it deserves. We. will not be drawn into any unseemly newspaper brawl over a decision which was hailed' , with undisguised delight by well over 3000 honest-hearted Whakataneians last Sunday. Let the Haw Haws produce armfuls of phototgraphic evi-> dence, we have the written authority of Peter the Whaler, who watched carefully the whole progress of the race from Whale Island and thus undoubtedly places the honour of having thoroughly trounced the He Haws (pardon) in our hands. If there is any doubt, we are as gentlemen are open at any time to> defend our laurels by a further challenge. We have spoken! For and on behalf of the King Street Ha Has, Ed.)