NATIONAL BEVIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1934, Page 13

NATIONAL BEVIEW

N.Z. COUNCIL'S REPORT

.A regret that the.proposed visit of a New South Wales eight and sculler to New Zealand did not eventuate in the past year owing to the insufficient support of local associations is expressed in tho annual report of the N.Z. Amateur lowing Association, to be presented at tho annual meeting in Wellington next Thursday evening. After carefully estimating tho expenses and preparing itineraries, the council had written to associations asking the extent' of support they were able to promise, but, with two exceptions—Marlborough and Wellington—the support had been much below requirements, and the council had been compelled to inform the New South Wales Association that the invitation given them had had to be deferred, In replying for the New South Wales body, Mr. Rapier had expressed the disappointment of the. Australians^ who quite realised that financing a visit of the kind'was not easy, particularly under prevailing conditions. The council recommends in the report that this visit should be kept well in view, particularly as nine years have elapsed since New Zealand accepted the New South Wales invitation and competed in their championships. It is_ of the opinion that overseas competition should be. encouraged, as it is an incentive to oarsmen, gives added and continued interest to the public,' and, being .of great national interest ■■■also, must bo to the advancement of the sport generally. CENTENAKY KEGATTA. The invitation given by tho Melbourne Amateur Regatta. Association for a New Zealand club eight, also scullers, to compete at the Australian Henley, on November 3 next, has been accepted, and the Union Boat Club, Wanganui, also Mr. R. B. Smith (Waitemata) and Mr. P. Abbott (Petonc) will represent the association on this occasion. Taking advantage of the visit, these- clubs will also compete at a regatta in Sydney on November 10, and possibly at the Victorian Association's regatto on October 27, should the regatta be held on that date. The association extends congratulations _to these representatives on their selection, and wishes them success. The race for the Grand Challenge Eights willbe particularly interesting as, in addition to the club crew selected by each Australian State, a crew from the London Rowing Club will also start, and tho occasion thus provides a unique opportunity of seeing .the English oarsmen in competition with, those of the- Australian and New Zealand crews, as well as an opportunity of comparing their style of rowing, adds the report. The non-entry of South Island crews in the championship regatta last year was once again noticeable, states the report, as apart from Marlborough, where the regatta was held, only one. other southern club (Avon) competed, whilst on tho other hand, Auckland, East Coast, Wanganui, and' Wellington were representatives for the North Island. . INTER-ISLAND EIGHTS. Tho value of tho North v ; South race at the interprovincial eights at . Wellington last Easter is emphasised, the council being of the opinion that an annual race of this nature—opportunity being taken of the availability of oarsmen by their competing in the interprovincial eights—should be promoted each year by 'the local association to which the regatta is awarded, as it should benefit racing generally and also be of considerable public interest. For this purpose tho "Sun" Cup donated to the New South Wales Rowing Association by the proprietors of "Sun" Newspapers, Ltd., Sydn^, and won in 1925 by a New Zealand crew, has been awarded to the interisland contest. The trophy will bo retained by the council and tho names of the winning crews will be engraved on it. . AN EIGHT TOR EAST COAST. ' The authority given at tho last annual meeting to purchase an eight for tho East Coast Association has' been exercised, and a boat is being built by Mr. G. Towns, the well-known builder of Sydney, New South Wales, for delivery within'tho next few weeks, the report continues. This purchase makes the fourteenth boat purchased by the association: and handed over to . local control —viz., Auckland 2, Wanganui 2, j Wellington 2, Otugo 2, Canterbury 2, MarlboroUgh 2, Southland 1, East Coast 1. During the year a suggestion was made by the Auckland Association that the council should subsidise to the extent of £20 the purchase by any club of an "eight," but this could not be approved of; nevertheless, inquiry of this nature shows the advane-. ing popularity of - this branch of row-1 ing. The council suggests the advisability of local associations 'building up a cash reserve for tho purpose of replacing the present eight-oar boats when they become unserviceable. "There are many strong reasons for maintaining the 'capital fund of the N.Z.A.B.A. intact, and the wisdom of this policy has been amply justified, so that the replacement of these boats, will require to be taken care of by the local associations. That opens up the question of the standard boat, at present in use, whether they should continue or be relegated to practice boats and local associations permitted to build, their own racer, as is the case with boats used for other New Zealand championship events," notes tho council which adds that it is pleasing to note that the West End Rowing Club, Auckland, and the University Rowing Clubs of-both Auckland and Wellington purchased eight-oar boats during the past soason. . A total of 48 clubs, with an active membership of 1705, are affiliated with the New Zealand Association. The total levy collected by the council durin^ the past year amounted to £42'l"s (3d, against £43 6s 6d for the previous year. Total receipts were £I?>2 13s Cd, while payments totalled £70 8s 2d. The amount carried forward to the present year was £158 3s 9d, as against £95 18s 5d brought into last year's accounts. Commitments made for the present year include an eight-oared boat for the Last Coast Association and a grant towards, the expenses of the Union Boating Club eight-onretl crew who Avill compote at Melbourne in November, approximately £200. Accumulated fund stands at £2111 Gs 3d, as against £",052 10s 5d for tho previous year.