CORNWELL CUP.

Evening Star, Issue 20053, 19 December 1928, Page 12

CORNWELL CUP.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Tlio last tiling 1 desire is a controversy with a club affiliated to tlio Utago Yacht and Motor lioat Association. But as the letter of the committee of the North-cast liarbour Boating Club, published in your issue last evening, contains statements which place the association in an unfair light, 1 cannot do my duty to tlio association and allow them to pass unnoticed. When tlio letter was before the association it was felt that the sooner the regrettable incident was closed the hotter for tlio sport. The association is pleased to have tho club’s assurance that it is loyal, and that it upholds tlio association in its protest against the unjust treatment meted out to Otago’s representatives at tho last contest. But when tho committee says “ chat the province is losing a golden opportunity of having matters adjusted by not having its representatives on tho Sailing Committee for tho contest this year, I. must point out that it fails to fully comprehend tb,o position. Tho Sailing Committee can only control tlio contest in accordance with tlio rules laid down by the Takapuua Boating Club, tho owners of tlio cup. The Sailing Committeo lias no nior» power o alter tho rules governing tho contest than lias tlio North-east Barbour Boating Club itself. Tho T'akapnua Bunting Club makes tlio rules which control I .bo'contest, and it is absolutely supreme. In tho circumstances, wliicli were made so plain in the last contest, it is pure folly for tho committeo to talk of ’•doing less than our duty in not giving our lads tlio opportunity and honour of contesting tho issue with f representatives of other provinces.” Tho association bolds tlio opinion that any intorprovincial contest which is not conducted in accordance with tho rules of racing and yachting practice is detrimental and harmful, and certainly not helpful to thoso who fako part in it. Jf tho avowed object is to train future yachtsmen, then in tlio name of common sense tlio contorts should bo conducted according to the wellestablished rules, and not merely to please the whim of that versatile authority known as Bailor ty. Until tho Cromwell Cup contest can bo property conducted the association and club which value fair play and sportsmanship should stand out of it. The committeo makes >ono definite statement which is contrary to fact. It says: “At a meeting of your association earlier in the year it was decided that, although no challenge would bo issued officially by tho_ Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, no objection would bo raised to any individual club doing so.” .It would surely be unpardonable inconsistency for tho association to decide that it would not take any part in the contest, and then put in motion the machinery to enable an affiliated club to take part. The Takapuua Boating Club’s rule on tlio matter of challenges lays it dorm definitely that “ in each port where there is a yacht association representing boating clubs the challenge must bo made by tho association.” Therefore tho association could not stultify itself by resorting to tho subterfuge of challenging for a. dub alter it. had decided not to challenge. Tlio association must bo in favour or against taking part in the contest, and it has decided against. Therefore it will stand by its decision. Tbe committeo attempts to exenso its action by saying that ‘‘the date of acceptance having drawn very close while our club was slid corresponding with you on tho matter, it was necessary for us to issue our challenge.” On November 9 the association decided, in response to a request by the North-east Harbour Boating Club, to reconsider its decision, to adhere to its determination not to challenge. The question of club challenges was raised at that meeting by tho club’s delegates. I produced tho Takapuua Boating Club’s rules, and read tho rule providing that challenges could only bo made by associations. That was on November 9. The Norh-cast Harbour Boating Club issued its challenge on December 1, and that constitutes the club’s offending. It should have recognised that in issuing a challenge it was. acting disloyally to the association, of which it is a part, and it should have known that a club challenge could not be accepted if the Takapuua Boating Club acted in accordance with its rules.—l am, etc., J. T. Baui, (President Otago Y'acht and Motor Boat Association). December IP.