ROWING COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3763, 16 April 1907, Page 3

ROWING COMMENTS.

To the Editor. Having read ” Enthusiast’s ” , letter in Saturday’s issue, I cannot but admire the opinion of the writer re the lack of energy displayed by the ManawatU Rowing Club in allowing the proposed regatta to fall through. Through the midiem of your valuable paper I would like to endorse the statements ihade by “ Enthusiast ” and express iny opinion in saying that all that has been said about the lethargy of the ManawatU Rowing Club is all that can be credited to its members. One question in particular I would like to ask, who, and what kind of men are the committee composed of. Early in the season I was approached by one of the committee, as to becoming a member of. the Club and was given to understand that a set of rules were in force whereby the Club was governed. Now, Sir, what I want to know is, are those same rules still in force ; if so why

does the committee not see (that is asfar as they are able) that they are strictly carried out, instead of being the very first to ignore them. One rule states that non-members or ‘ other than visitors shall not be allowed the use ofthe Club’s boats. This rule is being continually broken and mostly by members of the committee. Then, again, I have noted that one or two members are. allowed the use of the racing boats in order to take ladies , out! This breach I noticed took

place under the eyes of one or two members who style themselves — committee men—surely they are /•worthy the name. This same member, I noticed taking one of , the pair oared outriggers from the water into the shed unassisted! How this intellegent member anticipated getting the boat on to its tressels, I cannot imagine. There is only one way of doing it unassisted and that is the one end at a time system. Surely there can be little wonder that these boats are in a worse state • now than they were before the so-called “committee” expended some ,£ls or £2O of the Club’s money in effecting repairs. I would also like to state that this performance just

related also took place under the eyes pf some of the pushing committee men, who, as “Enthusiast” remarked, .were “too tired” to render assistance, and had not a less weary member put in an appearance and rendered a little help ! should have had my curiosity satisfied by noting how this particular would have managed the task alone. Is there any wonder that members take such little interest in the welfare. of the Club when this noble body of committeemen are so slothful in the performance ot their duty ? It cannot be expected that the Manawatu Rowing Club will ever arise from its lethargy while it is governed by such careless committeemen, and I believe that it is due to this that the majority of members have become so disgusted as to have taken no interest in the regatta. Let us hope that next season will see a more energetic body at the head of the M.R.C. —I am, etc., Observer.