A. special general mosting of the mem-bors'of the Shanghai Rowing Club was held on Thursday afternoon (22nd) to consider the question of allowing the police the use of certain boats of the Club. Mr. C. Woatall, President, ocoupied the chair, and there were also present Messrs. J. F. Cheetham, C. Dowdall, C. J, Holliday, W. D. Little, W. Buchanan, J. McKie, M, Campbell, C. W. Ure, H. Smith, E. Bois, T. L. Marshall, King, M. Rohde, W. P. Davis, E. Gipperich, C. Rudolph, Maller, E. A. Fabris, J. W. Callaway, Nesbitt, EH. Skottowe, J. Hall, G. J. Dudgeon (Hon, Seoretay) ete, Mr. Cannzut asked under what rule ti meeting had been called.
The Cxarmwaw said a requisition ought to have been signed by twelve members beforehand. This was a slight irregularity, and if members wished it the meeting could be adjourned to have it set right.
No objection being made to the business being proceeded with, 'The Cuamwaw eaid the Committes had been discussing this question of admitting the police and had been unable to come, to any definite decision, 'They had only come to this decision—that if the police' were admitted they could not rise the members' dressing-room, and they could not use any boats they liked. 'Then the questi—were they to be admitted at they wore to be admitted, on what, terms should they be admitted?' These were the questions they had to decide now. For his part he thought there was no objection to letting the police have the use of boats which the members never used themselves.
The police would, if the resolution which ho was about to propose were carried, keep the boats in order themselves, they id use a dressing-room set apart for it own use, and there would be very strict rules to prevent them from doing anything but use their own boats. He moved—
"That the Police b two boats known as ti two boats knowe others; the Police to make no.use of the Club Aressing-room, and to be subject to rules specially drawn up by the Comuiittes,"
Mr. Dupazox seconded the motion.
Me. Kiyo thought members would be able to more easily make up their minds if they had some idea of what the special rules for the police were to be.
The Cuarescay said the Committe would be guided by the opinions expressed by members. In the first place members of the Club would have precedence.
Mr. Kixa asked if the police would have the ute of the servants of the Club.
The Cuamsax said yes, in putting the ato the water; but, as he had aa members of the Club would have prece dence in this respect.
Mr. Krxo thought such a necessary, because—thought it might be a ish way of looking at it—it would bea for members of the Club to be kept waiting a quarter of an hour while affiliated members were served first.
The CHarataN remarked that the police were strong enough and big enough to put their own boat water, if necessary.
Mr, Sats thought it was totally opposed to the principle of @ club to which election was by ballot to allow men to enter free and without ballot in this way. He thought the municipality was rich enough to provide boats for the police; and in any case he thought it would be better for the Club to give or sell boats to the police than to admit them to free membership in this way.
In anewer to Mr. Buchanan, The Cnarwan said an annex would have to be built in order to provide a dressing room for the police; but of course it would not be built at the expense of the Club.
Mr. Buchanan suggested that the "annex" should be quite separate from the present building—that the police should have a boat house of their own.
Mr. Cuzeraxt proposed as an amendment, "That the police be not allowed the use of the boat-house at all, or of the Club poate,"
Hr said they got on very well as they we and they did the police" would find the police using the Club vants, they would have to wait, and there would always be a lot of trouble.
Mr. Bors seconded the amendment.
Mr. Caupsett was very sorry to hear Mr. Cheetham's amendment. He thought the Club had everything to gain and yo-to lose by admitting the police, although he thought it was quite right that there should be certain restrictions, and that they should not be allowed to use the members' dressing-room. There had recently been the greatest difficulty in getting a sufficient number of men to row, and this spring they were not able. to get up a regatta, but were simply getting up a few scratch races. The objection had bosn raised that they would disqualify themselves for the title of amateurs by rowing against the police; but he did not, think for a moment that any Club would refuse to recognise them as amateurs for such a and y case they. could protect themselves against such a possibility by letting police row st police and members against member Mr. Houtmay said it might not be out place to lay before the members of the Club, of whom he had the honour to be one, the manner in which they proposed to work this scheme. It was proposed to build a separate dressing-room open into the present dressing-room. With regard to. the Club servants, the police were stalwart and able clough to do moat rowing clubs did at home, put their own boats in the water, if the servants happened to be engaged on behalf of the members. They hoped in a little time, after the initial expenses had been got over, to build boats for the police; but of course there was the question of how the funds were to be raised. They did not ask the Club to do this for nothing; it was his intention to suggest to his colleagues of the Watch Committee that a annual donation of at least Tis, 100 should be given to the Club. One member had suggested that the Municipality should build a boat-house, and spoke. of their being rich; but he could not know much about it, because as a mutter of fact they were in a. state of impecuniosity terrible to behold, The proposal would bring into the rowing world of Shanghai " wonderful influx of fresh blood, There would sven be sixty or sevauty police; some of whom were Newcastle dd born oarsmen, and he thought it would be a great advantage to admit them on these terms. The Athletic Club and Gymnasium and Cricket Club had met them very hand-acmely and he hoped the Rowing Club would also, They were most anxious, for the sake of the community, to get these healthful and honest recreation, and thought in the long run it. would be found to reflect advantageously upon themselves, Mr. Dovorox remarked with regard to the question of disqualifying: themsel as amateurs, according to books on rowing they would not disqualify themselves; but it would be open to clubs at home to object to them if they rowed with what were called tradesmen amateurs."
Mr. Bucwaxan asked, with reference to the question of building an annex, whether they had a lease of the adjoining land, 1 CHAIRMAN said they had no lease at all.
Mr. Bucwavax—Then you are going to take this foreshore without reference to the landlord The Cuarmsax—Thoro is no Jandlord.
Mr. BucuaNay—Then you propose to jump some land? I thought we paid Tis, 100 a year.
Mr. Dvpczox—That is compensation, not rent, We have refused to pay that this year. _The Cxaretax—Yes.- It is compensation for destroying the view of these beautiful houres here. (Laughter.)
Mr. Méztex thought the members would not lose caste by admitting the police.
Mr. CueerHam's amendment was then put to the vote and carried by about 15 votes to 9.
Mr. Bucuanan asked if it was in order to make some other proposal whereby the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.