Extracts from the Annual Report of the Stourport Literary Institute ... 1885

.... Mr Newmarch remarked that a little reference should be made to the excitement in regatta circles caused by the new rules which it was sought to introduce. Mr Roden waited upon the Amateur Rowing Association. He should be glad to explain to the meeting that the Institute was carefully observing everything that belonged to the welfare not only of their own members, but of their town and river.
Mr Roden said that amongst the rules drawn up, was one to the effect that no man who followed a menial occupation would be allowed to compete in 'amateur' boat races.
Mr Morrison said that the rowing club could not at all agree with the rules of the A. R. A. All the members there would support Mr Roden when he went to the meeting and give him their full confidence. The thanks of all the rowing men in Stourport were due to the committee for the action they had taken in the matter.
Mr Dorsett said he should like to ask before the resolution was put, a question with regard to that 12s 11d. He was under the impression that the guarantee was to wipe off the whole of the debt on the regatta, so thast the Institute would not have toi suffer the loss of even 1s. Bit he found that 12s 11d had to come out of the Institute funds.
Mr Newmarch said that the arrangement made was that the members would wipe off the debt and that was brought into the balance sheet after it was closed. It remained for any member not on the list to provide their own proportions. He thought there were some three or four who had not paid. He thought it was not right under the delicate circumstances of the case to enforce the matter at all. The guarantee was a voluntary matter. He calculated 6s each, and there were two payments of 6s that he had not received.
The chairman remarked that he did not know what their definition of 'amateur' would be but he had no doubt that it was a very ticklish thing to meddle with. He doubted very much whether thay would be able to improve on the old one, that an amateur was a person who had never rowed for money prizes. If they departed from that old rule, they would get into greater difficulties than they were in now.
The motion that the report be adopted was then carried.