A brief explanation of some points arising out of the Rules and Regulations of the A.R.A. may be useful.
"Professional."
Up to 1894 the A.R.A. gave a very wide interpretation to the term "professional," which was held to include "any person not qualified as an amateur under A.R.A. Rules." Mechanics, artisans, labourers, men engaged in menial duty, or employed in manual labour for money or wages, were, therefore, not merely disqualified as amateurs, but were considered to be professionals, and competition against them for a prize involved disqualification to the amateur so competing. In 1894, however, the whole code of A.R.A. was submitted to the revision of a sub-committee, and their report, subsequently adopted by the full committee, laid it down that from this time on the word "professional" must be interpreted "in its primary and literal sense," i.e. one who makes money by rowing, sculling, or steering. An amateur rowing, or sculling, or steering with or against a professional for a prize is still disqualified, but the amateur status of one who rows or steers with or against mechanics, artisans, etc.
(provided, of course, the race is not for a stake, money, or entrance fee), is not affected. At the same time it must be remembered ([Rule I of Rules for Regattas]) that at regattas held in accordance with A.R.A. rules no mechanic, artisan, etc., can be admitted to compete, and by [Clause XI. of the Constitution] no member of any club affiliated to the A.R.A. is permitted to compete at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules. The result would seem to be, therefore, that whereas an amateur who is not a member of a club affiliated to the A.R.A. can compete against mechanics, artisans, etc., at a regatta not held in accordance with A.R.A. rules without incurring any penalty, a member of a club affiliated to the A.R.A. can compete against this class only in a private match. Any member of an affiliated club transgressing [Clause XI.] would unquestionably render himself liable to suspension under [Clause VIII. of the Constitution]. There are now, therefore, three classes of oarsmen, viz. amateurs, non-amateurs, and professionals.
Non-amateurs.
The A.R.A. holds that "apprenticeship is no disqualification." Nobody, therefore, is to be disqualified for serving an apprenticeship, even if it involves (as in the case of engineers or nurserymen) manual labour for a money payment. But such manual labour on the part of one who has passed through his ordinary apprenticeship and still continues at the work for a year or two would disqualify.
The committee has held that disqualification attaches, for instance, to—
(1) A watchmaker's assistant who works, or has worked, at the bench.
(2) A baker's assistant who not only helps to make bread, but also delivers it.