BOOKMAKERS FINED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 53

BOOKMAKERS FINED.

CHRISTCHURCH, November 26.

Two bookmakers, Sidney Nettleford and Bernon Watson, were each fined 40s and costs foi trespassing on the Metropolitan Trotting Club's grounds at Addington on November 8 and October 31 respectively. The Magistrate told Nettleford, who had been fined several times previously for similar offences, that had he not gone off the course promptly when warned tho second time he would have been sent to prison ; and if he came before the court again on a similar charge he need not be eurprised if he were seixteneed to a term of imprisonment.

New Zealand, and the accommodation of the largest room in the European Hotel, George street, was fully taxed in accommodating the delegates and interested fanciers from all parts of the island. In the unavoidable absence of Mr A. L Myers (president of the association), from whom a letter of apology and advice was read, Mr S. S. Myers (vice-president) took the chair. All the affiliated bodies (with the exception of Tapanui) were represented, the roll being answered as follows: — Rangiora, C. W. Bell aud James Smaill ; Christchurch, W. E. Earnshaw; Ashburton, Alf. Walker, Timaru, S. It. Burns ; Oamaru, A. L. Lawrence ; Dunedin, H. P. Harvey and D. K. Torranee; Taieri, P. Sinclair; Tuapeka, A. M. Eyes and Benjamin Hart ; Bruce, J. Grant ; Gore, A. J. Pope; Invercargill, L. Irvine and H. Double ; Maniototo, J. Rose.

A letter was read from Mr Kesteven (Chriatchurch), asking to be relieved of the secretaryship, and that permission be given to Mr C. Lucas to act in his place at the meeting. — Granted. The annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted. The former stated that the first championship meeting held under the auspices of the association took place at the Christchurch show in June last, and proved a complete success. Of the 14 championship prizes offered by the association, six were won outright as follows: — Minorcas, Mr A. Hendry ; game, Mr A. Walker ; dorkings, Mr S. C. Kesteven; show homers, Mr G. B. Pearoe ; long -faced tumblers, Mr W. Fraser; Norwich canary (colour-fed), Rev. Mr Thompson. The payment of these prizes absorbed the best part of the current yeai-'s revenue. The balance to the credit of the association, after payment of ail liabilities, amounts to £29 Bs.

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, briefly referred to the fact that a slight advance had been made, and that extra trophies would have to be provided to replace those which had been won right out. He also pointed out the advantages a-ceruing to the various clubs and societies having a central body to call them together for the exchange of ideas for the advancement and protection of the interests of all.

The election of officers resulted as follows : President, Mr A. L. Myers; vice-presidents, Messrs S. S. Myers and James Lillico ; secretary and treasurer, Mr C. Lucas ; auditor Mv E. J. Ross.

After some keen competition, showing that the greatest possible interest was taken in the allocations, the championship prizes for the next season's shows were divided out in the following order : — Fowls : Minortas, Gere; Leghorns, Taieri; wyandolfces, Christchurch ; Orpingtons, Tuapeka ; Hamburgs, Ashburton ; game, Dunedin ; laugshans, Invercargill; Houdans, Milton; ducks, Invercargill; ducks, NaEeby. Pigeons:' Frills. Oamaru ; dragons, Rangiora : long-faced tumblers and colour-fed canaries, Timaru ; non-colour-fed canaries, Christchurch.

Prior to deciding upon the disposal of the privilege which society was to hold the next Championship show, Mr Alf. Walker (Christchurch) inquired as to whether the Dunedin delegates had any explanation to offer as to their alleged infringement of rule 12 of the association, which reads: "A person exhibiting or judging at a nonaffiliated show in the South Island will not be allowed to compete or judge at an affiliated show. This rule not to apply to agricultural and pastoral association shows." He contended that Mr Maude, of Melbourne, having judged at Nelson, which was unaffiliated, ought not to have been allowed to judge at Dunedin : nor should entries have been accepted from those who had shown at the Nelson show. He alleged that the Dunedin people knew perfectly well before receiving the entries that they were from disqualified persons, and in proof of his case he spoke of telegrams which he knew had been exchanged on the subject between an officer of the Dunedin Club and a fancier up north. After considerable discussion by other representatives, the Dunedin delegates, in defence . of their club's action, explained that though rule 12 had been broken, it was not by deliberate intent, but by the development of circumstances beyond the club's control. The judge had been appointed for Dunedin, and entries had' teen received from all parts of the colony upon the strength of his appointment, which had been advertised i» the schedule of the show, before his acceptance of the Nelson judgeship _ was known ; also, a notification, as required by another rule of the association, of the exhibitors disqualified had not been received by the club's secretary. It was also explained that owing to the peculiar circumstances of the case rule 13, which forbids the rescinding or otherwise altering of a club's prize schedule after its circulation, would have been broken if rule 12 had been observed. The outcome of the discussion was that, for the sake of maintaining respect for the rules, the delinquent club was fined £3 3s for their supposed offence, but the amount was ultimately refunded as a donation to the club, to be used as a trophy in the Minorca class. The claims of Invercargill, Dunedin, and Timaru were advanced as the place for the holding of the next Championship show. The final decision rested between Invercargill and Timaru, and the honours were carried off by the latter by 11 to 8. The appeal of C. Lafferty against a decision of the Timaru society evoked considerable argument, and ultimately it was decided to uphold the Timaru society in the matter, but to refund Mr Lafferty's appeal deposit.

A motion by Mr Alf. Walker that the secretary of the Ranjjiora society be instructed to comply with ride 9, which requires notification , to the association of tb.e rrames of disqualified exhibitors, was lost; Mr Bell, the delegate from the society, explaining that the cases of disqualification referred to were merely intended by the society to be local, and for the particular show.

The show dates for the year were fixed as follows : — Christchurch, third week in June ; Rangiora, Taieri, and Tapanui, first week in July; Oamaru and Gore, second week in July; Dunedin. third week in July; r Ashburton, Tuapeka, and Naseby, fourth week in July; Invercargill, fourth week in August.

Notices of motion effecting alterations of rules were tabled, and on the motion of Mr Bell a committee, consisting of the president, secretary, and Mr Walker, was appointed to bring "up a scheme in respect to standards for judging exhibits for consideration at the next meeting. The chairman, Mr Smith (a Christchurch fancier present), and the secretary were appointed a deputation to the Hon. the Minister of Railways in reference to the carrying of birds to shows by passenger instead of by goods trains, complaints having been received of the damage to exhibits

A vote of thanks to the chairman for his impartial conduct in tlic chair closed the meeting.