N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9654, 10 July 1919, Page 8

N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, July 9.

At tho Racing' Conference the president said that the credit balance was £448. Last year's deiicit (£400) had been wiped off. . „ It was decided that no action should be taker, in respect of Mr McMiken's protest .against the Takapuna Club not paying .stakes won by Munster m full, but if the facts are as represented by the owner he might have a right of action against the club. The T&umarunui, Waipa, Strattord, MaiiAwatu, Opunake, and Takapuna clubs were given permission..to give less' stakes than the net returns from the totalisator hi the 1917-18 season, on account of improvement expendi-

ture ci. In' owning the Conference, bir George Clifford, the president, said that he did not hesitate in the conviction that in no country was racing _so well regulated. As far as the regulations could be enforced in New Zealand, they were convinced that tne banishment of the bookmaker was desirable, but, if so, it followed that Jus operations should cease, a result only to be achieved by the action of the Postmaster-General and Minister of Justice under extended statutory powers. Lepal machinery for the inevitable speculation on races was sanctioned by the Gaining Acts, and it was urged that the use of the double tot'alisf.tor should be permitted upon racecourses and that secretaries of racing clubs should be allowed to receive " investments by letter or telegram. Whore speculation was legal, fet it pass through the legalised channel, which refused credit, was incapable of conspiracy, and offered no special risks to the inexperienced or unwary investor. Most trainers and '•jockoys were honourable men, but still there* was ample evidence of heavy betting on doubles. When large sums were tit stake to be won or lost by bookmakers or by professional backers, the public rightly conceived that inducements to fraud might be irresistible. This atmosphere of suspicion might b-e cleared partly by the restoration of the double totalisator. _ Much, too, could be done by effective and impartial supervision of the issue of trainers' nnd jockeys' licenses. The president referred to the importance of breeding horses of the best stamp lor army requirements, and urged that what the racing clubs had done in voluntary aid and money and services dating the war, also in the total taxation' which they contributed to th<?» Treasury, constituted a solid claim on their statesmen fora response ' to the clubs' request for legislation and assistance. A total subscription of over £150.000 for war purposes and a total payment in taxes of £862,000 was no negligible title to their gratitude, which might- well be displayed in the authorisation of an increased number of totfilifefitor permits for racing and trottinp; alike. The Conference' adopted a resolution that nrogrnmmps for winter meetings should no'; include more than one race on onc-h rtoy for Worses three years old and upwards oi' :i less distance than six fnrWiOs. Tho following was also passed : —The Confer^nee* hereby requests the autho-:rii--io>. 'ro take- sten? to authorise the working of the double totalisator on racoonnrtp-f,. {i^ its establishment would tend to thf' ndvanincrc- of sport and the benefit of tb-(* public.

Tlt president moved, that licenses shall bo -prant'vl by a licensing com-. Tnittee .of tho. Conference, to be called the LJivMiR-infc Committee, consisting of tho -prosidpnt and * six' persons to be elected nt each' a-ntmal conference, and shnll bf is.>ned by the secretary of the Conforcncf-.