NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CONFERENCE.

ANNUAL MEETING. rRESIDE'NT'S ADDRESS. ißy Tflogrnph — Own rot-respondent.i WELLINGTON', this day. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference opened to-day. Mr. John Howe, the president, being in the chair. There was a full attendance of delegates. Mr Itowe. in his presidential address. s ald:"Ueviewing the season now quickly drawins to a close, the outstanding feature "f the sport of trotting appears t.. be its «i>:itintied rapid growth iv popularity. The people's spun.' as it inav be justly termed, appears I „ he expanding itself in all directions, as evidenced by the promotion of a number of fresh trotting clubs in the Dj minlou. TROTTING ANTi RACING. "I have heard it remarked that tri.tting has beeimie a serious rival of the old-estab-lished and in..re pretentious sport of galloplug. This may he true, but, nevertnelcss. I do not thiu-k thai the advance of light harness racing will interfere with the ..tiler. Galloping and trotting have their own particular spheres. Whilst the former provides one form "f racing f.>r ihe more wealthy and leisured portion of tbe community, the latter provides another for the masses, and they both serve a uiosl itnpnrta.ii: purpose in encouraging the breediug .if rhe nest types of man's most useful assistant In times of peace or war. •M "okicidcju with the expansion of the sport, the 'breeding industry goes steadily on. There is keen activity ttniong breeders all over the Dominion lo breed and supply the ever-Increasing dfinand for the best stamp of horse for racing nnd light harness purpose*. Breeders have long seen the wisdom of going far afield, and at -big expense aud risk to secure stock of the highest lineage from which to .breed. Although we all welcome Mr. Hunter's (laming Bill, it Is manifestly unf.-.ir to award trotting only three Misuses out of a total of 30.

"As there are so n any Important trotting centre* without the assl'staa.-c of tbe totalisator, it is thought, in vbw of any increase that trottinc should receive at least len extra permits, including ihe four wnich. It has always been claimed. It was entitled to by law. strong representations were made by the Executive last October, which I hope will ultimately bring about the much-desired effect should the bill become hnv ' ja, IT.IBS APPOINTMENT**.

"You will remember year I suggested that we should obtain a report from time to time on the courses and appointments of each clnli. and also upon the conduct of their meetings, so that we should know whether they were kept up to a proper standard. i'lils necessitated the appointment of a representative to attend* all the race meetings throughout the year. aud. although this meant a heavy expense, it was deemed advisable to incur It. I

might say but for the good offices of several gentlemen outside the Conference, to whom our thanks are due. the expense would have been tutirh greater than it was. We have now a complete record uf how cacti club stands, what the condition of Its course and appointments I*. and the uia-n----t- In which it controls and regulates its

■There Is one matter to which my attention has been drawn during the year, which 1 think is worthy of more than passing attention, i have been led to understaud that lv certain clubs there are restrictions as to the number (ft members. While It may be judicious that sti'-h restrictions should exist where the membership list is becoming unwieldy. 1 think it Is attsnlntely necessary that this Conference shbuld take care that the membership should not he so restricted as to make It appear almost a proprietary club. In this respect 1 would suggest that next rear's executive Inquire carefully with rc-a'rd to the position l.i all clubs under our jurisdiction STH'EXDIAItY STKWAItHS. '-Coming to the question of the appointment of stipendiary stewards, this matter wa.s brought up last yenr by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, and left with the executive to draw up a report for our consideration to-day. Last year I dwelt at soiu" leiutth on the question, and I was not quite convinced that the time was ripe for sinh a venture, yet J think the general feeling of the representatives theu was In favour of it. However, we have now had a further twelve months to ruminate upon the matter and strengthen onr minds one way or the other. The need for [Mid officials appears to be regularly urged, and during the present season there have been occaalons when it has l*eeu forcibly brought home to those who have a genuine Interest In the sport that steps in this direction must be taken sooner or later. It Is of the uaniost Importance that the racing should be under control of capable and reliable stewards, who take the trouble to acquaint themselves with the duties appertaining to office, and give the requisite study to the rules and the protection of the public. It is unfortunately the case that stewards sometimes know little or nothing of the rules, aud. however anxious they may lie lo do what they think to be rl?ht. are prone to err.

"To my mind one of the greatest advantages of the stipendiary system—and there are many—would be that [here would be continuity of supervision. Another advantage would be to entirely abolish the most dangerous practice of foul driving, for with capable stipendiaries going from meeting to meeting and taking notes of any doulTtfnl procedure on the part of a rider or driver, it would not be long -before the man who is prepared to risk the lives of those competing against him in a race wonld have his licence cancelled and be relegated to his proper place.

•The betting steward. I trust, has been almost eliminated. Where he haft not. I would say to members of clubs In which he still exists, take care that he be not again placed In authority.

"The result of their work should not be judged so much by the number of disqualifications or lesser punishments imposed, or the numlier of matters reported, hut by the all-round general Improvement of meetings. CLASS TROTTING. -Last year 1 touched upon a matter of class trotting. After many years of racing in one particular groove, the time has now surely tirrtved when some of the leading clubs could reasonably start out with something new lv the shape of a strictly class race or two. "The present class events are all right as far as they go, hut It seems to mc we have been standing still and making no progress in this direction. I feel sure that the initiation of class racing or short limit racing world he v successful venture (for the strong cluhs to embark upon, and nit only would the events be looked upon with favour by owners, but it would be welcomed hj- all lovers of our sport. For years past we have advocated a change, but thus far it has never been acted upon. "The total prize niouev given away by the combined clubs last year was £53.315. This, with approximately" £6.iKXi subscribed hy racing clubs which 'set aside part of their programme for trotting events, makes all but £«(>.oo<>. the sum total subscribed to the utility horse during the year. A comparison with last year's figures will show an Increase of about £10.000 on the port of trotting dubs. iam sure that these clubs, all of which raised their stakes, may be congratulated un their continued prosperity. SI'OKTS PROTECTION. "One important matter I wish to refer to is the New Zealand Sports Protection League. Since this came into existence some three years ago. the defence of onr pastimes of all kinds has been quietly and effectually carried out. The League has organised its forces throughout the length a<id breadth of the land, and is to-day in a position to make it* power felt strongly wherever biased or unfair attacks are made on our legitimate amusements. While this Is the case, we must not lei the fact lull ns to a false sense of security, for ii is only at the cost of eternal vigilance lha; safely Is secured, and I would counsel ymi all to enrol your friends as members of the league, and to impress upon them tlie neivsssity of so pronouncedly placing their views 'before the respective candidates at the forthcoming 'Parliamentary elections that they will each realise that he will he a bold man indeed, and with small chance of success, who attacks our proper paslimes.'-