N.Z. COUNTRY RACING CLUB'S ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 88, 13 April 1918, Page 10

N.Z. COUNTRY RACING CLUB'S ASSOCIATION.

The following report has been circulated by the president of the New Zealand Country listing Clubs' Association: — A well attended meeting of the clubs in the Auckland district ..ttUlated with the Association was held, at which a considerable amount of business in the Interest of country racing generally was discussed and dealt with; the most Important being the question of representation on the District Committee and the New Zealand Racing -Conference. The president pointed out that it was evident, 'by a certain movement lately amongst club., that there was a desire for direct representation ot localities on the District Committee. With this the Association were cordially in accord, and in a circular Issued about a year ago most distinctly stated so. but that, on account of delegates from a distance, who, in addition to having to lose much time attending the metlnge, aleo had to pay their own hotel and travelling expenses, experience had proved that their attendance' was irregular, and that until the -Racing Conference gave authority to the District Committee to strike a levy for the payment of these expenses. It was wisdom to elect four delegates residing In and about Auckland, and one delegate from The outside, and. judging by the result, this view was adopted by almost all the clubs. After the election a discordant note was sounded—originating in Hamilton—to the effect "That no paid otllclal or person financially Interested in any club should be eligible to hold a seat on any executive body." This, of course, was a thrust at Messrs Hayr and Wynyard, two gentlemen who for years have rendered a great deal of service to country racing matter-, but n within aud 'Without the Association. It is but right to mention here that both gentlemen were reluctant to accept nomination, and only did so ar the earnest request of a number of clubs, and no fault has ever been found with their actions. At v meeting of a few clubs held in Hamilton in February. lt_T. a ticket was framed for the election of delegates to the District Committee, and it did not include, any candidate from Auckland. North Auckland, tlie (iold-flel-S localities, or any official. A ticket was also framed at the same meeting, and Issued by th e Hamilton Club, advising the clubs to vote for the secretary of a club as one of the representatives" of the district on the Racing Conference. If a paid official of a club was eligible for the higher, why was he not eligible for the lesser houourt

The meeting toot strong exception to tlie cutting out of the Avondale and Takapuna Jockey Clubs aud. tlie Pakurauga Hunt Club from any association of country <-lub_ as if they were pariahs, and therefore below notice. These clubs are country clubs within the, meaning of the New Zeahind racing laws: they are efficiently and honestly managed, and provide the best of sport, and are entitled to the courtesy and respect of their sister clubs, and must be so treated if -we are to exclude discord and act -with unanimity for the common wenl. The fact that any candidate or candidates have been defeated at an election for delegates on the District 'Committee or representatives in Racing Conference or through any particular club having lost one of Its racing days through the younger club being allowed ,by the District Committee to retain its one day's racing, at the request of all the clubs iv the district, -with the exception of Hamilton, ls not of sufficient Importance to be made a burning question to the exclusion of the larger nnd broader questions on which not only the welfare of country clubs as a whole must rest, but on which also their very existence depends. Local petty jealousies and personal ambitions must be excluded from our programme if we are to T.e of any use as a fighting torce in the maintenance of our liberty and privileges. With the endeavour of avoiding disruption—aud it being in accord with the views of the Association—the following resolutions were adopted unanimously by the meeting, viz.:—(l) 'That for tbe purpose of electing five delegates to represent the country totalisator clubs on the District Committee, the Auckland metropolitan district be divided into three .parts, the division of the district to be at the discretion of the District Committees, as also the number of delegates to represent each part." 12) "That for the purpose of electing representatives for the Auckland metropolitan district ou the New Zealand Racing Conference this meetiurecommends that the Auckland metropolitan district lie divided into two combinations of totalisator clubs, and that the District Committee be requested to approve _ this recommendation." (3) "That the Auckland District Committee be requested by the president of the Country Racing Uubs Association to give effect to the resolutions and recommendations now affirmed by this meetlufe " In reference to dividing the district for representation on the Xew Zealand Racing | Conference, the departure is not a new one, Inasmuch as the practice exists ln the Canterbury metropolitan district—the division being the •Hurunui River; the clubs on the north thereof returning two members and die clubs to the south one member. The Auckhmd metropolitan district- having fifteen galloping clubs, besides havin~ far -.._.. n " ar _ DC lar sest attendances at Its -Tn-._,.- _T alS ° a lar S er unlove? financially than any other district in the Dominion should, in .Justice, be entitled to elect two representatives for each division. Canterbury has a total of three representatives, with only eleven galloping

Both resolutions must commend themf_ __ _• ! h ? . su PP° n o f all country dobs in the district. The flret will remove an f&^ToTru^-Xv^ifir ?fVaV o asl-^o--e^VrHr i^ r^y^^--rl