THE JOCKEYS' STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Issue LI, 24 May 1920, Page 7

THE JOCKEYS' STRIKE.

PRIME MINISTER'S ATTITUDE.

"WILL STAND NO STONSENSE."

DISPUTE TO BE DEALT WITH.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH Saturday "I do not think it would be much loss ♦o the country if. we did away with racin" altogether. It would not trouble mc j n ° the" very slightest. Perhaps as Treasurer 1 should, not get as much revenue, but that would not worry mc. ,f or ] could get it some other way." This statement was anade hy the Prime Minister to a deputation of trade 'unionists which waited upon him to-day with regard to the jockeys' dispute. The deputation desired that Cabinet] should use its best endeavours to get the New Zealand Racing Conference to recognise the Xew Zealand Jockeys' Association. The members went away apparently satisfied when the Prime Minister replied that the assurance given him by members of the Racing Conference was that there -was absolutely no objection to the association appearing before the conference. Mr. Massey said lie did not pretend to be a racing rami, hut he knew- a little about this trouble, and he hud looked into it as far as time permitted. There was a dispute—it was sub judice, by the way—between the jockeys and racehorse owners, but that .had nothing to do with the Racing Conference. Mr. J. McCombs, M.P., interrupted that the employers were 'intimidating employees in the hope of bringing about their withdrawal from the association. Mr. Massey: 'No. So far as 1 have been able to judge the employers have not moved at all. I think you arc mistaking members of the 'Racing Conference for employers of the jockeys. Mr. McComhs: They are one and the came. \lr. Massey added he had arranged lor the dispute between the jockeys and owners to be deajt with. The Hon. Mr. iJlitchekon had stated poblicly the reasons for the disqualification of the three jockeys. They had broken their engagements. Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P. : How did they break their engagements? Mr. Massey: A jockey engaged with an owner to ride a certain horse or horses on a given day. It is a very serious thing for owners and for the public it he fails-to keep that engagement. Mr. F. R. Cooke said that if the Racing Conference was going to take up the old-time hostility to trailed unionism and to the laws protecting it, the sport

■had "better cease. Mr Massey: Whoever breaks the law| of the country must face the music. The Jlacing Conference may make such rules and regulations as it likes. but it must keep within the four earners of the law of this country. We will not stand any nonsense of that kind. Jockeys who are suspended have the right of appeal to the Racing Conference. Mr. Renn: Not always. Mr Massev. "According to my information, always." Tbe Prime Minister added that lie was given to believe toy member*, of the, .Racing, „ Conference, whc-ni'lic knew tp be honourable men, that the conference was always willing to receive any jockey with a complaint, and that there was no objection to meetin"- the Jockeys' Association. Of course ]\t could not bind the conference, but that was what he had been given to Tuelieve.