RACING CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 9

RACING CONFERENCE.

APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE.] CRITICISED BY PRESIDENT OF A.R.C. NO AUCKLAND REPRESENTATIVE. An executive committee was appointed at the last meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference, but when the personnel was announced after a ballot, it was found that there was no representative of the Auckland Racing Club on the executive. This matter was referred to by Sir Edwin Mitchelson during the course of his presidential address at the annual meeting of the club this afternoon. "It is with very great regret," said Sir Edwin, "that I now have to complain that the Auckland Racing Club has no representation on the executive committee recently elected by the conference." Sir Edwin went on to say that the Auckland Racing Club contributed onesixth of the whole cost of the conference, and its metropolitan area one-third of the cost, the Auckland Racing Club's contribution for last year being £1577. The conference would find it difficult to function without the aid of the Auckland metropolitan <*rea. The following figures, taken from the records of the conference, showed that the totalisator 0 .-j I ' i:.. f.-. : ♦ !.« ™«r

tlie conference for that year. This year, when the District Committee met to allot dates for the ensuing season, Labour Day was again recommended as one of the Waikato Racing Club's dates, and this was accordingly sent on to the conference and apparently approved by the president, as no objection was raised by him or the conference to the date being allotted to the Waikato Racing Club. However, when the Dates Committee met in Wellington on July 9, a communication was made to them to the effect that two members of the conference had last year made a gentleman's agreement with the late Mr. Bollard and the Prime Minister that the Waikato Hunt Club was to be allowed to retain the Labour Day date during the life of the present Parliament. While admitting that they could not commit the Racing Conference, these two

As the president of the •lockey Club at its annual meeting adversely criticised the Auckland club's action in changing its spring dates from November to October, he felt that it was his duty to refer to tlie matter, with a view of showing that as far as the Auckland Racing Club was concerned there was no justification for the statements made by him. The alteration in dates was fully considered by the Auckland committee and discussed for several years before being agreed to, and there could be do doubt that the change had been greatly to the benefit of racing, as horses entered in classic races could now race first at Avohdale, then Auckland, Wellington and C'hristchnrch in sequence, whereas formerly horses entered in the spring classic could not race at both Christchurch and Auckland as they were now enabled to do. Instead of the chanare in

dates being detrimental to Avondale it must prove to its advantage, and as regards his charge of inconsistency Sir Edwin quoted the remarks that he made at the annual meeting in August, 192.">, which were as follow:—"'On the conference the country clubs now have more voting power than the metropolitan clulhs, and the Manawatu Club has been granted special representation. This is quite unjustifiable, as there are other country clul»s who give better stakes per day and handle much more money than Manawatu. The precedent thus established will tend to cause much friction in future and tend, also, to weaken and probably bring about the dismemberment of the conference, more especially if long established dates are shifted about to suit the vagaries of certain Southern clubs who frequently ask for a change of the dates to the detriment of Auckland clubs." The '"other country clubs" referred tc were, of course, Avondale and Takapuna, and his mention of this plainly went to chow the consideration they had for their local clubs' interests. The following telegrant, which lie sent to the conference on July 2:2. 1!)2.">. would emphasise the point: —"As chairman District Committee emphatically protest Avondale lixed dates being taken from them to favour clubs that frequently change their dates of late years. Avondale stakes and tote returns better than Manawatu, and favourably compare witn Wellington. Action will probably kill Avon-dale's weight-for-..ge. Alteration altogether unwarranted, and likely destroy confidence in governing body."

It must not be forgotten that the Auckland Racing Club granted the AvonClub permission to hold four of its race meetings at Ellerslie, with, better results than would have been experienced if those meetings had been held on its own course.

gentlemen undertook to advise the Dates Committee to allot the Labour Day date in accordance with the understanding arrived at, and the Dates Committee agreed to the course suggested. This understanding was made known to the conference, who unfortunately failed to convey the same to the Auckland District Committee or the Waikato Racing Club, the two bodies most vitally interested, and had the conference made known the arrangement a great deal of misunderstanding that has arisen in connection with the allotment of Labour Day date would have been avoided. It had been intimated publicly that in regard to the allocation of dates the matter was entirely one for the conference to decide. Arrangements have been made that in the event of any dispute arising out of the allocation of dates and the granting of totalisator permits it would in future be adjusted at a round-the-table conference between the Minister of Internal Affairs and representatives of the Racing Conference.

"The Milch Cow." 1 The aims and objects of the .Racing Conference would be readily admitted to he excellent, and there was no doubt much good work lias been accomplished through its agency. Auckland, however, has on several occasions had reason to feel aggrieved at the treatment meted out to it, and it at times appeared that unless alterations were made in such matters as administration of the conference affairs, the continual sapping of the powers of District Committees, and curtailment of freedom of action of individual clubs, the breaking strain would be reached and the future of the sport jeopardised. The figures that he had quoted above clearly indicated that the clubs of Auckland and its metropolitan area, which contained one-third of the whole population of the Dominion, could more easily and more economically run their own show. To demonstrate this he pointed out that other clubs that had less than half the attendances that they j had at Ellerslie, and whose contributions

A refreshing cup of tea, and delightful music by the "Tudor" Orchestra. Each afternoon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 3.30 p.m. the' : a verv , inAf»Te«fc^ri lc becooea ro with the

Australia, is favourite for the next Commonwealth open title. Corry is exprofessional champion of New South Wales, and Walter Clark (Carnegie Clark's younger brother) is the present champion. Carnegie Clark, who is the professional at Rose Bay, has several times held the Australian open championship. Whether this hand of outstanding professionals conies over to the Dominion depends upon the provision of a little extra finance on this side, and while the New Zealand Coif Council can take no action, it is passing on the matter to other quarters, and a decision is expected during the coming week.