STARTER GAINS FEES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 66, 19 March 1930, Page 10

STARTER GAINS FEES.

RACE MEETING POSTPONED. FULL AMOUNT AWARDED. IMPORTANT DECISION. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") GISBORNE, this day. A novel claim arising' out of the engagement of a racing .starter for a meeting of the-Poverty Bay Turf Club, which, owing to bad weather,'had to be postponed two days, was heard by Mr. Harper, S.M., to-day when Ralph Howard Skipwith proceeded against the club president and secretary, claiming for .£33, representing his fee for the meeting.

The meeting was arranged for October 24 'and 26, but rain caused: postponement to the 20th and 28th. Plaintiff

started the first day's events and then departed for a Waikato meeting, whore lie had an engagement for the~2oth, the defendant club securing the services of another starter from Hastings.

The <|iiestion at issue was' whether plaintiff was engaged for the meeting oi for speciiic days granted by the Uacing Conference for the Turf Club meeU'.i, - . The club contended that lie was engaged under conference rules, and that the postponement was. made in accordance with the same rules; moreover, that plaintiff had intimated his inability to start the second day's races at short notice. The club had offered half the ordinary feci but plaintiff had refused this, claiming the full amount. Prior to the action, defendants, had. paid into court £10,. .t*)c difference ' between the fee at which plaintiff , was engaged a.id that paid to a substitute.

The magistrate held that the engagement was for specific dates, and that postponement did not extend the club's claim on plaintiff's service: Judgment was given for plaintiff, with costs.

The case is important to all racing clubs, most of which have had occasion to postpone fixtures at some time.