TROTTING IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 282, 29 November 1938, Page 10

TROTTING IN N.Z.

CONTROL PRAISED.

EYE-OPENER, SAYS VISITOR.

LOGAN DERBY'S OWNER.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DUNEDIX. this dav.

Laudatory observations based on his first visit are bestowed on the Dominion and its people by Mr. H. Barnes, owner of the Australian champion trotter Logan Derby. His only censorious view concerns the Labour Government's attitude towards the farmer.

Himself a dairy farmer for 40 years in Tasmania, where there i< also a Labour Government in power, he considers they both, do not give the man on the land enough support.

'"Because the Dominion relies to such a strong extent on its primary productions the Government, it appears to mo, should consider the v.-ages factor of the farmer," commented Mr. Barnes. "Bv increasing wages for secondary industries the farm employee is drifting to the cities. Wanted a Change. "The Tasmanian Government also went into power when there was a depression, and the people there, as in New Zealand, evidently desired a change. The Government in Tasmania is functioning well, but of course it has had financial assistance from the Commonwealth Government, and in addition there is a very useful contribution of over £500,000 from Tattersall'e lotteries." Mr. Barnes was emphatic that the licensing of bookmakers in Xew Zealand would have a very harmful effect on the conduct of the sport here, and after having mature experience of the system of licensed bookmakers in Australia he considered their exclusion was much preferable. Bookmaker's Influence. Money spoke, he said, and there had been many instances of shabby conduct at the smaller meetings where bookmakers had influenced jockeys and trainers. Without tiipin many a good race would be unspoiled.

There was keener support accorded trotting here than in Australia, and meetings were better controlled. The administration of racing was, indeed, an C3'e-opener to him, and in addition owners and trainers worked in harmony. In Australia they were always up in arms against one another, and also many of the officials only gave their services for personal reasons.

Then the stakes in Xew Zealand were greater. Another factor that contributed towards the success of trotting in the Dominion was the lively interest that men with money took in the sport, not only from a betting viewpoint but as far as ownership of horses was con* cerned.

Trotting here, said Mr. Barnes, was both a rich man's pleasure and a middleman's sport. Courses with such superlative facilities as Addington and Forbury Park he had never encountered in Australia.