THEY'VE THE BALL AT THEIR FEET IF THEY PLAY BALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 88, 14 April 1945, Page 3 (Supplement)

THEY'VE THE BALL AT THEIR FEET IF THEY PLAY BALL

Racing officials in the Auckland Province, alarmed at the low standard of horsemanship displayed at the present time, are formulating a scheme with the object of raising the standard and making apprentices aware of the golden opportunities open to them —that is, if they apply themselves assiduously to the requirements of their adopted profession—and surely there is no other sphere in which an apprentice may amass a fortune through his own industry and ability in the, period of his indenture. During the recent Easter carnival Messrs. H. T. C. Gomer, chief stipendiary steward, and W. ("Skipper") Ryan, recently-appointed patrol steward, addressed a gathering of about 30 apprentices at Ellerslie on the "man to man" principle, and "Skipper" Ryan emphasised the enviable position the lads were in, if only they would wake up to themselves. Mr. Ryan pointed out that, even though 'racing had been curtailed temporarilv because of the war, riding fees were much higher than they were years ago, when aprentices like H. N. Wiggins .and the late Keith Voitre were able to amass between £3000 and £4000 during their apprenticeships. . This money, he said, was held in trust by the New Zealand Racing Conference during the period of indenture, and thus a boy, if he held become too heavy, or had lost his for the sport, was in the unique position of being equipped financially to set himself up in business whiie still in his teens. *