THRIVING SPORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 163, 12 July 1945, Page 6

THRIVING SPORT

DOMINION TROTTING

MORE PERMITS REQUIRED

Special. WELLINGTON, this day. A strong feeling that the sport of trotting was seriously under-catered for in the Dominion was expressed by the president, Mr. H. F. Niccol, in his address to the New Zealand Trotting Conference to-day. The progress in both racing and trotting had been momentous, he said. Many country districts which were capable of holding a meeting were unable to do so through lack of a permit, and others had only one or two days in twelve months, which was quite inadequate for their requirements. "The growth in the popularity of trotting has been so outstanding during the last thirty years, that the attendance of the public has outgrown the accommodation available, and it is probable that considerably over half a million will be spent oy clubs for necessary improvements, immediately they can obtain permission to build.- . This amount spread over the Dominion, will be of material assistance in the rehabilitation scheme, and once again will our clubs prove their value in the general economy of the nation. Maiden Events Problem "A remit by the Auckland Trotting Club brings before us the embarrassing position in which so many of our clubs are placed, by the overplus of horses entering for maiden races, said Mr. Niccol. "This is caused principally by the very few trotting meetings held annually. Last season we had only 50 days, which, considering the length and breadth of the Dominion and the never-ceasing call for permits from so many of our country districts, is woefully inadequate. The New Zealand Trotting Association has resolved that they will agree to no registration of a horse eight years old or over, and it might be as well to add such a ban to the entry of any horse for a maidem'event, exceeding that age, or even younger, which has not previously been placed. I hope that some means of relief can be found to ease this unsatisfactory position." Control of Meetings "Your executive are of the opinion that the powers vested in the Australian Stipendiary Stewards would not commend themselves in their entirety to this conference, and we believe, that the honorary stewards, should retain proportion of their existing authority, and also that it will be necessary to continue with the services of stipendiary stewards, if we are to retain, and improve upon, the present efficiency of the control of our meetings. What we propose is, that paid judicial stewards should take the place of our honorary judicial committees, with powers to be decided upon by your executive, after consultation with the members of the Trotting Association and, of course, to be sanctioned by the conference. It will not be easy to secure the ideal men, but as this system has been satisfactorily employed in Australia for the last thirty years, there is no reason why we should not be equally successful in New Zealand.

"We are agreed, that such a method of racecourse control, would go far to eliminate some existing vulnerability in the administration, and would further enhance the good name and popularity of the sport. It is always necessary that responsible government should superintend and check administration, and at the same time essential that we should improve our organisation without losing our liberty. Freedom cannot produce its best results and often breaks down, unless means can be found of combining it with trained and skilled administration. This, we believe, has been secured, under the proposals we will place before you for consideration next month."