OWNERS AND BREEDERS.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19388, 14 August 1928, Page 12

OWNERS AND BREEDERS.

ANNUAL REUNION.

The annual reunion of the Canterbury Owners' and Breeders' Association was held in the Masonic Hall last evening, when Mr W.J. Trist'presided over a gathering that filled the hall. After the loyal toast had been honoured the chairman extended a hearty welcome to all the visitors, including the Hon. Mr McLeod, representing the Ministry, nrid several members of Parliament and also some ex-members. Dr. Thacker: Why don't you say likely to be again? "Well, I'll say prospective members," answered Mr Trist. He also welcomed "several prominent gentlemen connected with the New Zealand Railways," and apologised for the absence of the president, Mr Dennehy, who at the present time was somewhere in the United States. "But I understand he is a prospective candidate for the coming elections, so no doubt he will soon be back," the speaker added. The toast of tne New Zealand Trotting Association was proposed by Mr F. A. Neale. "We are second to America in speed," Mr Neale said, "but in the manner in which trotting is conducted we are second to none in the world." Mr.Neale also made reference to the trotting stakes-. They had, he continued, reached proportions of which the founders of the sport in New Zealand had never dreamed. There was also a time when trotting was very much scorned, but through the excellent work of the gentlemen who had conducted it for many years past it was now equal to galloping. Hon. Mr Witty, M.L.C., in reply, said that he agreed with Mr Neale that trotting had risen to great heights There seemed now to be more pleasure and more comradeship in trotting than in galloping. The riders, too, were imbued witn the idea and the spirit that they were going to uplift the sport. The Association was watching tne non-triers, and if a man were consistently not trying he was" reprimanded. "What about the radio man over the fence?" somebody asked. "Well we are not worrying about him. If they like to look over the fence well and good.'' He addled that they wanted people to go to the course to do their betting. <

Dr. Thacfcer's Suggestions. Dr. Thacker, proposing "Members of Parliament," said that lie would first of all like to» congratulate the chaw man on the wonderful recovery he had made since last year. (Applause.) He, went ou to say that they had with them an honourable Minister from "that distressful country, Wairarapa," and in view of that he would suggest that the time had come when the owners and breeders should have a say on the supreme board." He contended also that there should be three dividends 6n the„ totalisator and he was going to suggest to the Minister that he ask his Government to arrange such a system in the proportion or 65 per cent, for first, 20 per cent, for second, and 15 ■ per cent, for the third. The Sport in Parliament.

The Hon, Mr . McLeod, replying to the previous toast, said ? that lie hau marked and; inwardly,, digested Dr. Thacker's words of, wisdom "for the guidance of us>in Parliament," and had no doubt thev would receive "earnesi and careful consideration." . Continuing, he said that ' Parliament did not very long hold the man who was not a Bport. ''We Britishers puzzle- ou. brains to put suitable epitaphs on tb tombs ,of those who have departed," the Minister said; "You say he was this and he was that; but when the time arrives,- when I depart I wish for nothing else than. "Ha was a sport." • The tttan that cannot take a knock, and a hard knock, is not going to last .long in Parliament. We must be able to take our losses and we must be able to'take our winnings. The sport has much to thank the New Zealand Trotting Association, for." The Minister referred especially ;to those gentlemen who had found the sport not too pure but to-day had put it in the forefront' of sport in New Zealand. To continue sport and keep up high standards they must have those who took a keen interest in breeding. "You will never get the breeder of any class of animal," he y pointed out, "unless you get the mati who truly loves seeing a good animal and takes a pride in being able to breed' a fine and beautiful animal irrespective of value in a pecuniary sense.!' (Applause.) Mr IS, Witty said that ' Parliament was just a reflex of the people. "They are," he said, "all imbued with the general idea of doing the best they can tor their country, and they are all sports. If a man stands, he stands to win, and,, like the Trotting Association, he has to bear the .kicks from ©verybody." V Mr H. S. S. Kyle, M.P., also replied. One or two other toasts were honoured, and several instrumental, vocal, and orchestral numbers were cijntributed. In the course of the proceedings the trophies won during the 1927-28 season were presented, the winners being as follows: v • , . Leading RMnsman—Mr F. .G. Holmes.' V '' Second Reinpm&n—Mr M. B. Edwards. Leading Trainer —Mr W. J. Tomkinson>

Second Trainer—Mr C. Donald. Best One-day Performance—Mr M, B. Edwards.

Leading Horseman with the Straightout Trotter—Mr A. J. Corrigan. Leading Sire —Mr F. Holmes's Logan Pointer," 82 winners. Leading Money-winner Sire —Mr F. Logan Pointer.

DEATH OF ABSURD. •• - ' GREAT SIRE OF SPRINTERS. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WANGANUI, August 13. The Sundridge 'stallion Absurd died' at Mr G. M. Currie's Koatanui Stud on Friday. During the ten years Absurd was .at the stud, he had a wonderful Career, siring the winners of about £250,000 in stakes.