INTERVAL BETWEEN TROTTING RACES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21978, 30 December 1936, Page 6

INTERVAL BETWEEN TROTTING RACES

TO THS BDITOB OF TH» PEBBS. Sir,—As one of the crowd attending trotting meetings at Addington and who has been a patron of such gatherings since Heathcote days, I differ from a statement contained in an ar~

tide in your leading columns of Saturday. It runs: "Nobody can feel very much doubt that in ruling for a 35minute interval the conference was guided by the desire of the public for briskly-run meetings." I would like to know when, and how, the public expressed "the desire." Trotting in New Zealand is controlled very well by a number of executive committees elected by the various clubs. We owe a debt of gratitude to these gentlemen, whohave, in many cases, given valuable service spread over a lifetime, in an honorary capacity, for the love of the sport Those controlling racing generally are very sensitive to the criticism of journalists, and I believe that it is due to a sustained campaign by sporting writers, particularly evening journals, and weeklies, that the time between races has been restricted to 35 minutes. Why? I suggest that it is not because it was asked for by the crowd, but another section altogether. There are people who are very well endowed with all that makes life worth living. Thev are not usually members of clubs either, but guests. They get tickets by compliment (goodness only knows why!); they hop into their motors, glance at their watch, and gee! you can't see them for dust. Arrived at the course they receive all the hospitality available and criticise the management: these are the jokers who make themselves heard. The people occupying the grounds and people's stands are the ones who make our meetings possible and have to take all the knocks. I was among the crowd at Addington when the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club tried to give effect to the conference rule (35 minutes) and heard the remarks passed by all and sundry in condemnation. The crowd goes to the trots for enjoyment, and one feature cf it is, the admiration of the beautiful animals paraded for their inspection. We object to being reduced to mere automatons standing in a queue instead of watching the races. -Better to spread the races over another hour —we are out for the day anyhow. The club evidently wished to give effect to the ruling of the conference, but found it impossible in practice and took steps i to explain the position to headquarters. I Later, it seems, the Minister for Inter- ! nal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, was I approached and gave the club a sympaj thetic hearing, but the New Zealand Trotting Association stood on its digjnity—the rule was there and it must be obeyed—and fined the offender ! £IOO. Reading between the lines, it I seems that the association would have ! liked to set aside that rule but was not game. In the British Empire we are governed by precedent, and there are, I numerous precedents for the setting I aside of more important items than rules of racing'. When the Shops and Offices Act was passed by Parliament during the Seddon regime, its operation was deemed harsh, and Mr Seddon acted immediately to ease its operation. We are all familiar with "the suspension of- standing orders," and magistrates setting aside Statute law to give judgments "in equity and good conscience." Common sense should prevail, and the Hon. W. E. Parry deserves commendation for recognising this and taking action to meet the occasion. I do not believe that Mr Parry was concerned about "the shutting out of a little money," but rather from the point of view of a true sport, which I am sure he is, and a man of courage as well. The public have been wondering for a long time when a reduction would be made in the percentage tax on investments. Liberal and Conservative Governments have inflicted heavy taxation on one section of the people to relieve the general taxpayer. This is wrong and should be rectified. — Yours, etc., HIRAM HUNTER, i December 29, 1936.