THE N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25549, 17 July 1948, Page 4

THE N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE

GAMING COMMISSION’S REPORT CRITICISED

SOME RECOMMENDATIONS OPPOSED “The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON, July 16.

Of seven submissions put before the Royal Commission on Gaming by the New Zealand Racing Conference, five had received favourable recommendations in the commission’s report, and on the whole the report must be regarded as satisfactory to racing interests, said the president of the Conference (Mr H. R. Chalmers) to-day, when giving his report to the annual meeting. “There are many things in the report with which I do not agree, and to which I feel sure you will also object.” he added. The five submissions viewed favourably by the commission were the efficiency of the present administration of racing, opposition to the licensing of bookmakers, support for off-course betting by the totalisator, support for the institution of a doubles totalisator, and the publication of dividends. “Our submission in regard to additional totalisator permits was not recommended,” said Mr Chalmers, “while our submission regarding taxation received a modified recommendation.” Two submissions by the Conference stood out as being of major importance, said Mr Chalmers. The first was that the existing system of administration and control of racing was satisfactory, and should be permitted to continue without outside interference, and, second, that licensing of bookmakers to operate either on or off the course should be opposed. “Although the commission did direct certain criticism against the administration, some of which 1 was ill-founded, and all of which was of a comparatively minor nature, the report did strongly recommend the continuance of Conference control, but it made two suggestions which would involve outside interference with the domestic control by individual clubs,” continued Mr Chalmers. These were the appointment of a racing advisory board and that any appointment of a totalisator supervisor should be approved by the Minister of Internal Affairs.

The Conference was not given adequate opportunity to submit its views on either of these suggestions, which was unfortunate, as neither was necessary for the proper administration of racing by the clubs.

The commission had. rejected all other suggestions for off-course betting in favour of the scheme put forward by the Racing and Trotting Conferences, Mr Chalmers said. If legislation approving the principle was .introduced and made law. the onus would be put on those controlling both racing and trotting to introduce a scheme which must be based on that submitted to the commission. A great deal of thought and hard work would be necesasry in preparing the actual details of any scheme, but the Conference had not been idle on that. Already a great deal of preparatory work had been done, but a great deal more was necessary. “1 feel sure that if and when legislative authority is given, the racing and trotting clubs of the Dominion will give their respective authorities loyal support in the introduction of an off-course betting scheme,” Mr Chalmers said. Delegates’ Views

Unanimous opposition to several of the recommendations of t|ie commission was expressed by delegates. Several issues regarded as being of major importance to the welfare of racing were brought before the delegates by the executive committee of the conference for discussion. A significant feature of the meeting was the small amount of discussion they provoked, and each proposal set out in terms of the commission’s report was unanimously rejected. Speaking to the recommendation of the commission that the trotting rule for bracketing horses trained in the same stable should be adopted, Mr Chalmers said that what suited trotting did not necessarily suit racing. He quoted the case of owners who had their horses split up between two or three trainers and mentioned the hardship it would inflict on other owners with horses trained in those stables. The recommendation had been made without the conference having been given the opportunity of tendering evidence and giving its views. Mr D. E. Wanklyn (Canterbury) said the rule had been adopted by the trotting authorities in the early days of that sport, and the commission had failed to examine the principle on which the rule had originally been framed. Commenting on a further recommendation of the commission that the conference should establish for each metropolitan district a rota of judges, ureferablv legal practitioners, to act as chairmen of judicial committees, Mr Chalmers said the conference did not possess the same knowledge of the likely men in the various districts as the clubs did. The present system was working satisfactorily, and under it all persons were assured of a fair hearing. Moreover, they were protected by having the right of appeal to two higher tribunals.

Mr R. G. Hosking (Whangarei) said he did not welcome the effort, of the commission to draw comparisons between racing and trotting. Setting one sport against tlx? other did not go down well. The present system was working well in the north.

Mr W. Grieve (Southland) said the recommendation struck at the democratic control of racing. The clubs should be allowed to conduct their own affairs, as Was the case at present. Both recommendations were unanimously defeated.

A further proposal by the commission to stabilise stakes at the 1946-1947 level was defeated, almost without discussion. Mr Chalmers said that if it were possible to stabilise an owner’s coSts of getting a horse ready, getting it to a meeting, and racing it, there would be some justification for stabilising what an owner could get out of the sport. A recommendation to make a levy on fractions to be distributed to non-totalisa-tor clubs to provide stake money in lieu of sweepstakes was unanimously opposed. Mr Wanklyn said there had never been any suggestion from the picnic clubs that they were in need of assistance, and they would not appreciate anything that favoured of official control. Mr Chalmers said it was essential for those clubs to preserve their sporting and picnic element, and it was not desirable for them to give stakes out of proportion to their status. After disposing of the general business, the meeting spent the late part of the afternoon in committee, discussing the report of the commission. SAFETY LIMITS REVISION TO TAKE PLACE (F.A.)» WELLINGTON, July 16. “On courses where safety lirfllts have not already been revised, appropriate action will be taken during the next few months,” said the president (Mr H. R. Chalmers) in his report to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference to-day. “There has been agitation for limiting fields irrespective of the width of the particular course, or to the length of run before a turn. "The stipendiary stewards, in making their recommendations regarding safety numbers, consider every aspect, and I am sure that the safety of jockeys is their first consideration. I am strongly of opinion, however, that it is not’ the size of the field that constitutes a danger to jockeys. The safety numbers, as approved, allow more than enough room, and if jockeys would ride their mounts reasonably straight out of the barrier, there would be Tittle or no trouble.”

JOCKEYS’ ROOMS “STRICTER CONTROL NEEDED” (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 16. Improvement in the control of birdcages and jockeys’ rooms was commented on in the report of the president (Mr H. R. Chalmers) to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference to-day, but he expressed the opinion that there was room for still greater improvement. These rooms, he said, were for jockeys only, and no one should have access to them except jockeys, and of course, trainers or owner-trainers when saddling uo. If an owner or Other interested party wished to speak to a jockey who was in the jockeys’ room or the weighing room, he should ask an attendant to have the jockey brought out. “I cannot emphasise too strongly the need for stricter control.” was the concluding remark of Mr Chalmers on this issue. “Clubs should have a strongminded. tactful attendant who would see that instructions are carried out without fear or favour.” RULES AMENDED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 16. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference to-day. Rule 135 (2) was altered to give stewards of clubs authority to impose a fine of not less than 20s, or more than £lO on any owner running a horse in other than his own registered colours, save where the horse had been purchased during the course of the race meeting at which it was Tuning. Rule 139 (1) was amended to permit any material other than silk, satin or wool to be used in the manufacture of racing colours, such material to be given official approval. Power was given district committees to collect all or portion of expenses, but not exceeding £2O, entailed in any inquiry conducted by the various committees.

The president. Mr H. R. Chalmers, who presided, reported that the appointment or stipendiary stewards had been deferred so that, further particulars could be obtained of the qualifications of some of the applicants. In the meantime. Mr B. N. Sandilands has been appointed acting-chairman of the stipendiary stewards.