CONFERENCE VOICE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 4

CONFERENCE VOICE

Owners-Breeders Decision

A remit from the Auckland Trotting Owners’ and Trainers’ Association suggesting that owners and breeders should be directly represented on the New Zealand Trotting Conference was carried unanimously at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Owners’, Trainers’ and Breeders’ Association held recently in Christchurch. According to a supplied statement, all members agreed in principle with the Auckland remit, as it was felt that owners and breeders had a very substantial stake in the sport, and were at present without ®ny direct voice in its administration.

Several remits dealing with swabbing were discussed at the meeting. After a lengthy discussion, in which members expressed the opinion that the introduction of the marble system had removed many anomalies, a remit from Auckland that the winners of all races or none be swabbed was lost. It was agreed that owners be supplied with samples of swabs if required. It was also agreed that the conference be asked to consider a rule to direct clubs *to provide patrol stewards for horse boxes on race days to give owners adequate protection. Earlier a remit suggesting that the public be kept away from the boxes was lost, as it was felt the difficulties in enforcing such a rule in country districts would be too great The subject of right of re-entry was again discussed. Members felt that the conference had not satisfactorily answered this problem with the introduction of the second line. Many members claimed that if the racing authorities were able to provide a rule for the right of re-entry there seemed no reason why a similar rule could not be provided for trotting clubs. It was unanimously decided that the secretary take this matter up with the conference. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr H. W. Drewery; North Island vice-presi-dent, Mr S. E. Scott: South Island vice-president, Mr L. M. Denton; secretary, Mr A. N. Stone.