Concession Doubles On T.A.B. Favoured

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 7

Concession Doubles On T.A.B. Favoured

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. New Zealand Racing Conference delegates yesterday voted by 144 to 39 in favour of T.A.B. concession doubles. The proposal, which came from the executive committee of the conference and supports a decision made by the New Zealand Trotting Conference earlier In the week, waa opposed by most delegates from the Auckland dlatrict but there was never any doubt that It would have the approval of the majority. Government approval will now be sought to Introduce T.A.B. conceeslon doubles. Mr C. H. Wynyard (Taranaki) said the remit did not seek to make it mandatory for ail clubs

to run concession T.A.B. doubles. He said there was much to commend any double from which two people could win where only one won before. "It'a all very fine to say this is optional, but you know all about the thin edge of. the wedge." said Dr A. McGregor Grant (Auckland Racing Club). “There is not a club in our district that won't oppose this,” said Dr Grant, “This will be a bad thing for course attendances.” Mr D. McCulloch (Oamaru) described the use of the word optional in the resolution «s "wordy nontense”. "If a chap over the fence puts on a concession double, It more or lees forces your hand. I don't think the word optional conies into It." Mr W. A. H. Thompson (Southland) said that If concession T.A.B. doubles were adopted on trotting courses and not on galloping courses racing would be in very bad odour with the public. "Racing will lose a lot of betting to trotting If we don't do lt,' p said Mr J. A. L. Bennett (Manawatu). The president (Mr R. A. Whyte) explained in reply to a query that he understood the system would be Implemented whatever the Racing Conference decided. Mr white said there was much to commend the scheme even for people going to the courses. "It is spreading the money round amongst a bigger number of people." Mr H. R. Robinson (Avondale) said racing’s duty was to get the people on to the courses but the T.A.B. concession would keep more people away. Mr D. W. J. Gould (Canterbury Jockey Club) said racing would lose a lot of support if It did not go ahead with the proposal. He said he had no doubts that a second concession double would be popular.