TROTTING N.R.A. appointments widely discussed

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32959, 4 July 1972, Page 8

TROTTING N.R.A. appointments widely discussed

The formal ratification of the president (Mr K. J. Rolfe, of Thames) and the new South Island vicepresident (Mr G. C. Cruickshank. of Invercargill* as the Trotting Conference representatives on the National Racing Authority is expected to be the most hotly-debated subject at today’s annual meeting of the Conference in Christchurch.

i In fact, there has. 'been so much discussion! on the subject in the last i I two days that it seems! jas though everything else on the order paper ■will take a distant isecond place to this item.

Messrs Rolfe and Cruickshank are the official nominees of the conference executive for the positions, but other nominations are expected from the floor today. Mr

M. M. N. Corner, president of the Auckland Trotting Club, has announced that he is prepared to be nominated for one of the positions. At a welcome to delegates and observers held at Addington Raceway on Sunday evening, the possibility of other nominations from the floor was suggested, but the names of the persons likely to be put forward could not be confirmed. The Auckland club has a

strong representation in Christchurch in addition to its official delegates. Mr Corner and Dr J. J. Sullivan. They have been lobbying extensively since Sunday and they have obtained solid support from delegates from all pans of New Zealand. Members of the executive are concerned that there has been such wide condemnation of their action in forIwarding the names of Messrs Rolfe and Cruickshank to the | Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet) as the nominees on the authority. They too. 'have been lobbying in search iof support. Several clubs have obtained !legal opinions on the action lof the executive in forw ardling nominations for seats on I the authority subject to ratification by today’s meeting. They say that under the Racing Bill, passed last DecernIber, the appointments have !to be made by the Trotting | Conference, and therefore delegates to today’s meeting (are the persons to decide the issue.

The appointments to thr authority make up the second last item of a long agenda and everything points to it ‘being the most contentiouof the day. Today’s meeting is also expected to be asked to approvt a nomination for a seat on the new Totalisator Agency ' Board. The Gaming Act provides for one member to Im ■ appointed by the Minister oi ! ihe nomination of the Trot- ’ ting Conference. ’| A spokesman for the con ‘Terence declined to comment 'ion this subject yesterday, re- ’ fusing to say whether a nomi- . nation had gone forward at the same time as those lot ’ seats on the authority. ) However, it is known tha l . i the conference executive (favours the nomination of th« jNorth Island vice-president -I (Mr R. Lewis, of Auckland) - at present a member of tht But, here again, it it ’(possible other nomination! » will be made from the (loot lat the meeting.