Conference to select three candidates

Press, 23 June 1978, Page 4 (Supplement)

Conference to select three candidates

PA Wellington The annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference in Wellington on July 14 will select from six candidates, three to be nominated for the T.A.B. and the third term of the New Zealand Racing Authority before the end of the season. Under the racing Act the conference nominates two of the nine authority members for appointment by the Minister of Internal Affairs and one man to the T.A.B When nominations closed last Friday four clubs had nominated candidates. They were: Mi Bernard Kelly,' sitting member completing his first term, nominated by the Egmont Racing Club; Mr Bill Quirk, a sitting member completing his second term, nominated by the Canterbury Jockey Club; Mr Cecil Wallis, a member of the Racing Conference executive, successful owner and formerly an ownertrainer, nominated by the Otago Racing Club; Mr Frank Plunkett, president of the New Zealand Hunts Association, a member of the 1966 Reid Committee of Inquiry, nominated by the Winton Jockey Club. All four men have extensive experience in ail aspects of administration at club and district committee level The feature of the four

nominations is that three are; from the South Island, a factor which might go against the three southerners in the election. The two nominees will be chosen by a series of ballots, one man dropping out in each of the first two. The Racing Conference nominates one man to the T.A.B. and it has two from whom to choose. They are; Mr J. A. L. Bennett, of Palmerston North, presently deputy chairman of the T.A.B. (The chairman of the Racing Authority, Mr H. G. G. Callam, is also chairman of the T.A.8.) Mr Bennett is former president of the Manawatu Racing Club, and is a barrister and solicitor. He i was nominated by the Manawatu Racing Club. Mr W. A. H. Thompson, a member of th- Racing Conference executive, national administrator of many years’ experience, a Southland businessman but nominated by the Otago District Committee. Membership of both bodies is for a three-year term. While the Racing Conference now knows that its two nominees to the authority will be drawn from four named individuals, another seat is still very much in the melting pot. This is the seat shared bv

the New Zealand Owners’ and Trainers’ Federation and the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. The two organisations are required under the act to submit a joint nomination for appointment by a Minister.

For the first two terms of the authority, however, they have been unable to agree, and in order to avoid a situation which had no legislated remedy until the Act was amended last year the breeders have gone along with the federation’s nominee, Mr Jack Pollock. On both of those occasions there were at least some negotiations on the issue, and though the breeders may have been dissatisfied ~ with the outcome the requirements of a Act were met and the nomination was made.

This time, the breeders have told a Minister and the federation that they will make a unlaterial nomination.

They make little secret of their feeling that to attempt to negotiate with the federation again with a view to the joint nomination of a man of the breeders’ choice, would have the same outcome as before

The breeders have not yet settled on a nominee. It is known, however, that the national council does not fee) the candidate should necessarily come from with-; in its owti ranks. It is understood that the federation intends to nominate unilaterally also, putting forward Mr Pollock’s name again.

If both nominations go forward ana no agreement on a joint entry is reached by August 31. this seat on the authority will be vacated. as the Act stipulates, bv Mr Pollock.

While this deprives the authority of the contribution of Mr Pollock or his successor to discussion of its affairs, neithei body will lose access to the authority. Either can make submissions directly. Once the nominations are received by the Minister an election will be held among the memberships of the federation and the association. I>. may take some time to set up. since the two memberships overlap in many cases, and it may be several months before the result is known.

It is expected the election will be conducted under the supervision of the Depart" ment of Interna’ Affairs.