NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

SPECIAL MEETING IN WELLINGTON. .A • special meeting of the Now -Zealand Racing Confereiico cominenced yesterday at the Chamber of Commerce, Wellington. fenGoo. Clifford, tho President, was in thecliiiu-. There wero present: Mossrs. F. Earl;and.T. Hartland (Auckland Racing Club), E. W. All? son, M.P., and W. 11. Ilerries, Ml'.: (Auckland Country Clubs);; Sir Geo; Clifford. and Sir. P. H. Pyne (Canterbury Jockey C|ub); Messrs. H. Frieldlander and E. R. 'Gulnnoss (Canterbury Country Clubs); P. Miller (Bunedin Jock'ov Club); J. Latham and; G. M. Procter (Otago Country Clubs'* Hon. J. 1). Ormond and Mr. -G. Hunter (Hawse's Day Jockey .Club)'; Messrs. E. ~T. Gothard and J. M'Vay (Hawke's 13ay Country Clubs); >D. Campion and W. llall (Wanganui Jockey Club) ; I). Fraser and E. .Goodbehoro (Wnngauui Country Clubs); H. F Johnston and \V, 11. S. Moorohpuso (Wellington Racing Club); W, K. -Bidivill and ,0. C. Cooper (Wellington : Country' Club's) ;_ -11. 11. Nolan (Tiitiariaki Country Clubs); W. Colcnmn.and C.' Hood ' Williams' (Groymouth Country Clubs); and W. H. E. AVaiikl.ru. Socrctary, The President, in addressing tho meeting, said that tho passing of tho Gaming Act had created a new situation for Racing Clubs, and various propositions had boon made, with S view' to assembling the different > -racing bodiqs in tho Dominion to consider the situation.' It would have beeii useless to call a meeting, at an earlier date, as-tho different clubs liad; not -had any' experience of the practical application of tho Act.' Now, however: that tho meeting' had beon deferred until. after . tho Christmas holidays, - the Clubs' • tcproseiitatiyes had been gnen an opportunity of seeing how tho recent fixtures bad been affected by the passing of the Act, aud would bo -in a better position to appreciate the .situationlt - was not, ;of course, desirable nor ndvisablo for - the Racing Conference to criticise the policy of the Government.- Tho best plan would' bo to conform to'the' spirit fif tho Act with, tlic least possible-harm to the sport. The Act in detail it was almost impossible to observe, but- ho thought that-, by-conforming with the spirit of it, they 'would be dojnp'their, diit.v. lie expressed regret that the Government in introducing. the Bill had doiie . so without regarding tho Conference as an intelligent body. Had the Government Bounded' the ■Conference on different details the Act would have beon a. more.workable measure, but the Government had made no effort in such.a direction: Recent- riiee meetings went to show that, tho Hill might seriouslv alfect the progress of small clubs, though tliero did not appear to bo any likelihood that tho Inrcoi clubs would have their progress hampered by it. ft -was 'the duty of the ConfcroiVco'ito assist the .minor clubs to resist the oppression caused by a too literal' observance oi the'law. He then instanced-the casd of the Whan'g.irei Club, which ; refused .to accept-' a lump sum of £'50 i.o license an unlimited munher of bookmakers, but which. had been practically swindled by the bookmakers forming a "bank" and sending a couplo of representatives to do business on the coursc. He luid some proposals to submit for discussion, and he would r.iovo' that tho Conferonco deal with them in Committee. Tho motion jwas carried, and tho representatives of the Press retired. ■ ~ • The Secretary of tho Conference, seen by a representative of this paper at a late houi in tho afternoon, said that no • information would bo given, 'to the Press as to .anything that w'as discussed in Committee.-' i ALTERATIONS TO RULES. . The following , alterations to. tho Rules ol ' Racing were agreed upon by the Conference:—r -. .' - ; Part VI., rule, 7.—That the word "un--1 licensed" be inserted beforo.tlio word "per .son" in the twenty-third lino. This amendment- givesi tho metropolitan .committee power to refuse to pass the programme ol any club that permits an unlicensed'persor to carry on 1 the business of a bookmaker.' Part XXX.,. rule 14.—That the-words _"t r shilling" be struck out-, ancL the word'"sixpence" bo substituted. This amendment pro , vides for the .payment of dividends to six pence. ' ; j Part XXX., rule '19;— This rule, -wliiijl stipulated the. penalty'.which w-as jhci'irred by , any racing club'official'who delayed tho starl t of a race to allow more time for tho..investment- of .-moneys ..on the totalisator, -was struck- out [entirely. ■ Part XXX., rule 18.—This rulo provitlec that tho totalisator shall bo closed immediately after the start, and no- moneys Ik accepted or -investment's permitted after the totalisator has been closed. Tho rule was struck out. . ■