TROTTING CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1182, 18 July 1911, Page 3

TROTTING CONFERENCE

THE SPORT FLOURISHING. GAMIXG ACT AND EXTKA TAXATION. The nnminl conference of delegates representing tho trotting clubs of New Zealnnd was held in the Chamber of Commerce .vMterdny, Mr. J. ]{o\ye (Auckland) presiding. Otlici- delegaf-i."! present wore: Messrs. \V. J. Gore (r'orbury Park T.C.), U. If. liolierts (Greymoutli), .r. Colvin, M.1 , . (Weflnort), B. 1 , . Jl'Mahoii (tnangahni)), ,[. Glen (Nelson), S. Tnpp (Wairan), ]{. Wallace (Canterbury Park), P>. W. Sliortt (liutt), ]•'. ,r. Panncll (New Brighton), G. B. Kitchio (New Zealand Metropolitan), C. E. Mackay (Wanganui), J. Latham (Gore), A. A. Fooks (Ashbnrion), H. ]{. M'Kenzie (Otnhuhu), and A. L. Myers (vice-prcsidcat New Zealand Trotting Association). Chairman's Address. The chairman, in his opening address, remarked that he thought ho was safe in saying, that at. least <fclOO,(IOO has been expended by the clubs en grounds and improvements alono since they last met— two clubs he knew had expended well over .£60,n00 between them. These sums were quite, apart from Government tax Oi.')d the largo amounts provided for stakes, salaries, and the many other charges 100 numerous to mention, incidental to the proper conduct of the sport.. If any evidence was required as to the influence of the sport of trotting in effecting this improvement, he would just ask any gentleman who had travelled to compare the light harness horse—even th« livery horse- of Canterbury—with that of (my other portion of the world, and he could say without fear of contradiction that in no place could there be found faster or more useful animals for light harness work, and this was entirely due tj the >port of trotting. The racing year had not been devoid of special, interest. The passing of the new Bill which delegalised the profession of the bookmaker and curtailed the number of days of raciug had cleared the. atmosphere, and the anti-betting section of the community should now be satisfied that the authorities, in conjunction with the Government, were doing, and had done, their very best, in the interests of all. . Any further attempts to meddle with theiiherty of the subject or actions of organised extremists who could sec nothing but evil in the people's pastimes, "light have the effect of creating a "sudden and violent revulsion of feeling both in the Parliament and the country" little anticipated. So long a<; the sport of trotting continued to increase in popular favour, as it was undoubtedly doing, and they provided only the best .material with which to cater for the public taste, and whilst the conduct of the meetings was above reproach, there was very little to fear. Everywhere there were signs of expansion and a keen desire on the part of trotting enthusiasts to improve tho sport, increase tho accommodation for tho public on tho courses and among the breeders to produce a still better class of horse.

There was still room, much'room, for improvement; nowhero in New Zealand had thn sport reached perfection, for it was still in its infancy. After what ho had seen in travelling through the Dominion, ho thought, considering tho little encourageraent that trotting has.had, the manner in which tho sport had advanced was little short .of. miraculous. Whilo this was the case generally, there wers somo of Ihe smaller clubs which would require to wake up to a senfo of their responsibilities and ho fell a.'sured from conversations which he hail with their various. executives that tbb awakening had 'already commenced in earnest.

The order paper bsforc the conferencewas if anything, more bulky than usual, but there were cases' that would call for no discussion. The proposal to alter Rule 18, dealing with appeals, would requir'e serious consideration before being passed. Under tho same) rule any club which has a difference, with another club or the-association might appeal to < the conference. That was only, right. In tho cafe of a- private individual having a dispute with a club, ho might appeal to the association; this was also only fair, but ho understood the MetropolitaiiClub now proposed to allow such a person not only a second but a third chance as well. If <o, the conference might ho unnecessarily called upon after every rnco 'meeting to adjudicate on cases which might with justice bo left, as they are at present, to tho association.

ITnhoppled Horse?. It was resolved: "That in all programmes of clubs there shall bo at. least one race, per (lay for unbonplcd horses of the trotting gait only, and at least oneseventh of the stakes given by a club at such meeting shall be allotted to such races." Totalisator and Stakes. An amendment was made in Rule 87 to provide that no .totalisator club shall give less than .£2OO per day in stakes, as against JCISO at present, and if two totalisator meetings aru held per year .C 250 per day, as against .£2OO at present. Professionals and Amateurs. The New Zealand Trotting Association moved new rules as under:'—"No horse trained by a professional trainer shall bo eligible to ha nominated for an amateur! race." The motion lapsed for want of a' >ecom!er. It was also moved that no amateur driver or rider shculd bo allowed to rido or drive in an open race any but his own horse cr horses. Mr. Pannejl, in seconding the motion, remarked that he did not think the amateur should be allowVd lo compsic against the man who made his living at the. sport, Several members remarked that such a , rule would press very heavily on the smaller clubs. After considerable discussion the motion was lost. It was decided to strike out rule 203, which provide:! for a concession in the way of start, etc., to amateur as against professional riders or drivers. Protests, Etc. An addition was made to Rule 2G5, which deals with the consideration oi protests, etc., as under:—"The stewards or commit-' too may refuse to hear or take down the evidence of any person (other than the owner, trainer, rider, or drivar) who is interested in the result of their dedision." A Palmerstoii Deputation. A deputation was received from Palmer iton .Vorth Club, and.pointed out the ror..-oiis why the club had not hold its meeting, it was staled that the reason was that tho Uub had boon unable to secure the Awapuni course,. although arrangements had been made for this course. Tho Manawatu Racing Club refused at the last minuto to let them have tho use of the course. Arrangements were now in hand, however, to got tho use of another course, and. iho club asked that it should 1)0 considered in the event of a totalisator permit, being available. The chairman said hn recognised that a hardship had been done in this case, and it would be given every consideration. Evidence at Appeals. It was resolved that in the event of fresh evidence beinß forthcoming after tho stewards have given their decision on an appeal, the club may hnld the case over for a period not exceeding It days, for the purpose of further consideration before forwarding the deposit and notice of appeal on to the association. Timing of Races. The rule providing that tho first two horses shall bo separately timed was deleted, and iu its place a new rule was inserted, providing that the first,, second, and third horses shall bo timed, and the tinio of tho -first horse recorded. Provident Fund. A new rule was added as under:—"Before any horso shall be weighed out for, or start in. any race, there shall bo paid in respect of such horse, for or on behalf of the owner, to the secretary of Iho association, by way of annual contribution to the provident fund, tho fee of os., or such other amount as may be fixed from time to time by special resolution of the conference, and such horse may thereafter bo weighed out for and run in that and any other race during tho current racing year (unless otherwise disqualified)." Stipendiary Stewards. Tho executive recommended that one person resident in tho North Island and one in tho Sfiutjy Island be appointed by the association as stipendiary stewards, to

bo supplied to clubs oa applicatiou to tho association, aud that tho remuneration of such steward or stewards shall be paid by the club ranking such application. Tho motiou iras lost. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted as under:—President, Mr. G. Kowo (Auckland); vice-president, Mr. AV. J. Gore (Dunedin); executive committee, Messrs. F. J. I'annell, C. E. Mackay, and D. SI. Itobcrts. Other Busincas. It was decided that totalisator permits should lie issued in accordance with the recommendations of the Racing Commission. Tho cliiiirmnn pomted out that it was competent for clubs' to apply to the Minister for Internal Affairs for permits to race without the totalisator.

It was resolved that the Minister should bo asked to allow clubs to split their individual totalisator permits up as best suited the clubs. A morion of sympathy was passed with clubs who. through recent legislation, have lost their permits or have had them reduced, and that in the event of any fresh legislation taking place tho conference pledge themselves to do their utmost to assist such legislation, provided it is in favour of trotting and racing getting its just right?. It was decided that the next meeting be held in 'Wellington.