"ATTEMPT TO TYRANNISE"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 250, 16 July 1920, Page 7

"ATTEMPT TO TYRANNISE"

6IR GEORGE CLIFFORD ON JOCKEYS' DISPUTE. Referring to tho jockeys' dispute in the course of his presidential report to yesterday's conference of racing clubs, Sir George Clifford romurked:

"In tho course of the past season,' without preliminary application to tho conference, an association of jockeys wns organised, chiefly by persons unconnected with tho profession, with the nominal object of securing some thirly-two points, which, were detailed by its leaders. II theso propositions had come from licensed jockeys in tho spirit which assuredly animates tho great majority of them, 6uch as were reasonable would have been accorded by us every duo consideration. As president of this conference I refused to recognise them as presonted by the association, partly becauso it was clear that its members had joined it under o complete misapprehension of its nature, and partly on account of the dictatorial attitude it at once, assumed. The first reason was confirmed by the speedy and voluntary resignation of most of tJio more prominent members. As to tho other, the virtual control of the details of racing could not bo allowed to fall into the hands of its irresponsible promoters. The choice lay between this conference with its carefully devised system for securing justice lo aM and Iho csecutivo of the Jockeys' Association claiming and striving to exorcise a rlgfit to veto decisions of tho racing tribunals by the summary method of calling a strike. Tho existence of racing as a popular institution was at stake, and 1 aid not hesitate to ignore an association whoso pretensions were so antagonistic to all the traditions of racing in every part of tho Empire, If owners, trainers, or jockevs choose to form associations among themselves, and 'respectively present suggestions to this conference, no objection con bo offered, but for any one of these sections to ally itself with outsiders and attempt to tyrannise over tho rest, would destroy the mutual good feeling essential to the duo government of tho turf, and would drive many of our. best supporters lo other pursuits. ' We may trust that the action of the Transport Workers' Advisory Board, in its interference with tho shipment of horses and the passages of jockeys and racing officials, was based on a misunderstanding of the position. The prohibition is petty in itself, of questionable legality, and in its effect hurts the whole community fa; 1 more than the rncinp clulis, at whom it appears to bo aimed, '