COUNTRY RACING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 247, 13 July 1921, Page 6

COUNTRY RACING

CLUBS MEET IN CONFERENCE A MISUNDERSTANDING REMOVED The annual meeting of the New Zealand Country Racing Clubs’ Association was held last evening. The president, Air. A. Bruce, was in the chair. The chairman mentioned the fact that during the year the association s efforts to secure rehandicapping instead of field penalties had met with considerable success. A deputation from the Trotting Asso-' ciation waited on the meeting in explanation of the misunderstanding that had. arisen in connection with the negotiations leading up to the promotion of the Gaming Amendment Bill. The deputation was taken in committee, and after considerable discussion the conference passed a resolution accepting the explanation of the Trotting Association and regretting that tho misunderstanding had arisen. Subsequently the auinual report was adopted after all references therein to the alleged breach of faith on'the part of the Trotting Association with reference to the Gaming Bill had been ordered to bo deleted. On the motion of the chairman, the meeting affirmed that where the report, of the Racing Commission (which has not yet been made public) makes a recommendation that any of the clubs affiliated with the association should be wiped out, tho association pledge its hearty support to prevent such injustice being done. A motion was carried protesting against, tho Finance Act of last session whereby clubs using the totalisator are required to pay into the Treasury alt totalisator fractions. Some discussion took place when the chairman moved a resolution expressing the opinion that racing clubs were quite competent to deal with the question of appointing racecourse detectives, and desired to oppose the proposal that they should he appointed by the Racing Conference. An amendment was moved endorsing the proposal that the detectives should be appointed by (he Racing Conferc'nee. The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman, and tho motion, subsequently carried by a narrow margin. e ... On the motion of the chairman, seconded bv Air. Jewell, the conference resolved: “That clubs are. entitled to receive a portion of the percentage deducted from totalisator investments, and suggest that the Rules of Racing lie amended, and in lieu of the net proceeds being devoted to stakes that the compulsory limit be fixed at 75 per cent., or that the amount paid in income tax nnd local taxation be allowed io bo deducted from the amount received from totalisator investments.” It was resolved to ask for the carriage of brood mares free one way on the railways. Officers were elected as follow:—President, Air.- A. Bruce (Thames); vice-presi-dent, ATr. D. J. Evans (Westland); executive.' Hon. E. W. Alison and Air. AV. T. Jewell, as representing the North Island, and Messrs. J. H. Finney and J. Kennedy (Geraldine) ns representing the South Island.