TROTTING CLUBS. ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 16, 19 July 1910, Page 2

TROTTING CLUBS. ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The annual conference of representatives -of trotting dubs registered with the New Zealand Trotting Association was opened in the Chamber of Commerce today. The president, Mr. John Rowe ■fCOmehnnga), was in the chair. LIST OF DELEGATES. The following delegates were also present :— Messrs. A. A. Fooks (Ashburton^ R. Wallace ( Auckland), CL Hodges fPorbury Park), J. Latham (Gore), D. H. Roberts (Greymouth), R. W. Short (Hutt Valley), B. P. McMahon (Inangairaa), Wm. Coleman (Nelson), P- Selig (N.Z. Trotting Association), G. B. Ritchie (N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Clnb), F. T. Pannell (New Brighton), W. Watts (Otahuhu), W. Armstrong (South Waira^apa), S. Tapp (Wairau), H. Speed (Waaganui), James Cohan, M.P. (Westpocfc). PROPRIETARY CLUBS. The President, in his annual addreea j to delegates, said that during the season •two Acts of Parliament came into force vitally affecting the sports of trotting and racing. The more important of these was undoubtedly the Race Meetings Act, to regulate the race meetings of non-totalisator clubs, which took effect from the Ist April last. The Act empowers the Minister to issue licenses to non-totalisator clubs under certain conditions. He had no doubt that as in the case of totalisator clubs the Minister in charge of the Department would be guided by the authorities controlling the •sport in the issuing of these licenses. The Act had already had the effect of clearing the world of sport in the Dominion of the undesirable proprietary atmosphere. EXTRA. TAXATION OF CLUBS. The Stamp Duties Amendment Act, which cam© m force on the Ist March last, deals with the extra taxation of clubs. By it the duty on totalisator revenue has been increased by one per cent, to two and a half per cent., and a tax of two and a half per cent, imposed on gate aad other receipts. The new measure was at first not generally approved, as is usually the case in any inerea.se of taxation ; but as the revenue from all sources was increasing, he did not think that any of them would: find it necessary to reduce their stakes. Those vj-iio had watched the course of events, so far as trotting horse racing in ■the Dominion was concerned, would agree that the work year after year of this conference., the legislative body of trotting, had not been without good results, As each year went by there was a greater absence of disputes in, the shape of prot? S ul ° r a PP eais against the decisions of clubs, whilst at the same time the good' control and regulation of the sport was almost all that could be desired. STIPENDIARY STEWARDS. The question of appointing stipendiary stewards was one that had been mentioned at. previous meetings of the conference. As a rule the most important meetings were managed by men well versed in trotting law, and quite competent to carry out the duties expected of them in a capable manner. With smaller clubs, however, it was sometimes j different, and the more one saw of country meetings the more apparent did the need of paid stewards become. Nor could' the fact be got away from' tnait since bookmakers had been given their present legal standing, the state of affairs had not improved, and it was in this direction, that ithe - appointment of stipendiary stewards would be most beneficial. The question of cost and the finding of suitable individuals were the chief obstacles ; these, however, might be overcome if the stipendiary steward' was a real' .necessity. "Whilst we can justly assert that the conduct of trotting in NewZealand compares more than favourably with the conduot of the sport in other* countries," said the president, "there is yet much to be done before trotting) at some of the smaller country meetings is up to the proper standard." j GENERAL MATTERS. Included in the motions to be discussed would 1 be found some valuable suggestions made at a conference in November between members of the association and representatives of the trotting authorities of the Commonwealth of Australia on matters relating to the advancement of the sport. For some time past the- association had endeavoured to encourage a& far as possible the ■unhoppled trotter, and two years ago passed a rule which provided that at. least one race per day and oneseventh of the stakes given by a club at a meeting must be set aside for unhoppled trotters only. This rule had met with every success. There was also a proposal ito make ifc compulsory for certain chibs to place short limit races on their programmes ; this, the president considered, was a step in the right direction. These races would be somewhat of the same nature as classical or weight-for-age races on racing programmes, and would therefore be a very solid encouragement to the owners of the best class of horse. At the last conference a rule was passed .that Tacing colours must be registered with the association, but it was discovered that the Tule was not carrieS by the necessary majority, and was ultra vires. It was decided that the president's address be printed, and circularised among the various affiliated clubs. The South Canterbury Trotting Club wrote, asking for consideration when tofealisatpr permits were being granted. A permit would make the club (it was stated) one of the strongest. The matter was set down for discussion later. ALTERATIONS TO RULES. Mr. P. Selig (New Zealand Trotting Association) moved to alter Interpretation, Rule 1, to read as follows :—'"Performance means a start in any race, or advertised public exhibition of speed against time. The motion was seconded by Mr. G. B. Ritchie (No. 3 Metropolitan). It was carried. An alteration to Rule 27 : the substitution of the word "nominating" for the word "nominated" — was also made. A procedure of voting and voting papers was concerned in the next remit. It was moved by Mr. P. Selig to add the following words to Rule 28 : — Any club failing or neglecting to vote in accordance with the rale may bo fined by the conference a sum not exceeding five guineas." This was t-^nnded by Mr. Armstrong and carried b majority vote. An alteration was suggested in Rale 30 to the following effect.: — "That the words 'scrutineers shall deberraine by lot' shall be deleted, and the words 'member of the association shall determine by ballot.'" This was a remit from the New Zealand Trotting Asso- • ciation. The motion was defeated. MOTIONS WITHDRAWN. Mr. W. Armstrong (South Wairarapa) moved : — That, in the opinion of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, the 'business of the New Zealand Trotting Association bus rcachod such dimension* as to seriously oncroaab upon the time ■of members appointed hy clubs. In vjow 'thereof members shonld be remunerated' for their loss of time." (2) New "Rtiio 40a. — "That *n honorarium of tw«afey:flvo gugnsas be ajunallx. p*id to- .55.

president of the New Zealand Trottfng Association, also an honorarium of one -and a half guineas per attendance to other members attending special or ordinary meetings of the New Zealand Trotting Association." Tiie mover said, after elaboration and -explanation, that if the question were not viewed favourably he would withdraw it. Mr. P. Seiig declared that he could not support the motion. He said that members of the Association were unanimous that there should not be fixed payments made to officials. He, had certainly received a bonus, but he preferred to serve the Association without remuneration or hope of such. He was a strong believer in volunteer assistance. Mr. Armstrong said he was glad to hear Mr. Selig's explanation. He thought that those people who gave so much time to and service to public-trot--ting should be remunerated. The members pointed out that the motion had been withdrawn, and that the discussion was useless. A motion (anenb Rule 87) was moved "by Mt. P. Selig to make the rule read as follows : "No totalisator club shall at any meeting, give in stakes less than £2QO (in substitution of £150) per diem." This motion was also withdrawn after a preliminary discussion. Mr. Armstrong protested 'strongly against such an advance on stakes as it would greatly affect the smaller clubs. A remit (anent part 7 of Rule 87 from New Zealand Trotting Association) was considered. It read : In the event of any club holding five or more days' racing in the year, optional races shall not be allowed." Mr. Fooks moved as an amendment to the effect that where optional races are allowed there be no events under two miles. This became the substantive motion, and was carried on the voices. Mr. P. Selig moved: "That a club may, at any time where the number of acceptances for any harness race exceeds 20, decide to run the race in heats." The dangers of a too crowded field, and the advantage to be gained by tho horses on the limit therein, were pointed -out. The conference adopted the remit. The same, mover also moved: "Whenever it is necessary, owing^ to the number of horses engaged, to run a race in heats, the first three in each heat shall be qualified to start in the final." This was carried. (Left Sitting.)