RACING CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 11, 13 July 1922, Page 8

RACING CONFERENCE

WORK OF THE SEASON

FOR IMPROVEMENT OF SPORT

The annual Conference of representatives of New Zealand Jockey dubs was held in the Conference Hall of the Dominion Farmers' Institute to-day.

The president (Sir George Clifford) was in the chair. The following representatives of clubs were present:—Hon. Sir E. Mitctelson, K.OJVLG., and Mr. F. Earl, K.C. (Auckland Racing Club); Messrs. L. W. Nelson and G. W. Vercoe (Auckland District Clubs); Mr. B. L. Lane (Canterbury Jockey Club); Messrs. H. Lowry and H. F. Nicoll (Canterbury District Clubs); Messrs. A. C. Hanlon and P. Miller (Dunedin Jockey Club); Mr. W. T. Hazlett (Dunedin District Clubs); Messrs. T. E. Coates and W. R. Kettle (Greymouth Jockey Club); Messrs. D. J. Evans and W. A. Stapleton (Greymouth District Clubs); Messrs. J. S. M'Leod and H. A. Russell (Hawkes Bay Jockey Crub); Miessrs. W. H. Gaisford and M. H. Strachan (Hawkes Bay District Clubs); Hon. O. Samuel, K.C., and Mi1. L. A. Nolan (Taranaki Jockey Club); Messrs. .A. Good and R. H. Nolan (Taranaki District Chibs); Messrs. E. A. Campbell and W. Duncan (Wanganui Jockey Club); Messrs. E. Goodbehere and J. H. Perrett (Wanganui District Clubs); Messrs. O. &• Watkins and J. G. Duncan (Wellington Racing Club); Messrs. W. E. Bidwill and 0. F. VaJlance (Wellington District Clubs, North.); Messrs. L. Griffiths and F. N. Dillon (Wellington District Clubs, South): , The President's report, covering the whole racing world of the Dominion for the season 1921-22, *and emphasising particularly the calamity of the rejection of the report of the Gaming Commission of 1921, the heavy burden of taxation, and the new system of racecourse inspection, is given elsewhere. '

The statement of receipts and expenditure showed receipts amounting to £4236 12s Id, and expenditure, leaving a balance of £1433 6s lid.

The statement was adopted unanimously.

THE ACCIDENT FUND.

The statement in regard to Accident Fund showed receipts amounting to £23,----006 lls 6d and expenditure £22,526 Is sd, leaving a balance of £480 10s Id. The President said he could not account for the large increase in claims. In quiries among insurance companies showed that claims were liable to very considerable fluctuations. They might hope that this was one of the exceptional years not likely to occur again, and subsequent years might again bring down the average.

The President referred to the same phenomenon. In the course of his report he said that the trustee of the Accident. Fund had had to meet unusually heavy claims of late, and, despite the Reserve Fund, which fortunately had accumulated, it might be necessary to restore the fees to their original amount. The decision as to this would rest with .the conference. In this connection owners, to secure safety, should be careful< to pay the accident fee before the horse was weighed out. The mere undertaking of an official to debit it to an owner's account was of no effect, and the disqualification of a recent winner after an appeal to the conference should, be a warning against negligence in this respect. Strict observance of so vital a rule waa an obvious necessity. The same caution applied to the rule requiring a written authority from, the owner for the validity of- entries and acceptances by an agent. If neglect to conform to rules, which are so essential, brought' punishment to the negligent owner alone, they might regard his penalties with equanimity, but it was due to the pnblic that owners should be cognisant of all dangers of this kind, involving possible loss to others. In short, every owner and trainer -should read the rules carefully once and again, Did they? If all did so, the omission to notify clubs of interests requiring the bracketing of horses on the totalisator would not occur. The offending owner would realise that he was liable for all direct or indirect losses, possibly very heavy, occasioned thereby. The report was adopted. Correspondence in regard to a patent electric starling machine, farriers on the racecour«es, cruelty to animals by tying up the tongue of a racehorse with a handkerchief, and increased totalisator licenses was read. In regard to the last letter, from the Sports Protection League, it was decided that three delegates from the conference, with three from „the Trotting Conference, should confer with representatives of the league, with a view to joint and united action. A letter was received from the New Zealand Trotting Conference in regard to running trotting races, in which there were very large fields, by divisions. The matter was deferred to a later stage in the conference.

INCREASED WOBK OF CONFER ENCE.

Referring to the work of the conference, the President said that;, excepting for the falling-off in totalisator returns, the racing season now ending had passed without exceptional incidents on the racecourse. A few appeals had settled some disputed points, and they were indebted to Sir" William Herries, Messrs. W,/ E. Bidwill, A. Boyle, John Grigg, H. Lowry, P.' Miller, H. A. Russell, and 0. /S. Watlrins for their services in these hearings. Ambulances had been more generally provided, though a few clubs were still deficient in an equipment, the absence of which should invalidate their permits. The work of the Racing Conference had considerably increased, and, with it, the volume of daily correspondence needing attention. In order more clearly to appreciate the organising ability of their "secretary and his energetic devotion to his work, Sir George said it would be well for members, to visit the office, and investigate its methods, the voluminous compilation of records and statistics, th,e administrative details of the accident fond, of the forfeit list, of the stipendiary stewards' itinerary, and much else which needs minute supervision. The toil of the office would be much simplified if the promptness with which most secretaries dealt with routnje returns and general correspondence were imitated by the few whose negligence and thoughtlessness continually hamper- them. This was noticeable even in the preparation of such important papers as jockeys' applications for their licenses' in an incomplete state.

(Proceeding.)