THE QUESTION OF RECIPROCITY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 80, 1 October 1924, Page 12

THE QUESTION OF RECIPROCITY

VICTORIAN COMMENT ON ROYAL

DESPATCH CASE,

So much has already been published in regard to the Royal Despatch caso that there is little left to be said. The Victorian Press withheld criticism until the case was finally dealt with, but now both the "Australasian" and the "Leader" comment editorially. What these two journals say in regard to the probable attitude of the New Zealand Racing Conference is of interest, and of greater value in that they are nob interested either way. The "Australasian," after reviewing the case, concludes as follows : ■. . . "It has been reported, with what truth we do not know, that the New Zealand Racing Conference has requested the A.J.C. to forward a transcript of the evidence taken in the Royal Despatch case. By some people this lias been taken to mran that the New Zealand authorities intend to review the case, or, in other words, to constitute themselves a court of appeal. Probably the New Zealand Racing Conference lias no such intention. Such action would be a grave reflection upon the A..7.C. Committee, in whom we are sine .members of the Kiicing 'Conference have implicit confidence. The principal racing clubs of Australia, New Zealand, Great .Britain, India, South Africa, and oUipr uoiiiitt'ies voclprwaLn in aii.oli niut--kSSSft 8^ a flisgu&jiftcatiog imposed" jg

one country is automatically effective in all others."

The "Leader's" summing-up is in this way: "There was a suggestion that efforts would be made to induce the New Zealand Racing Conference not to adopt the disqualifications. There is an agreement between the New Zealand Racing Conference and the premier clubs in Australia, under which all disqualifications imposed by the clubs and the Conference shall be mutually adopted. It, however, is far from likely that the New Zealand Racing Conference will not adopt the disqualifications. A refusal tb do so would be tantamount to telling the A.J.C. Committee that it is incapable of administering its own racing laws, and that is not a thing a body like the Racing Conference would ever dream of doing. Still, it is not without precedent. The New Zealand, horse Mata,, after winning the V.R.C. Handicap at Flemington many years ago, was disqualified by the V.R.C. stewards for inconsistent running. Mata was afterwards taken to Adelaide, and, although the S.A.J.C. adopted the disqualification the Adelaide Racing Club would not do so, and Mata started and won the Birthday Cup. In those days the S.A.J.C. and A.R.C. were at loggerheads, "and the fact that the S.A.J.O. had adopted it was sufficient to cause the A.R.C to refuse to do so. .That state of affairs, however, did not last long, and the two Adelaide clubs have been living in perfect amity for many years. Times have changed, and all the principal clubs closely co-operate in matters of this kind."