ASSUMED NAMES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 10, 11 July 1930, Page 11

ASSUMED NAMES

RACEHORSE OWNERS

CHANGE NOT FAVOUIIED

The use of assumed names by owners was discussed at some length by the New Zealand Racing Conference, today. The majority of! delegates were of opinion that to allow owners to uso assumed names, would be a retrograde step, and a Canterbury Jockey Club remit favouring the change was rejected by 2S Totes to 14. Mr. H. A. Knight moved the adoption of the remit, saying that he was unaware of any serious reasons against the change. They all knew that there was a number of men who would race if they were allowed to use assumed names. Mr. W. T. liazlett Seconded the motion. Mr. J. 11. Perrott said that he strongly opposed the proposal. Probably there were a few people occupying positions of trust who wished to race under assiiined names, but they should coin© out into the open. The practice was abolished in England for very sound reasons, and in Australia it was allowed only to a very limited extent. The conference would, in his opinion, take a retrograde step by carrying the remit. Why, he asked, should the confci-cnco open the door to nefarious practices? Mr. Knight had mentioned that he had been told of porous racing under tho uames of others, but not a great many ivero doing that. Tho rules were too stringent. Mr. Hazlctt said that for several years he had been asked by persons in eminent positions to vote for. the motion because they wero honourable men and did not wish to ask others for permission to use their names, and thus be guilty of a nefarious practice. Tho motion was also supported by Mr. D. M. Findlay, who considered that if people wanted to adopt nefarious practices they would do so, in spito of assumed names or anything else. " Mr. H. A. Bussell said that ho could not sco why an owner should' not register an assumed name. He thought that the door was much more open to questionable practices at present, when there was no record of assumed names. If the motion was carried, nil tho records would bo available Opposition to tho proposal, was expressed by Mr! C. Louisson. He thought that the ehango would be a great bono of contention in the future, and it would also be a handle for tho bookmakers. _'

In reply to n question, the president said thatit was proposed to make both tho real name and the assumed name available for the defaulters' list.

There was no further discussion, ,'ind on being put to the vote the motion was lost by 38 votes to 14.