DATES AND LICENSING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 25

DATES AND LICENSING

COMMITTEES NECESSARY?

CONFERENCE TO DECIDE

An important step towards centralising the control of racing under one administrative unit is proposed in the motion of the executive committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference to abolish the dates co_n_ittee and the licensing committee of the conference, and to transfer the powers, duties, and functions of-these committees to the executive committee itself. The proposed step involves an essential change *in the administrative machinery of, the" conference, but it is undoubtedly one that is desiderated. For some considerable -time past the imperative needs of economy,, have prevented these two special committees, whose members, representing the various' metropolitan districts, are widely scattered throughout the Dominion^ from holding regular meetings. Most'of their work has perforce been done by correspondence, and it should be obvious enough that the most satisfactory results could not be expected from such a course. MORE CENTRAL CONTROL. The inefficacy of' the present practice has for some time been realised in official circles, Where it is felt that some unitary system like that under which the sport of trotting is controlled would be more workable than the multiple procedure enjoined by the Eules of Racing. The work of the board of the Trotting Association is centralised under, one administrative unit, which; meets regularly and thus gives personal attention to matters of importance. Such a system js not entirely possible, under the present internal organisation of the racing code in the Dominion, with its subsidiary localised control by district committees; but the proposal to vest the-functions of the dates and licensing committees- in the executive committee is a definite step towards having the most important ' functions of the conference moved-from unnecessary ancillary committees to, a -cm- . tral- controlling bodj- that is in - daily and continuous touch with the administrati. o side of . the -sport. The* adoption of a special resolution next ■'month V making, the proposed..; change would mean that the executive committee '-. would permanently dates and licensing itself 'by' means of subcommittees that would always be, available.. The business that in the past has, . been done by indepehdent,. auxiliary\: committees, which required to be 7- specially called together or otherwise particularly constituted, would in this way be very much expedited, and. it is reasonable to believe that it would therefore,in the long run bo accomplished with much* greater • general satisfaction. ', , UNNECESSARY OVERLAPPING, The unnecessary overlapping* resulting from the present system may be better realised when it is observed : that each of the- three .committees (executive, dates, and licensing) is comprised- of a representative of each of thp nine metropolitan districts, besides the. president and vicepresident of the conference, or one of them. At present ->'only."'four districts have the .same, representative on two of the 'Committees, the 7 other ■ five having different' representation on the different committees.' "7 ■"■'*. If the executive committee were given all these functions (as the board of the Trotting Association has) then all:. this overlapping j^ould, of course, go, 7As a consequence there, would follow a very .considerable,, kiivjng., in administrative... ex-, penses, as tveir as. a continuity of control and handling" that would almost certainly yield more satisfactory final results. Moreover, the appointment of subcommittees* of the executive' committee (which would then in effect be a complete board of management for racing in'the Dominion) rlvould relieve the president of some of his now far too numerous duties, which would devolve on the chairmen'of the subcommittees, who need not necessarily ribr would always be the president. This is a point to which delegates to the' conference will be required to give full weight When the proposal is before them next month-, for;there are few men in the Dominion at present who would care to accept the office of president while the obligations involved are. so onerous, and a new president has to be found.