SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 11605, 19 July 1901, Page 4

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE RACING CONFERENCE. >. [Special to the Stab.] WELLINGTON, July 19. The stewards of the Wellington Racing Club yesterday decided to pay out sixpences at to-morrow's races. All the amendments to the rules of racing suggested by the Dunedin Jockey Club and the Otago country clubs, received short shrift at the hands of the racing Conference. This action caused the Hon. G, M'Lean to petulantly observe'that he was beginning to feel convinced that there should be separation between the North and the South Island. Complaint was made by a deputation -if Auckland members who waited on the CoV nial Secretary last evening regarding' the rule passed by the Racing Conference last year in reference to tho disqualification of officers of trotting clubs.—Sjr Maurice O'Rorke said he was president of a trotting club, and found that be was liable to be warned off, the racecourses of the colony.— Mr Lawry's statement of the case was that the Racing Conference had passed* a rule that no officers of trotting clubs (honorary or otherwise? would be allowed on racecourses controlled by the Conference. This he described as an act of tyranny worthy of Russia. He objected to be cotroed, and asked if the Minister would see that justice was done before issuing; totalisator permits to tho racing clubs.—Sir Joseph Ward said in reply that he would bring the matter before the Racing Conference. He could not, of course, suspend the operation of an Act of Parliament by refusing to issue totalisator permits, but he hoped, on the matter being goi:e into with the Conference, that what was fair and just would be done. He quite recognised that the Trotting Association were quite as duly s constituted body as the Racing Conference. —Mr Mark and Mr Harris (of the Auckland and Otahuhu Trotting Clubs) also protested against the rule. —Speaking as a member of last year's Racing Conference " The Admiral" is of opinion that the rule taken exception to was inserted merely to deal with clubs who had pony races t.n their programmes—mixed programmes—and this fact was entirely overlooked by the deputation. That such was the case seems to be borne out by the circumstance that Auckland only is prejudicially affected by the rule. A Press Association message says that Sir J. G. Ward addressed the Conference th:s morning, congratulating them on the work they had done. He stated that it was not intended to introduce this session any legislation affecting the totalisator' or tote betting. . In regard to the question of voting power, the Conference announced that the Taranaki and Greymouth Clubs, the Taranaki District, tho North Canterbury District (north of the Hurunui), and the Greymouth District Clubs would have two votes each. A committee was set up, to meet in Christchurcb in November, to inquire into tho means of dealing locally with the large and increasing >numbers .of trainers' an,d jockeys' provident funds. THE D.J.C. SPRING MEETING. "The Admiral" wires:—"Tho Racing Conference having recommended that the spring meeting of tEo DJC. shall be held on Labor Day, the Colonial Secretary (Sir J. G. Ward) has waived his opposition to the issue of a totalisator permit for the meeting.,

The Dunedin Harriers revisit Anderson Bay to-morrow.