THE JOCKEYS' DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 17379, 15 June 1920, Page 3

THE JOCKEYS' DISPUTE

CANTERBURY DiKtRS' UNION TAKE ACTION. TPeb United Peess Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, June M . the following correspondence has been handed to the Press Canterbury Drivers' Union, Trades Ifall, Christchurch, June 8, 1920. Sir George Clifford, "'• Stonvhurst," Chris ichurch, — Dear Sir,—l have been instructed bv the Canterbury Drivers' Union to request you to use your influence to seeur* the recognition of the New Zealand Jockevs' Association by the Racing Conference "at the earliest possible moment. The Irws of this country provide for the means for the settlement of di-prtes between employers and employees in a conciliatory | manner, and the jockeys have an uri- i doubted right to avail themselves of the ! means provided bv the Uw in their en- \ deavor to secure the removal of their i grievance. The present rttitude of the j racinor authorities if persisted in. we are ' sure will result in verv serious industn'a* ! trouble ; therefore we urge you to realise I the verv heavy responsibilities which you are carrying, and to do all in vour power to remove the cause.—Yours faithfully. (Signed) H. Hunter. Secretary. RACING CONFERENCE'S REPLY. The New Zealand Racing Conference, June 15!. The Secretary of the Canterbury Drivers' Union, Christchurch, — Dear Sir.—l am directed by the president to acknowledge the receipt of vourn of the Bth inst.. redirected from the 'country, and received only this evening, in which you request recognition of the' New Zealand Jockeys' Association by the Racing Conference at the earliest possible moment. It is not clear why the Canterbury Drivers' Union should intervene in this matter. In any case T am to point out that the New Zealand Jockeys' Association as at present constituted bv no means represents th--> New Zealand licensed jockeys who are folbwing their profession in this country. The majority of the -jockeys who have constant employment recently authorised a deputation of their number to wait upon the president of the conference, and made suggestions to him for the alteration of all the of Racinr and racing customs which, in their opinion, required alteration. They were-, on that occasion premised that all their requests should be brought before the Racing Conference at their annual meeting next month for consideration, and the. president promised bis cordial support to nearly all their requests. You are douhtles" awn re that alterations to the Rules of Racing can he made onlv bv the Racing Conference, which are an" elective body, and it would appear premature to make the threats contained in your letter before it is known how far any g>'ievnfices entertained bv legitimate' jockeys have hern remedied by the •body constituted for that purpos?. The'-e a'e several distinct classes of persons interested in and affected by the regulations governing the somewhat complicate'! system which provides for the public the sport whhh creates so widespread an interest in the Dominion. Owners, trainers, foekevs, and the public all need protection for their separate interests, and it is not in the interest of sport thai anv one of these classes should assume a dictatorial authority over the others, and no complaint hitherto has been raised in regard to the adimnisiiatiou of racing by the New Zealand Racing Conference in the varied interests of all the constituent parts of the pasUme. Whenever a question has been raised hitherto bv any participant in it. it has received ample, and it is believed satisfactory, treatment. It is difficult, therefore, to understand your objection to what vou term " the present attitude of the rarr.g authorities." No objection has been rai~?d to the forma tion of associations of owners, trailers, or jockeys by racing clubs or any other parties to the sport of racing. ' Ceitain associations of that sort already exist, and, as a nr.itler of fact, the president isalvcady inviting trainers and jockeys to combine for the purpose of treating harmoniously with the Racing Conference for anv purpose which they may deem desirable, but such association cannot, however, be permitted jo usurp authority over all other branches of the sport by the mere brute force of such a wear on as a strike. The non-recognition of the New Zealand Jockeys' Association, which has been organised and led by persons .outside the body I of licensed jockeys, is explained bv the

fact that they have resorted to this extreme method of obtaining their end. They have barred the transport of horses and jockeys to race meetings. They "have declared racecourses themselves "black," and have warned the public to refrain from attending them. While pretending that the jockeys liave been victimised by the owners and clubs, they have themselves been guilty of far more serious yict misation by threatening and terrorising jockeys who do not conform to their behests. It is clear that if racing is to be conducted to the common advantage of owners, jockeys, and the public, its regulation cannot be in the hande of a body adopting such an ettitude. If the association had been organised bv the jockevs themselves, and if thev had come with rtrtfionable propositions to the Racing Conference, their reception wonld have been cordial, as has been proved by the interview already alluded to between the president and jockeys who recently waited upon him. It has been asserted that the racing authorises have slammed the door, in the face of the jockeys. The very reverse is the case, as a perusal of the order paper for the approaching Racing Conference will testify. You, on your part, may be urged "to Tealise the very heavy responsibility which you are carrying" when vou press, under threats, for' the recognition of the New Zealand Jockeys' Association by the Racing Conference at a time when the Racing Conference is offering to the jockeys every facility for representing their request, and yo" may do good service to the cause which you apparently have at heart by persuading all concerned to adopt the constitutional means provided by the Rules of Racing for remedying all such matters as they may feel require adjustment.

Yours faithfully, (Signed), H. R, Sellers, Secretary,