REFUSAL OF LICENSE.

Evening Star, Issue 21620, 16 January 1934, Page 1

REFUSAL OF LICENSE.

TO THE EDITOR. - Si r '_The refusal of the New Zealand Trotting Association to grant the"tocall trainer M. H. Dawson, more commonlyj known as “ Old Mat,” a driver’s license has caused some comment among trotting fcircles. I have known this trainer for some years now, and I think* I can safely say that he has never had or been the cause of an accident. Hei has reared, trained, and driven most o£J his trotters and pacers, and is a very] old supporter of the Forbury Parle Trotting Club, having been a membei) for close on thirty years. As a result of his inability to obtain a driver’s license, and not being able to find a' suitable driver locally, he has been forced to send two of his pacers up tq Christchurch to do their racing. This means that the local-club will probably be losing a lot in nomination, training, and acceptance ' fees,, of which he has contributed a tidy sum during the past few years. I also understand that on account of his losing his - driver’s licensa a local, owner had to send his horsfl away to' another centre. Otherwise this pacer would still have been trained in Dunedin, and thus be adding to th« training fee’s fund of the local track. As for the question of age, should il have anything to do with it? One hai only to look-round a Jbit td see oldei drivers than he taking part in a race, —I am, etc., Light, Harness Enthusiast* January 15. , .