COURSING

Evening Star, Issue 23832, 12 March 1941, Page 4

COURSING

ANNUAL MEETING NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION The forty-fourth annual meeting of the New Zealand Coursing Association was held last evening, when Mr B. S. Irwin presided over a fair attendance of delegates. The Chairman moved the adgption of the annual report and statement, of accounts, and the motion was carried. This report stated (inter alia): An important step taken by the council during the year was the adoption of the Australasian method of recording the individual markings of each greyhound, and it is pleasing to record the helpful assistance given by club secretaries in coping with the extra duties involved. In this connection, too, it may be noted that the council desires that all racing under the control of this association be registered under this system prior to the opening of the 1941 coursing season. This step has already been taken with racing clubs, and all such greyhounds taking part in the sport have been reregistered as required. The 1940 Waterloo Cup was controlled this year in a most efficient manner by the North Otago Coursing Club at Oamaru on July 25-27, with a nomination of 37 dogs. The quality of the sport provided was in the opinion of many equal to the best which has been seen throughout New Zealand or Australia, and this was largely due to tho well-trained hares supplied by the club, together with efficient control exercised by the stewards. In. 100 courses there were only three kills. Generally (reported the president) the quality of the coursing seen throughout the past season was of a high quality, though unfortunately marred by, in one district, an excessive number of kills in plumpton coursing. This was a matter which gave the council very great concern, and I wish to take this opportunity of impressing on all -officials the rigid necessity of complying with the rules which bear on this important aspect of our sport. It is well known that mortality amongst hares, besides being costly to clubs, is undesirable to owners and the public alike, and that proper care and attention will reduce this feature of our sport to an absolute minimum. Officers were elected as follows for ,lhe years:—Patron, Mr H. S. Irving (Invercargill); president, Mr B. S. Irwin; vicepresidents—Messrs O. R. Wise (Oamaru), D. B. M’Rae (Napier), and D. H. Cave (Christchurch); hon. treasurer, Mr E. G. Price; auditors, Messrs W. E. C. Reid and Co.; secretary,.Mr J. F. Lang. A meeting of the Dates Committee was held, when dates were allotted to Auckland and Papakura racing clubs on alternate Saturdays; to North Otago Coursing Club on April 12 and 14; and to Dunedin Coursing Club on March 29. May 10. June 7, and 28.