RACING

Evening Star, Issue 25170, 9 May 1944, Page 7

RACING

TRANSFER OF TROTTING PERMITS FORBURY CLUB'S PROTEST A special meeting of tlie Forbury Park Trotting Club Committee attended by Messrs B. S. Irwin (chairman) Arclibold, black, Blackie, Brunlon, Jolly, Richardson, and Todd was held yesterday afternoon to consider the Trotting Conference's action in _ transferring the club's permits to the Wintou and Gore Trotting Clubs before the Forbury Park Club had definitely decided not to use I hem. The President explained the telephoned conversations with Mr Larconibo, secretary of the conference, regarding the abandonment of, (he club's meeting lo have been held on May 6 and 13. On Friday, April 28, when the secretary learned that transport difficulties would make it practically impossible for Canterbury, and perhaps Southland, trainers to get their horses to the fixture, he rang up all the members <>f the committee, and as a result of these telephone communications it was decided to abandon the meeting. It was necessary to take this prompt action so that the owners of horses coming from the North Island could bo .advised in time to cancel arrangements they were making for the transport of horses by sea. The secretary of the conference was also advised and fold that the committee would meet on the following Monday (May 1), to arrange for other dates, and after that meeting was informed that the club would hold, a TiJCe fleeting... on July 1 for Otago and Southland horses. In reply, the secretary of the conference advised the club that, the permits had been granted to the Winlon and Gore Clubs, and this was confirmed by the following letter, dated May a " Your club's decision to abandon your meeting was declared in the papers on Saturday last, and I rang you on Monday morning when you confirmed that your committee had decided that it would lie unable to carry on. The president then cr.mmunicated with Ihe Gore and Wintoil Clubs, who hoth decided that they would be glad to race. We then communicated with the Minister of Internal Affairs who approved of those clubs holding meetings, provided proceeds went to patriotic funds, to which both clubs agreed, and have now fixed their dates and programmes. I trust that your copimitteo will agree that your club was given every opportunity to use their permits and thai it is now too late to reconsider the matter. The president much regrets the position. but says that the club will not be prejudiced when considering future dates in the new season. The Chairman explained that his committee had no idea it was abandoning the permits when it abandoned the meeting fixed for this mouth, and said I hat the permits had been granted to the Southland clubs before his committee had had a chance of considering the matter, though it had lost no time in its endeavour to do so. After a discussion, in which nearly all those present maintained that the club had not received fair play from the conference, the following resolution, proposed by the chairman and seconded by Mr Arclibold, was unanimously carried :—" That all the facts in connection with the club's permits for the May meeting be reduced tc writing and signed by the president, vicepresident, and secretary, that the matter he the subject' of a protest to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, and that a copy of the resolution be sent to the president of the conference." Mr Italliday raised the question of compensation, stating that the loss of the two days' racing would result in a. serious financial set-back to the club, but after discussion it was decided to let the question drop.