RACING ADMINISTRATION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 August 1928, Page 3

RACING ADMINISTRATION.

AUCKLAND MATTERS' DISCUSSED

(By Telegrajjh— Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. The fact that the Auckland Racing Club has no representation on the executive committee recently elected by the Racing Conference formed the subject of a complaint by the president, Sir Edwin Mitchelson, at the annual meeting of- tlie club to-day. He said the voting was erroneously taken on (be one man one vote principle, and this, gn.ve the country clubs’ nominees a certain majority with the result that two country nominees were elected and tlie nominee of the Auckland Club was excluded, leaving the Auckland Racing Oluib, admittedly one of the most important clubs in the Dominion, entirely without representation. The Club did not intend toj submit to this injustice and was taking isteps to insist upon strict adherence to the rules under whieh the conference wais established. In his opinion the whole procedure on this occasion was not only quite irregular, but also a very deliberate slight to the Auckland Racing Club. After referring to the trouble over the allocation of the Labour Day date in the Wiaikato, Sir E. Mitchelson said the aims and objects of the Racing Conference would be readily adipitted to be excellent, and there was no doubt much good work lias' been accomplished through its agency. Auckland, however, has on several occasions had reason to feel aggrieved at the treatment meted out to it, and it at times appeared j that unless alterations were made in such matters as the administration of conference affairs continual sapping of the powers of district committees and curtailment of the freedom of action of individual clubs to tlie breaking strain would be reached and the future of tlie sport jeopardised. Tlie figures he quoted clearly indicated that the clilfbis of Auckland and its metropolitan area, which contained one-third of tlie whole population of tlie Dominion, could more easily and more economically run their own show. To demonstrate this ho pointed out that other clubs, that had less, than half the attendances they had at Ellerslie, and whose contributions to the cost of tlio Racing Conference amounted to only about (half of wliat the Auckland Club paid, were granted extra assistance from the stipendiary stewards and it'aeeoourse inspectors without additional cost. But when the Auckland committee atsked to be similarly treated they could only have the services of an extra niian by a further payment. The club was evidently looked on as purely a milch cow, and was certainly being treated as such, and this, in fact, applied to the whole of the Auckland metropolitan area. But. notwithstanding all this, the committee was still prepared to bury the past and cany on in the hope that Auckland's claims would be treated with more consideration and respect in the future. Perhaps by means of round-t'able talks from time to time all 'likelihood of cause far complaint would be removed. The president outlined a scheme of improvements, including a new, members’ stand, a further extension of the course, and the improvement and extension of the totalisator houses. The total costs involved were £200,000. A contract has been let. for a new numberboard, the most up-to-date in Australia, or New Zealand, at a cost, of £I2OO.