SPEECH BY SIR GEORGE CLIFFORD.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 166, 16 July 1920, Page 3

SPEECH BY SIR GEORGE CLIFFORD.

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, July 15. Reference was made at the opening of the Conference by Sir George Clifford (president) to 'the. jockeys' dispute. He said that if the proposition from the Jockeys' Association had camo from the licensed jockeys in the spirit which assuredly animated the great majority of them such as were reasonable, "it would have been accorded every due consideration by the Conference. As

president of the Conference, he refused to recognise the? proposition as presented by the association, partly because it was clear that its members had joined under a complete misapprehension of its nature, and partly or. account of the dictatorial, attitude it at once assumed. The first reason was confirmed by the speedy and voluntary resignation of most of the more prominent members. As to t.lie other reason, the virtual control of the details of racing could not be allowed to fall into the hands of its irresponsible promoters. The choice lay between the Conference, with its devised system for securing justice to all, and the executive of the Jockey's Association claiming and striving to e-rerei&o \he right, to veto the dec-is-" ions of the racing tribunals by the wimmaiy method of calling a. strike. The existence of vacir.g as 'a popular institution was nt stake", and he did not hesitate to ignore an association whose pretences, were so antagonistic tc all the traditions of racing in every part of the Empire. Seventyowners, trainers, _ and jockeys chose to form an association among themselves, and respectively presented suggestions to the Conference. No objection could be offered, but for any one of those to ally themselves with outsiders and attempt to tyrannise the others would destroy the mutual good-feeling essential to the due .government of the turf, and would drive many of our best sup>porters to other pursuits. In conclusion, Sir George Clifford said: "We may trust that the action of the transport workers' advisory board in its interference with the. shipment of horses and tho* passages of jockeys and racing officials was based on a. misunderstanding of the position. The prohibition is in jitself of questionable legality, and in its effects hurts the whole "community far more than the racing clubs at which it appears to be aimed." The Stewards' Committee recommended that the positions of judge and clerk of scales, now often honorary, be filled with paid officials. The Bates Committee recommended that licenses b'c? withdrawn from dubs haying courses incompletely railed inside the track.