“BLACK RACEHORSES”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 11 June 1920, Page 5

“BLACK RACEHORSES”

AN AUCKLAND INCIDENT (Special to the Mail) AUCKLAND, June 10. The racehorses Lochella and Graftella, owned by Mr 11 Acton Adams, were to have been shipped to Sydney by the Malieno this evening, but the seamen said they would refuse to take horses unless they received permission from the Union executive in Wellington. This permission was not obtained. The general secretary of the Seamen’s Union was communicated with, but without the desired result. Consequently the steamer sailed without tire horses, which were left standing on the wharf where they were in readiness for being placed aboard. Mr Adams, in conversation subsequently, said he was quite satisfied from what he had seen and heard that the men on the Malieno were good sports and would have taken the horses if the issue had rested with them.

CONFERENCE FAILS (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The conference summoned under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act to consider the dispute between the Jockeys’ Association and the owners of racehorses met in Wellington yesterday, but failed to achieve a settlement, _ Later. In connection with the conference to discuss the jockeys’ dispute the Press was not admitted, but at the termination of the conference, Air Hally, who w T as appointed by the Government to act as chairman, made the following statement:—After some general discussion the representatives of the "owners w r ent into committee and decided that they could not see their ivay to engage in further discussion or to recognise the ‘ Jockeys’ Association. Their objection to recognising the Association was. based on the following grounds: that a very■ large section of the jockeys intimated to the various owners that they had as far _as possible severed their connection 'with the Association; that among those who had given the intimation mentioned, were many, of the most prominent horsemen in the Dominion ; that it was not desirable in the interests of racing generally that a combination of the character of the present Association should receive recognition. Tim representatives of the .Association contended in reply that they had a legal standing and that though a number of the original members had resigned, some had since_ seen fit to’ reconsider their position and had rejoined. The Association representatives further claimed that thef' still possessed in their ranks an overwhelming majority of the jockeys of NewZealand. I w r as compelled to suggest that there did not seem .to be the slightest possibility of the parties being able to make any joint recommendation that would overcome the difficulty and at my suggestion the meeting dispersed. I promised to report as early as possible to the Minister in charge. I still think, Mr Hally concluded, that if the parties understood each other a little better 'something might be done which would benefit both sides. I intend to make some effort in this connection before I leave again for Auckland. It is understood that when the Racing Conference meets next month consideration will be given to the question of improving the conditions of employment of jockeys as promised by the President of the conference to a recent deputation of jockeys. f