RACING IN WAR-TIME.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13934, 17 July 1917, Page 1

RACING IN WAR-TIME.

RAOING CONFERENCE. 'J PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. At the annual conference of representatives of the New Zealand JockeyClubs, held at Wellington 011 Friday last, the president of the conference (Sir George Clifford) delivered the following- address: No portion of tho community is move thoroughly loyal.to tho needs of tho Empire than tho supporters of racing. None would more willingly make sacrifices contributing in any degree to its welfare or to tho military exigencies of the time, The recent curtailment of racing days would have been accepted without a murmur-if any practical reason for it had been submitted to us, None has been advanced, and in this

country none exist, Our request for a statement of them was curtly refused, In truth, the antagonism of lifelong opponents of racing, who meanly utilise the nation's crisis to further private prejudice and animosity, alone accounts for the deprivation of a national public relaxatinon peculiarly healthful to mind and body at the present juncture. The action of the authorities, thus based on political pressure,.appears mere blindimitation of a similar course adopted elsewhere under wholly dissimilar circumstances.' In Great Britain the exclusive use of railways must often lie

urgently and unexpectedly demanded for purposes of military transport. Who can say the sarno of our local systemMr Lloyd George, as late as tho I'Oth of last month, informed, his audience at Dundee that the restriction of horseracing is entirely a matter of the ox-

tent to which i(. interferes with war activities, thus forecast inn *!'<* later ileeision of the British War Cabinet to permit the resumption of racing under regulations adapted to the local necessities as to transport, etc. Our most effective help in war activities is in the despatch of successive reinforcements, and in our financial ability to maintain them. From this standpoint: is it wise to sacrifice the ungrudged rovenue from the racecourse and the railway, consequently imposing equivalent and more oppressive taxation elsewhere? The voluntary donations by racing clubs since the commencement of the war have amounted to about £SO,OOO, besides the surrender of courses and buildings for uso by the Defence Department, notably in the cases of the -Wellington, Mannwatn, and Wairarapa Clubs. The. taxation payable for the current racing year will not be less than £190,000/ The immediate, harm which racing can do to recruiting or to the proper employment of labour is negligible, if existent at all, but the perpetuation of a breed of horse adapted to military requirements is a very, vital necessity. If Britain alone spent up to a certain date more than tweuty million pounds in the purchase abroad of horsoflesh for cavalry,, artillery, and transport, the upkeep of. the sources of supply is

patently a matter of national urgency, The most bigoted tradnccr of racing cannot honestly deny that the qualities of bone and courage oi (lie thoroughbred horse are essential for these pur-

poses, Racing, in fact, is a sort of munition factory kept afoot in all countries to ensure an equipment indispensable to the mobility of armed forces, All European Powers have at .immense cost recognised the importance of this precaution, except England, which country alone of the great' Powers has relied upon individual enterprise, We

11 New Zealand have ideal climate ad-

vantages for the. development of the 'thoroughbred liorse, Do not jthrow away our opportunities. Our Government might well spare us its present

discouragement. Nay, rather, it should stimulate the pastime to which our armies owe so much. Let the authorities wholeheartedly help us to pare away the excrescent, abuses against which we are perpetually contending, let them foster pure racing to the utmost of their power with a foresight equal that of our German foes and our French friends. The reward will come without fail if ever the demon of war revisits this much-tried world, The Turf is truly a precautionary munition factory of. essential value, needing all the continuous care and skill -which com-

petition engenders, As a side of issue I may comment on the fallacy of the constantly repeated assertion that short-distance races have deteriorated tho stock, 1 am far from advocating their predominance, but they are not necessarily the refuge of weeds and of the scourings of the training tracks. The" horse that runs six furlongs under the highest pressure in the fastest time is often' of too massive a type to succeed at two miles. Take tho winners of the New Zealand Cup, and of the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap from 1900 onwards as a test, and most judges will concede that the shorter distance winners would approach much more nearly the standard for breeding remounts. :

A special emergency meeting of this Conference -was held in Wellington on April 23rd Inst to consider proposals of the Hon, llio Minister of Internal Affairs for reducing tho numb,er of racing days. A committee was then constituted, which submitcd to tho Minister a scheme for carrying out proposals against which they left constrained* to protest. Your. Committee was received with fairness and; courtesy, and d compromise wis effected, which- resulted >from good feeling on both sides, and which illustrated the ■ willingness of sportsmen to undergo sacrifices if called upon, oven .when the benefit of the cause of the country nppoared to them at least dubious.

In respect to the Internal administrations of racing, we can justly point"

to steady imfrovement in the healthy working of tfo institution, The stipendiary stewards, havo Hlono good work, with many beneficial result's, scarcely observable bj|the public. The absence of evil is less conspicuous . than its presence. Tli'eir. assistance has especibeen valuable in restraining breaches of good behaviour among the

; few jockeys who might bo inclined to dishonour 'their ipilofessaon, There is, however, still room for a stricter supervision of licenses, aj some men have apparently obtained them for the sole object of free entry to racecourses. While we have .played our part strenuously, and without sparing ex-., penditure in conforming to legislative requirements,' we may justly Complain that we tlo not find expected assist-

ance (from-the authorities. If tho legal facilities for dealing with bookmakers and other undesirable characters are sufficient, it rests with the Government (o widen its but whilst the Postal Department eourts revenue from® bookmalting operations, so- long will our efforts at suppression be largely wasted. While foregoing income from honourable sources the Treasury is seeldiig a comparative gment by aiding and abetting a system which we are being urged to terminate. Other alterations of the law might be recommended by us for lessening the attractions, offered by the bookmakers, but the time seems inopportune for pressing tiiem.

■Much criticism is beard from owners and trainers as to the length of time during which horses fire kept on the course prior to a race, This is excused on the ground that the spectators desire to witness ihe preliminary canter before deciding upon investment, A suggestion has hecii made that instead of ringing 1 round at the starting post, horses should parade before Ihe stand until within a few minutes of the starting time, If no valid objection is raised to this, it/would certainly be valuable as providing an additional attraction for onlookers, and while away an interval which, to many of them,. is apt to be wearisome, !

May I once again impress " upon secretaries of racing 'clubs that they will greatly facilitate the work of the Conference, and increase the assistance which It affords to them, by forwarding promptly the particulars required from them for entry in the Conference records and for publication in the official calendar.

We have to thank Hon. 0, Samuel, M.L.0., Messrs 0. Hunter, M.P., ,]. W. Abbott, W. E, Bid will, E, A. Campbell, E. Goodbeherc, E. A. Price, and 0, S. Watkins for consenting to act as judges of the Appeal Court. ' -

I cannot conclude without expressing the sincere regret which must bo felt by every member of this Conference at the decease of Sir George McLean. He was universally respected and admired both within this Conference and in his public life. With strong convictions he knew how to support them without offence. On the Turf his name was without reproach, and it will be long indeed before the owner of Lady Emma ceases to be remembered as an example for all sportsmen to follow.

May our next meeting be under happier auspices, exempt from, the dark clouds which overshadow even our hours of recreation, and ore July returns may we be again restored to the free and full exercise of our surrcnder&l privileges rejoicing at the triumphant con'liislons of a cruel contest for the iniquilies of which our German enemies are wholly responsible,