THE JOCKEYS' DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17497, 15 June 1920, Page 6

THE JOCKEYS' DISPUTE.

ASSOCIATION'S RECEPTION.

PROTEST BY. DRIVERS.

SIR G. CLIFFORD'S REPLY.

'■/ fat TELJMJUPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.], .' • , ; . CHBISTCHURCH. Monday.

' In connection with the jockeys' dispute trio' secretary of the Canterbury ■ Drivers' Union' wrote, on June 8,, to Sir George Oxford, president of the Racing Conference, asfollows :— ',;',':< ; •-.?<

, "Dear Sir,—! have been instructed by the Canterbury' Drivers' Union to .request you, to use; your influence to secure the recognition of'the New • Zealand Jockeys' i Association by the Racing Conference at the earliest, possible moment. The laws of'this country provide for means for the settlement of' disputes between employers and employees in a conciliatory. manner, and the jockeys have an undoubted right, to avail themselves of the means provided by law in their endeavour to secure a removal of their grievances. The present attitude of t'Lj' racing authorities, if persisted in, we are sure, will result in very serious industrial trouble, Therefore we urge you to realise the very heavy responsibility which you are carrying, and to do all in your power to remove the^cause.—Yours faithfully, H. Hunter, secretary." -". . t ■ I

•To this the secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference, Mr. H. RSellers,- replied on June 12, as follows :

"Dear Sir,—l am directed by the president, to acknowledge receipt ol yours of the 6th iust., redirected from ; the country and only received this evening, In which, you request recognition of tho New Zealand Jockeys' Association by tho Racing Conference ut the earliest possible moment. It is not clear why the usntor•bury Drivers' Uition should intervene in this matter. In any case I am to point out that the New Zealand .Jockeys' Association, as at present constituted, by no means represents the New Zealand licensed jockeys who are i following their profession in this country. Tim majority of the jockeys who have constant employment recently authorised a, deputation of their number to wait upon the 'president of the conference, and suggested to biro An alteration of all tho rules of racing and racing customs which in their opinion required alteration. They'were on that occasion promised that all their requests should be brought before the _ Racing Conference at, its annual meeting next month for consideration, and the president promised his cordial support to nearly .ill'their requests. "Premature to Hike Threats."

" You are doubt aware that alterations to the rule-* of racing can only be made by the Racing Conference, which is an elective body, and it would appear premature to maLo the threats contained in your letter before i* is kno*# how far any grievance* entertained -by the 'legitimes jockeys havn been remedied by the body constituted for that purpose. There are several distinct classes of persons interested in and affected by the regulations governing the I'bmewhat complicated system which provides for the public the sport which creates so widespread an internet in the Dominion. Owners, trainers, jockoys, and the public all need protection for their separate interests, and it is not, in the interest of the sport that any one of these clesse:! should assume** dictatorial authority o*t?r the others. No complaint has hitherto been raised in regard to 'the administration of racing. Whenever a question has been raised hitherto by any participant it has received ample, and it is believed, satisfactory treatment. It is difficult therefore to understand your objection to;what you term 'the present altitude of the Racing Conference.' No Objection to Associations.

"No objection has been raised to the formation «of associations of owners, trainers, jockeys, racing clubs, or any other parties to the sport of racing. Certain associations of that sort already exist, and as a matter of fact the president is already invitin? 'he trainers and. jockeys to combine for the. purpose of harmoniously treating with the Racing Conference for any purpose which they may deem desirable. Any such association cannot, however, 'be permitted to usurp authority over all other branches of the sport by the mete brute force of such a weapon, as a strike. The nonrecognition of the New Zealand Jockeys' Association, organised and led by persons'outside tho body of licensed jockeys, is explained by the'fact that it has resorted to Cms extreme method of obtaining its end, It has barred the transport of horses and jockeys to race meetings, It has declared racecourses themselves ' black,' and warned the public to refrain from attending them. While pretending that the jockeys have been victimised by the owners and clubs it has been guilty of far more serious victimisation by threatening and terrorising jockeys who do not conform to its behests. Intentions of Conference. " It is clear that if racing is to be conducted to the common advantage of owners, jockeys, and the public, its regulation cannot be in the bands of a body adopting such an attitude, If the association had been organised by tho jockeys themselves and if .they had come With reasonable propositions to the Racing Conference their reception would have been cordial, as h;u been proved by the interview already alluded to between tlie president and the jockeys who recently waited upon him. It has been assorted'that the racing authorities have slammed the door in the face of the jockeys. The very reverse is the case, as a perusaj of tho order paper for the approaching racing conference will testify, You on your part may be urged "to realise the very heavy responsibility which you are carrying' when you press under threat* for recognition of'the New Zealand Jockeys' Association by the Racing Conference at a time when the Racing Conference is offering t8 tho jockeys even' facility • for representing thoir requests. You may do good service to the cause, which you apparently have at heart, by persuading oil concerned to adopt tho constitutional means provided by the rules of racing for remedying ali such matters as they may feel require adjustment."