YOUNG JOCKEYS' FEES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17964, 14 December 1921, Page 11

YOUNG JOCKEYS' FEES.

CLAIM FOR PERCENTAGE. ! DEFENCE PLEADS MINORITY. EARNINGS OVER £1000 A YEAR An unusual case was heard in <h« Magistrate's Court yesterday by Mr. J. E. Wilson, 8.M., the Ne.v Zealand Jockeys' Association (Mr. Holmdcn) seeking to rr cover from George Young (Mr. Gouldingl, "■jockey, £41 3s 9d, being 5 per cpnl. of defendant's riding fees, due uii'irr the rules of the association. Counsel for plaintiff said the defence was that defendant was a minor and there fore was not liable. It was admitted lip was an infant according to law, but the association claimed that he was none the less liable to be called on under the rule. 1 ! of the association, of which he wa« ;i member, to pay 5 per cent, of his riding fees. Eighty per cent, of tho jockeys in New Zealand belonged to the association, and 33 per cent, of the members were minors. All jockeys, it was 6tated, bad benefited greatly by tho representations made by the association. The best jockeys belonged to it. Defendant was at the top of his profession, his incomo from riding fees alone being over £1000 ;» year, and in addition he received a further amount by way of bonus and presents. ' The rules of the association bound members to pay 5 per cent, of all riding fees to the association. C. C. Sheath, formerly secretary to thfl Jockeys' Association, gave evidence as to the objects of the association and tho 1 great benefits that were derived by jockeys i and apprentices generally as the result |of the association's representations. About 133 per cent, of the members were minors, and if these wero exempted the assbciation would probably cease to exist. Crossexamined, he said the secretary received £500 a year from the association, and the South Island representative £350, in addii tion to expenses. None of the members | had actually received monetary benefits from the association, but all had reaped great benefits by its activities. Mr. Goulding submitted that as defend- • ant was a minor he was not liable and could not be bound by the contract I© pay a percentage 1 of the riding fees. It was also contended that the contract wag not for the direct benefit of defendant. After legal argument, the magistrate reserved his decision.