MARKING TIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 11

MARKING TIME

EXTRA TROTTING DAYS MR. H. F. NICOLL'S REVIEW REDRAFTING OF THE RULES [by telegraph—own correspondent] WELLINGTON, Wednesday After referring to the Inter-Dominion championships in Christehurcli, the president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, Mr. H. F. Nicoll, at the annual meeting of that body to-day, said the lesson to bo learned was that the public esteemed a departure from stereotyped programmes. Progress was being made in the sport in all the Australian States, and especially in Western Australia and South Australia. Most New Zealand trotting clubs had had another good season. The totalisator turnover increased by over £,•300,000. The amount paid in taxation totalled about £160,000. The refund of onefifth of the totalisator tax was of material benefit to many clubs. The Pacing and Trotting Conferences agreed to pay Is in the pound of this rebate toward the expenses of the Remount Encouragement Act, and had collected over £9OO for the purpose. The Act was aimed to provide assistance to owners of approved stallions, in order to supply more horses suitable for remount purposes. The president had attended meetings with the Agricultural Department, together with representatives of racing, hunt and polo clubs, in order to frame working arrangements, and it was decided to appoint Major-General It. Young to organise districts. He had been working on this for the last two months. Clubs had been .able to increase stakes to the extent of £31,000 over the previous season, and £154,191 was offered during the 12 months. The handicapping system had passed the experimental period, it now being nine years since it was adopted. Owners and trainers were agreed upon the big benefit that had resulted. The three handicappera were endeavouring to work together so that there should bo consistency in all re-assessments.

Since the last conference an immense amount of time had been spent upon the revision of tho rules. The rules revision committee lias mot on several occasions, but tho bulk of tho work, outside of that of tho reviser, Mr. A. G. Neill, had been carried out by Mr. H. W. Kitchinghain. The proposed new rules appeared to have met with general approval; very few alterations hud been suggested and these only upon minor matters. "I confess to feeling nonplussed over this important question," said Mr. Nicoll, in reference to tho question of extra permits. "Last year a delegation waited 011 the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. 10. Parry, and asked for his support. He informed us that lie proposed to appoint a commission, which would deal with this matter in conjunction with other affairs of interest to the sport. In September another delegation met the Prime Minister, who said lie approved of Mr. Parry's proposal and would give facilities for its constitution. I then asked Mr. Savage if he would give the matter immediate consideration, and he answered in the affirmative. We know that tho majority of the Cabinet are sympathetic, niul will assist so far as they are able, and yet we appear to be no further forward. We near the delay and discouragement with what philosophy we may, for there is little more we can do about it. We can only once again ask the Minister to redeem his word. We have applications from clubs for 53 extra days, and tho executive considers that they can show good cause why tho permits should bo granted."