"MAORI OATS."

NZ Truth, Issue 137, 1 February 1908, Page 2

"MAORI OATS."

"Spreader" writes :— The ternj, "Maori Oats," has long since lost its N significance ; its present meaning is no more or less than a small country meeting registered under the governing rules of racing. .Oast-drori cheek, "hot stuff" and a wholesome contempt for the rules of racing are becoming so prominent m the conduct of many of these gatherings that it's time someone took a hand m culling the applications for permits. . To instancy some of the queer capers that eventuated , at some of these shows at Christmas time would fill a novel ; m fact, they're mostly all tarred with the same brush. Now, if Mr Bakblox and Grass Seed Bill want to have a bit of a flutter under silk, now and then, it's nobody's funeral, but their own, so long as they keep the little circus to y themselves, far away from the maddning crowd, 'neath the shade of the sheltering dock ; but this style don't suit the man from "beyond." He wants things up to date and formp a racing club, and gets it registered, and advertises its coming m the local rag and never loses a chance of letting all and sundry know that it's a public race meeting. Naturally these gather a crowd from nowhere and everywhere, a crowd who are perforce obliged to pay every time they speak out of place. Likewise, " this year clubs have notified through the press that a few "Books" would at a price be permitted to, operate. Nor, as far as

can be ascertained, have the "Books" been getting a better deal than the crowds. One instance, as showing some of the little jokes these ( "mitey" clubs have of springing on' the guileless Tommies : — At a place called Wairoa they made therm put up £50 deposit, charged £12 10s for the two days, and pay their way into the course. Now, as the five bookmakers registered were all well-known and respected men all- over * New Zealand, witat is the particular reason for demanding a £50 deposit. . A man can^ take a risk m the first race run ' and do £50, supposing it takes the full amount 'ho possesses to furnish the license fee and deposit. Again,- a shrewd bookmaker at a small meeting would very rarely exceed a risk of £5 or £6 on a horse ; he's there to make money, if possible. Two days' racing means the necessity of carrying £150' at the least as sinews of. war, £50 deposit, £50 for the first day's bag, and £50 m case of emergency for. the second day. This, taking* into consideration travelling exes., cterk's fees, and the license, is a heavy amount of cash to put into circulation for the reasonable amount of winnings to be anticipated at so small a meeting. The club naturally claims the deposit for the protection of its patrons, but it has the option of sorting out the; 'men it wishes to license. Arid there' are enougn and to spare of financial, as well as men of good status available, that the necessity of so large a deposit seems inexplicable. The five bookmakers licensed at this meeting are extremely dissatisfied with the conditions they were forced to work under, and with the exception of that from the secretary state that the consideration received by them' was not up to expectations. More discrimination should be used by 'the authorities m issuing permits, and some person should be appointed to act on behalf of them to report oh the manner m which the racing is carried on. A , stipendiary steward, whose salary could be paid by certain of the small clubs, should be appointed by the jockey club-, a man invested with the .power to veto the: ruling of small, irresponsible bodies of stewards, with, of course, the right of appeal by both parties. ■ .