THE TROTTING CLUBS' CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 37

THE TROTTING CLUBS' CONFERENCE.

In opening the proceedings of the annual conference of representatives of trotting clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Trotting Association, the president^ Mr P. Selig, commented on the fact that it was the first conference sines one governing body for trotting thoroughly representative of the whole of the colony was established, and he very fairly said that pince only a small amount of business had' been set down on the order paper, it might be considered that the work of last year's conference must have been in the right direction. -What" Mr Seli.g meant, of course, was this: that if the setting up of one governing body for the colony had caused friction or inconvenience, or resulted in real or imaginary grievances, the delegates would have come forward with all sorts of propositions for the cure of those troubles. Instead of this, the business, of which notice was given, consisted entiroly of routine amendments regarding matters that were more or .less of subordinate importance. Not one of them touched the construction of the new organisation, and nobody seemed 'to have any grievance arising from the fact that all parts of the colony were brought together into one system. I deduce from this happy state of affairs the conclusion that the New Zealand Trotting Association was wanted, also that it has done its w ork well, and herein we may find abundant cause to thank the delegates generally, and Mr Selig (president) and Mr JLiollitL (secretary) in particular, pince much of the fiuccess achieved is undoubtedly due to I lie wise manner in which the extensive governing- powers have been used. Careless or thoughtless administration would have wrecked the whole concern at the outset. Instead of this, we find the delegates having i'aitli in each other and confidence in the syctem, and the nasty suspicious tone that be-li-ayss distrust and foreshadows ruin being altogether absent, members came together to work for the common good. The position y-i one regarding which we can honestly congratulate the management. 1 may also express tLe pleasure ii gave Otago racing men to read Mr Selig's gracious and kindly reference to Mr Sydney James, who, as the secretary, of the Dunedin. Jockey Crab — a body which did a great deal to foster trotting when other clubs despised this branch of sport and turned up their noses at it — had, in his day helped in no 'inconsiderable degree to encourage a lov.e for the sport of trotting, .and ,did all he could to popularise the game by making it wholesome and clean. Coming now to the actual business of last week's conferenco, I observe that the Talmna Club's proposal to make a new rule allowing' what may be termed picnic meetings to be held apart from the rules, where the total stake money 'does not exceed £25, was withdrawn. Maybe that was ju.it as well. The new rule might have been taken advantage of to set going a aeries of sharks' meetings in the neighbourhood of our principal cities, and if that state of things came sbout, it would spoil a lot of the good work new being done. There is a want in the country districts in this connection, and if some plan can be thought out of enabling residents of the back blocks to enjoy a hack meeting on their own account without bringing bona fide hacks under the operation of the rules, &otne good purpose will be served. But the subject wants thinking out, and the time for puch latitude has not yet arrived. The first alteration effected m the rules was the amendment of Rule VII of the constitution by defining incorrect description in nomination and foul riding or driving as questions of fact regarding which there shall be no appeal from the stewards' decision. With this alteration I thoroughly agree. A considerable amount of vexation has been felt in the past at this case being ruled to be a subject o£ appeal and thai case declared not the subject of appeal, anil the clearer we define the power of appeal the better for everybody. Besides, I feel satiafied thai in general the decision of stewards on the spot is the best decision, and! like to se.e as many subjects as po3.=ible left to prompt justice. Further, there is no reason in the world why totalisator money bhoulct be impounded and decisions hung up regarding such matters as can be settled on the course. The next alteration, adding "in a trotting race" to. the rule providing that the carrying of more than 141b overweight must be declared, seems to me superfluous. The whole, of the rules are dealing with trotting, and trotting alone, and I don't see the need of the addition. The addition to Rule 68 provides that the penalty for intentional obstruction or foul riding or driving may be a fine if the stewards think that the fit punishment. Heretofore the punishment was limited to distancing or disqualification. The amend- • ment is sensible, since there are degrees iv the offences referred to, and, where only heavy punishment is permitted, an offender might be let off when he deserved some correction. A rather important alteration is made in Rule 93. This provided that an appeal against a decision of stewards must be made in writing within 10 minutes after the decision. ( Tha amendment preserves _ this ass regards decisions on a course, but in the case of decisions not delivered on a course; appeal can now be made within 2A hours by being posted at the club's office or in the public press. The principle of the alteration is sound, but I am not sure about the wisdom of allowing notice to be given through the public press. A question may arise as to the definition of " publio press." The appellant, if mirfchievously inclined, may publish his appeal in some miserable rag of a paper that is seen by only a few persons. The new rule prohibiting riders or drivers speaking to anyone after leaving the saddling paddock is in the right direction, but I hardly expect much good to be derived from the embargo excepting that it may keep unauthorised persons off the racing track. The riderti or drivers who want' to give tips to friends will manage to clo so just the same as ever. The ri<Jev g| driver wjiQ .desires to bfe left alone will,

however, now have his remedy, so the new rule will do some good. The necessity to place patrol stewards round the track to watch the events of a race is decidedly a move -In the right direction, and the same thing is wanted at the galloping game. Stewards ought to (and by this means may) haA'e information of a reliable character as to what goes on in a race, instead of being forced to rely on outsiders summoned as witnesses. The conference on the whole did good work, and got through it pretty fast, the business being got -through in one day. The evening sitting was taken up with the question of what permits are to Jae recommended. One thing I do not understand in this connection is how it is that 29 were recommended when the Colonial Secretary has power to ipsue only 28. No doubt there is pome explanation, but it does not appear on the surface.