THE RACING CONFERENCE. FIRST DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 52

THE RACING CONFERENCE. FIRST DAY.

WELLINGTON. July 17. The annual conference of delegates of New Zealand Jockey Clubs was opened at Parliamentary Buildings to-day. There were present Sir George Clifford (Canterbury Jockey Club, chairman), Messrs W. j Percival (Auckland Racing Club), E. W. ! Ah«on, W. H. Herries, M.H.R. (Auckland country clubs), A. R. Guinness (South Canterbury country clubfe), W. L. Clifford (North Canterbury country clubs), J. A. Millar, M.H.R. , and T. M. Wilford, M.H.R. (Dunedin Jockey Club), T. Green and G. Read (Otago country olubs), Sir William Russell, Hon. .T. D. Ormond, and j Mr K. J. Watt (Hawke's Bay Jockey Club), | Messrs John M'Vay and W. White j (Ilawke's Bay country club*), Mr James Watt (Wanganui Jockey Club), Messrs K. Goodbehere and J. (i. Wil=on (Wanganui country clubs), Me&bis P. K. Baldwin and W. H. S. Moorliouse (Wellington Racing Club), Messrs W. K. Bidwill and J. W. Card (Wellington country chibs.), Mr O. Samuel (Taranaki Jockey Club), Mr R. H. Nolan (Taranaki country clubs), Mr Joseph Petrie ((ireymouth Jockey Club), Mr C. Hood Williams (Greymouth rountry olubsl, and Mr W. H. K. Wnnklyn (secretary). The Chairman, in moving tlie adoption of tho annual report, congratulated the confpivucc on the past £©a«on having given evidence of the continued prosperity of the turf, and of the capabilities of the colony j m, a breedmg-plaiio for hordes of a higli sUndard of excellence A- to tho Trainers' and Jnf keys' Pnnideut FiuhL, the suggested re-anaiiKenic-nt (if pmetirable) would be eiiiinently favourable to the beneficiaries. os{ ec- a'ly in securing their leßnl rights of compensation. The mles rif nuing and the j)ih\c-i of tho (oiifeieiu-e and of metro pobt<i!i clubs ni'ie iij^paren" !y 3iiflii i.-ut for the vruurtiMi of jockeys and stablemen ii thoir relations with their employer*--, whioh, from the ab-<eiioo of (oinpiainto, might be asbuiued to be generally satisfactory I" fulfilment of their pledge.- to includo two pony races in certain tiottintf programmes the conference was now asked to pat's a new rule, held over from last yo-ar in defaua of the stipulated notiei.'. Tlic resolution then adopkd liad «erved ill- pinpoee, buc it might be> well to recall tliat neither the Colonial Secretary nor tho oouference de'iied the extension of mixed progi-mnmes },"- yoml those wheic tiie ni>tom was already et-tdbhshed. Tho Appeal Court had pro\r<l beneficial in cjuit-kly Mattlui'^ fii^iites that otlierwisi; wouM him ])io\..vl ■ : w:iie» of contiguous d >übli-. aud tlie manner in which t'i" eouit'h dcc.sKU'f, 'O'lHtmes net c-t-ai iU-uiuirc-eptitblc to thb j.artic-. loiucrned, had bc-rn received marked tl"> public coiifidi-nc^ in tho deeihions of th;o mbiiiuil Tin- thanks ; cf the cr.nfcrtMice wc-re duo in this (oii'ii* ti..n to Messr-a H. D. Xt-li, -I A. Cook, HririL-", Humor. H. A. Kni^iit. D. JUiLlier foid, U. Jii.-iiuel, and Sir William Ui.-^ell Sa- (itoigc piGC'Ccacd to <ij : A icaciion is , totting m— and not in this colony alone - I against the oxc-«.-»ive prc\ak-noi' of splinting , racrs AHhoucli th( re aie practical </b j stacles to ;uiy rffoiMi v inch mt»rfer< s , with. e\utniR interct-., it may Le hoped tli^L all clubs will endeavour \olnnt?.rily to gi\c I pi:zoa to reward r.owf-i, aiul c p.'( i ' aliv in the direction of la^ns over a fair di't.imo of ground for fern ,\ eai -on's and upward". The conleiciuo las pnuoiiily cn-i'l^-rd th" cnenuiaijei .dit of li'c |io\<r , ful and weight ra.-iyinj; type ol hor^.-. a.t 1 ; thn m-trict oi- of <ii -^ l '■> of wi.it' l , fli<t ra"in? m.d- .- a ri)f (i. 1 -i ilo t>( wn^ltweie de.i^r.el fv-i t'..- i ''.';>• ■-'• '1 1 "■ P"'< tiee of mil u?..iu{? fl ' r> voik r! li;,' di- .]>jA'by t-ioiiynnjiis l'-t'rr- in t'i<- public prv- . 6ce.-,.a to tiill for fonn.Liit. S>ir'i i>i,-i^u<"l letter, are UrUfilly m.an <\>-\<>><-. oi t!i- ii''f> wlin Ii pioteet-. lari'iif r.hic il- h' A m . peilment f-iole-tnt on. '1!' -^ oi-tiiij- ))' of Niw Zealand -1-. I ' oc-'c'i r. uru«-alltd » in am part of tlmwi.i'd. <- ilcial <oi..r»ent i« unne-i-sally m uocd ta-co. cw-i when mo-t i outen-oko-i, ,\n<T tl " i.-n'o\al <>' t'u-. b'or t- woul'l be nr> ipfni i, ' r i r th.- l.ijt/tv fa-rlv (Id'inrd h) c"i i i ~u<>< ('- -.1 - «iiti"tf in c gocct faith and und r thfir o«n iiatnct. A (.•haitio liPf b°en mad" ;<iiain=t borne of oiu

iceoourseJ that they are unsafe for the com- o «iting hordes and jockeye. Possibly this con- a erenoe can devise means of reassuring the P mblio where such suspicion is unfOunaed, si >r of compelling alterations where needed, n rteasornble applications have been made 1] rom time to time for alteration in the o lat<>B of rac& meetings, and although no provision is made in the rules for alter » ng dates once fixed, I have felt compelled ™ 0 accede to requisitions of this nature after c iscertaining the consent of every racing " *lub possibly affected by such change. Ex- * ierien<?e has riiown that some power should * be given to deal with exceptional cases c af this sort. A serious, but it is to be i * doped isolated, stain upon racing adminis- ' 1 tration was revealed by its censure of a a steward for sitting in judgment on a case , 8 ivhero he was pecuniarily interested. Such J . !t course, however innocent in intent, can- , not fail to excite hostile comment. An ill- ' , advised and ill-informed agitation against ' the use of tho totalisator has for a lonft time existed, and it may be opportune to . direct attention to tho evils which would ' t certainly result from its abolition. All whose memories can recall the period an- , 4 terior to its existence know fu]l well that • t the reign of the bookmaker, which it ter- ! ' minat-ed, was fraught with the gravest I abuses. He was in those days the dictii- ' ( tor of th-e tnrf, the hidden owner of the ' . horses, the corrupter of the trainer, the : jockey, and even the owner, and in many , respects he had acquired a position which . enabled him to pursue his own interests , to tho degradation of th© sport. Gradually , his influence waned befoTC the totalisatoi-, ; until today he is reduced to his proper ■ status of a speculating spectator, with slight power to shape the result upon which he wagers. Thos« who were his clients have i now the choice of an alternative system under which they arc not tempted beyond . the ready money laid for the special rccrca- ! tion, and under which they are not assailed by any arts of persuasion or by invitation to gambling resorts of a varied character. 1 assert confidently that this single change has elevated the sport of racing:, and purified it more than can easily bo realised, and I am equally confident that the loss ; of the totalisator and the consequent revor- ) eion to petty stakes will bring back a j state of things so intolerable as to destroy racing as we now understand it. And if that be so it involves a material loss to the country hard to estimate. The Minister of Railways can appreciate to what extent his department benefits from the traffic directly and indirectly created by horse racing. The breedinß studs of the colony and its training stables represent a very extensive capital, and an expenditure in wages, labour, and farm produce, the withdrawal of which oould not fail to be heavily felt. The sport of racing is too firmly established to permit its entire extinction, but the opponents of the totalisator may succeed in fatal injury to ifc as a pjisfcim<» whioli an honest man can honourably follow. If they could but see with unprejudiced eye* they would understand that the action of this conferone? has been steadily beneficial, that the evil-doer on the turf is now in constant peril, and that the cry of di.=honesty is mostly the elander of a disappointed competitor. They would then support our effort to provide clean sport for the people, and cease endeavouring to remove a principal means to that end. I may note, before quitting this subject, that men of some intelligence have attributed individual cases of diearrace or ruin to tho totalisator, and I would reply to them that nearly every innocent act of mankind can lie converted to evil by its abu<<e : that not the totalisator but the failure of the authorities to carry out luvs safeguarding its operations has produced these few quotablo instances, and even so they were leas the product of the totalisator th.m of the inherent folly of individual*. The order and , sobriety of our racecourses are very re- I markable, and I claim that the. national j recreation which it is sought to injure by . deprivation of an important pecuniary sup- j port is one which is healthy to all healthy j minds, and which is in many ways highly beneficial to the community. The report of the committee appointed . to consider the- de?iraViilitv of appointing j ptipendiary stewards and the best form of ! local administration of the Trainers and Jockeys' Provident Funds was presented. The committee snid there, were insuperable i difficulties in procuring and maintaining ! a competent .staff <>f stipendiary ftewardH. | and recommended Instead thnt or.eh club . nnnoint a judieir.l onmmittee to deal with i all protests and disqualifications ; also, that I metropolitan committees b~ empowered to , appoint an advi«ory 'toward to assist country <-lubs when requested. As to the Provident Funds, it \va« recommended that no change h° made in tho Trainers' Fund :.t present, but in connection with the ,Tockev»' Fund the committee were in favour of a scheme of insuranoe to cover the Ti-sks of accident* as in the past have been coa-f-id»red a~ warranting belief. Messrs E. W. Alison, Nolan, J. M'\av J. A. Millar, and Cuinne" were appointed ii committee to airango dates and totauyntor yterniitp. . . , J Tho Chairman mad" an explanation with rfT. rence to the Takaouna Jockey Club, [ which wan la-t yar spoken of as bein«? of a ( proprietary nature. The club had paid £1000 towards the purchase of its court-e, j and the balance was to be paid m1? yeais | A petition was presented by Freeman Holmes with reformer to the payment of , ; totali-at'ir tickets on Rjsemere in the New , Yopr\ HamK-ip at the (ireymouth Jockey Club-, meeting The statement made by tho pent on« i wat. tHat h stewaid of tlif club !t.d w.,'i a Rood -t-.ke over the race. The Clia-iman -tated that thai was not ; »oiif(t Mr P( trip (the Cievmoutli .Jockey Clvb I.1 '. d..Wnt.-) ahked for an inquiry into I the criuniktaiuc of tl,r- pptition. Mr ilson mm.d and Mr A'l-on s< oonded ti-at the pc-ut.osi !><• rot ,nr..rtaiucd. J hi" was asm.-d to. an :m-.k -u\v.wui. -r.cn «1 by Mr ', }>i:mc. and wrondod b-, Mr ('"-,). that the ip »U(r !-■• allow, v to <-t,md o\-i l»n a; ih'KA!iw I | Mr Sd.n-ifl .i..,\.d. on biha'i «f the T..raRliki .'ni!-<\ Club '• Tl al at tlm mcctiriß land oil >h«".il mo't.iiKS of tho foii'oi • ' ci.c r i,,'Ul' .rwiM. ,:...dLd. all K-o'-utionn '- l o »• .! <<• t' 11 1' 1 (o;i f (i'i)f. <■!!?!' take eftrn. v, x'mnv f.i: Vr i» f' i- »o<- to indnidn.il ,'t.l i,- •"d d tlinl -' '•!> !(~oiut:on- hf a1.t.l io h\ ti'jt 1" - t'iai' ttie«»n c«» fif thi of t!,, ; .1 \•] '..- I •■> r . ri ■--.:. r.iid tliat !:•.'. 16 b' «.! ■ 'I a' '•'' ■' '1} " N(f.f M <:- •' >io\<d- ' 'I" .'.' •* 5...-. > „. ..\ I, -u'-irn ie \r (lic'o r!;i!a ••■> i) tl >• I-. I '-." Wiih t!i^ prnn.-siop of tli,- co-,f- i PM'i-, tl" liioiioii wa.' witlidrau ii. 1" >■ Cii'siiiaii uinu ! on I'^half of the ro-.iV.'M ' am j -t«d ir r'wt " TI-tt it shall h ' 'Intv ru a im.i.jiio' \s,i eomi utter, on tin- .ii.iilic-'tKj-' of any Kac v?. Club in its r"i-lnet. to appoint for any race meetin^ of °i'ch e'uL an ac'.M'o-y «;*k nrd, v-lO*.

r without fee, to be paid by the club so pplying, such advisory steward to hay« lower to require an investigation by the tewards of any matters occurring during the aeeting which he may deem of sufficient mpbrtance as breaches of the racing law or itherwise." — Agreed to. The committee appointed to consider the >est form of local administration for the Prainers' and Jockeys' Provident Funds reommanded a scheme of accident insurance. Fhe Chairman said they were barred by the .harges quoted by the insuranoe companies rom doing anything in the matter. Under thei jireumstances he would ask to withdraw, he report. On the motion of Mr Alison, t was decided that the committee be reippointed to consider the matter, and report it the next meeting of the conference. Mr Samuel (Taranaki Jockey Club) moved :o amend the definition of club, tn« .vords "duly registered under these rules being added, which exempt point-to-poine steeplechases, polo sports, etc, from disqualification. — Agreed to. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club s amendment to Rule 2— that only clubs where a. totalisator is used or at which the stakes exceed £100 per diem shall advertise once at least in the official calendar— was agreed to. The notice of motion by the Otago country olubs concerning the official calendar was generally discussed, and negatived. Mr Alison moved, and Mr Wilson seconded — " That a committee be set up to report at the next meeting of the conference as to the advisability of the confei** ence publishing its own official calendar, and generally report on the whole question."—Negatived. The Hon. J. D. Ormond proposed, and it was agreed that the Referee be the official calendar of the Racing Conference. A verbal amendment to rule 2, moved by the Taranaki Jockey Club, was agreed to. The Chairman moved a new clause to rule 7, as follows :—" Notwithstanding anything herein otherwise provided pony races may, subject to the sanction of the- Jockey Club, be included in any day's racing at a legally constituted trotting- meeting if the programme of such meeting shall have been duly submitted for the approval of the Jockey Club."— Agreed to. An amendment to rule 21, to provide that any official could not employ a deputy or substitute, was negatived. The Hon. Mr Ormond moved, on behalf of the Hawko's Bay Jockey Club, a new rule that no horse, three years old or upwards, shall be allowed to start in any handicap ran over a distance of less than six furlongs.— The Taranaki and Takapuna delegates opposed the motion. — The Chairman agreed to the motion provided it did not become operative for 12 months. — The motion was negatived. The Chairman moved, on behalf of tho Canterbury Jockey Club, a new rule — " That all horses entered in a handicap which have> never prior to the publication of the weights started in any race shall be allotted (if of the same age) equal weights, subject to the usual 6exual allowance, and if of different ages, weights proportionate to the weight- for- age scale, unless the special conditions of the race provide otherwise. "— Negatived. Mr J. A. Millar moved, on behalf of the Dunedin Jockey Club, to extend the season for flat racing from May 31 to June 7, to permit of clubs racing on the Prince of Wales's Birthday to race under the light scale of weights.— Agreed to The motion of the Taranaki Jockey Club to strike out rule 47, which refers to the placing of any person who gives a cheque for the payment of entry or acceptance that is dishonoured on the forfeit list, was negotived. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club moved— "That the fee of £5 in connection with changing a horse's nnmo be paid to the chairman of the Racing Conference instead of the Jockey Club."— Negatived. The Chairman moved, on behalf of the Canterbury Jockey Club, a new rule— " That all clubs having races on their programme* on which forfeits are payable shall post notices of such forfeits to the owners at least 14 days before the same become due." — Agr&ed to. The Canterbury Jockey Club's motion to amend rule 63, Registration of Partnerships, was agreed to. The rule now provide* that only partnerships in horses above tho age of one year need to be registered, which releases breeders. The Wanganui Jockey Club's motion, to amend rule 71, "That the name of a person or horso on the unpaid forfeit list shall be doomed to have ceased to be thereon from the actual time when the forfeits shall have been paid to the registry office," was negatived. Tho rule at present is— " That the name of a person continue.* to be on the forfeit list so long as his name is published in the ealondar." At 11 p m. the ronfcrer.ee adjourned till 19.30 next morning. SECOND DAY. WELLINGTON, July 18. Tho Racing Conference was continued today, Sir (i. Clifford being in the chair. I On brhalf of the Taranaki Jockey Club tlic proposal to add to Rule 79 the words ' '• Kieiy jockey shall produce nis license to tlio el.'i-lc of scales if required to do co ' «:i- agreed to. Amendments to Rules 80 juid 81. nio\od by the Taranaki Jockey Club, were withdrawn. The Wellington Country Clubs delegate mo\ed to amend Rule 89— " That no race fan he btarted more than half a chain behind the starting post."— Negatived. On the motion of the Hawke's Bay .F<<key Club, Rule 96 was amended to pro\ide (hat if a race is started before the appointed time it shall be run over again. 'J h<: Taranaki Jockpy Club's motion to amend Rules 113 and 116 were withdrawn. Mr Petrie moved to amend Rule 113 by f-tiiWing out the wonU " an appeal from any such doci-ion may bp made to the Racing Confereiu c. and it- decision shall be fina l . - Vcr»ati\ctl. An amendment to Rule 158. may ed by the Urc-J mouth Jof kcj Club, which IC-ferred to hor->e-> being m ohugi' of disqualified prr'o:?, mi a~Tcl to, ninkins; the rule more clear to prcior.t cv "-ion of the iu l(> . On t!i« iiioti' n of the Wanganui Jc-ckey Cub. Rule I*3 was ain.-ii.Ld l.y the addition of tiie uorri- "or take pait in trainmi;,"' anpljnig to i>(-r-,c )= naming without; ,'i 1 icr i,--r. T •' mt>tiov> of t 'no liuwWc's Biiy .To key f u'v <o '". n-" -table T-o-anL- \va-> 0.-.rnrd 'J ' .• 'Ta-.iVi-'s 13a> Jockey Club moved to a .lord ll'il. I<3 to provide that relief may b" c;:a tr i ftom the Pro\ident Fund to the-vi-'ow oi- fami'j of a tramc- or jockey — A<,rerd to Mr Bidv.fll iroved, en behalf of the Wellington Country Cl'ibs— " That Rule 155 sV-uld be amended, and that the fine of £2 for jrckey3 cjrrying wrong colours thould

be, made compulsory, and not optional, as at preaent." — Negatived. An amendment that the fine be not less than £1 was agreed to. Mr Bidwell moved to amend Rule 156 — " That application for gentlemen riders' certificates shall be made to the committee of the . Jockey Club in whose district the ap plicant resides, instead of the Metropolitan Club, as at present." — Agi'ecd to. The conference recommended that the fees received from gentlemen riders' licenses be devoted to trophies, given to such races as the metropolitan clubs may consider desirable, the winning riders being gentlemen riders. Sir William Russell moved that no hurdle race be run over a less distance than a mile and three-quarters.— Negatived. The Chairman moved, on behalf of the Canterbury Jockey Club, a new clause to Rule 166— "That the number used for any horse on the totalizator must correspond with that under « hich such horse 13 entered on the race card except where horses are bracketed or where the totalisator will not carry the full number of horses starting."— Negatived. Mr Samuel moved, on behalf of the Taranaki Jockey Club, to strike out clause 20 of the Rules of the Totalisator. — Negatived.

'Mr Petrie (Greymouth Jockey Club) moved to repeal Rule 168, and substitute therefor — " That the conference shall at each annual meeting appoint six judges to consider and decide all appeals to the conference, three to form a quorum, not more than one judge to be selected from any one metropolitan district." — Negatived. The Greymouth Jockey Cub delegate moved — "That the conference give a definite ruling 06 to whether inconsistent running is a question of faef.' — The Chpinnan stated that among the regiuatiortvS issued lor the guidance of appeal judges there was a ruling by the conference, which it has decided to publish for the information of clubs in the official oalendar — that inconsistent running was cot a question of fact. The Chairman moved that he may at any time appoint any member of the conference to act in his stead if circumstances arose. — Agreed to. An amendment to Rule 171. moved by the Taraneki Jockey Clvb — '^hat all newrules shall come into operation on August 1 in each year." — was agreed to. Mr Percival (Auckland Racing Club) moved — " That a race for apprentices be placed on the programme of every metropolitan club except at the winter meeting*.-" — Withdrawn.

Mr Percival mover 7 — " That all nomina I'iois shall close on the same day of the •week." He suggested Monday. — Negatived.

Mr Percival moved — " Tliat. on and after August 1, 1904, no programme shall be i ><is=ed for any club whose course is less I'in.n one mile in circumference, where- the toHlicator is in u&e." — Negatived.

The Ghairman moved that he be empowered to appoint three experts in C3 a et< where any complaints have beftvi made as i > the safety of any course, and report to t'>e ensuing meeting of the conference. — A irrccd to, .

Mr Samuel moved on behalf of the Tarn naki Jockey. .Club— r" That a committee be annointed by the conference for the purpose of nreparinir rules of racing." — Withdrawn.

On the motion of the Hawke's Bay Jockey CJub. it was agreed to place tli<; woids "Official Calendar" in the rules where the words "Racing Calendar" at present appear. . . The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's delegate asked the chairman's ruling on the nomination of horses for particular races (such as Bracelet races) by ladios and by gentlemen riders as affected by Rule 6-51, registration of partnerships. To get over the difficulty it was agreed to add the following words- • — • " provided that the rule did not apply to races for horses nominated by ladies and ridden by gentleman riders, the prizes for which are trophies and not. money "

The Chairman, on behalf of the Canter bury Jockey Club, asked whether or not an aoprentice's license expired at the termination of his indentures or at the end of the season. On the motion of Mr Wilford. it was oarroed "That in the ouinion of the conference an apprentice who drain's to ride miM apply for a license immediately on Ihe oxnirv of his indentures."

The committee apoointed to consider the question of the arangement of dates and tntftlisator permits reported as follows — That the same number of permits be allocated a 9 in the past season : that they are uiiabl" to entortnin tho many application 1 ! for addition*! ami n«»w permits, as (lie limit allowed by 1*1 1« act bus been absorbed. In the event of theVe "beine any permits available, thfey re-cotnmMidcd that the. following clubs in" their respective districts receive favourable consideration: — Auckland district. Whantjarei Racing Club and Papakr.ra Racincr Club : Otaeo district. Forhury Racing Club; Taronaki district. TCHharn Racing Club and Stratford Racine Club, Wfwiiranui c'i°t.ric+. Waverlpv-Wpitotara Racinjr Club; Wellington di«trict, Wairarana Roeim? Oliib- and Pahiah>a Racing 1 C lub. Note • In thr Otago district the Waikonaiti Pacing Club is entitled to the permit used last season by the Palmerston Racing Club. Dates of Meeting?.— Thr Masterton Racing Club to pelect dates for their spring mooting to the satisfaction of the chairman of the conference: the Dunedin Jockey Club to race on December 26 and 27 ; the Wvndham Jockey Club to select dates to the sntmfacHon of the chairman; tho We^tlanrl Racing Club to select other dates for their autumn meeting : the Wellington Racing Club to Eelect other dates for their autumn meeting to the satisfaction of the chairman : thp DunpJin Joclcev Club to race on June 3 and 6; the North Otago Jockey Club's dates to be altered correspondingly. The committee recommended the registration of the following racing and sports clubs under Rulp 170- — Auckland district — Bay of Plenty Hack Jockey Club, Tovrai Raoing Club, Otahuhu Hark Racing Club, WaiUi Hack Club. Waiweka Jockey Club. Canterbury district — Oeraldine Hunt Racing Club, Laureston and Lyndhurst Sports Club. Springfield Racing Club. Hawke's Bay district — Mohaka Racing Club. Otago district — Centre Bush Hack Racing Club. Taranaki district — Eltham Hack Raring Club, Hawera Mounted Rifles. The committee did not recommend the Rotherham Sports Club in the Canterbury district and the Turaltin* Racing Club in the Wanganui district, which meetings were not aoproved by the Metropolitan Committee. The committee recommended thai all returns from metropolitan clubs relating to tho business of the conference must be in the hands of the secretary to the conference not later than June 30 in each year, and that the order paper, reports, and returns may be forwarded to delegates at least seven days before the meeting of the conference. The report was adopted. The axanuiiva WW authorised to issue a

second volume of the New Zealand Stud Book, the cost and remuneration to the editor to be left in the hands of the chairman.

Sir George Clifford was re-elected chairman of the conference, and accorded a hearty vote of thanks for past service:. This concluded the business.