TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

Wf- IttamixEi.

THE RiuOESTG CONTERBNCE. The annual conference of representatives ©£ New Zealand racing clubs was held in, 'Wellington last week with Sir George Clif*<*d (president) in the chair. There was a bill muster ol delegates, and several important motions, such as those whioh had for their basis- the registration of owners, the appointment of stipendiary stewards, i£he appointment of a judicial committee, jthat every programme shall include a race of not lees than a mile and a-quarter, and the- restriction, of the length of meetings, mere thrown out, whilst a proposal to appoint paid judges at all meetings using the Mtabsator w«s withdrawn, as were also notices of motion referring to the uniform {measurement of racecourses and the ap,pTotntment of a committee to report upon *hj» possible reduction, of meetings held fey registered clubs not entitled to use the i)fcglieator. In fact, the additions or amendments which were made to existing racing lawn were small ;n; n comparison to the Amount of business on the list. Still It must be borne in mind that the conference ie held for the purpose of sifting the grain from the chaff and not for the purpose of passing experimental legislation which is enacted at one meeting and annulled at another. It was not astonishing to find that the proposal to license owners .was killed, because it was regarded with «. good deal of hostility from its birth. In Abe first place, it. was believed to be unjveceaeary, and, furthermore, that it gave too much power into the ha"nds of the committee. It was no doubt levelled at the unprincipled racing man, but whilst It would in cases missfire, it unnecessarily harassed sportsmen of the correct type. Tie motion gave birth to an amendment, brought forward by Mr Samuel, which had for its effect that a committee of five should ibe appointed to overlook the conduct of the sport generally, and to investigate and re.port to the conference ou any matter which ■renders action by the conference desirable Ifor the more effectual prevention of corrupt practices in relation to racing. Such a. irtrie would have covered the most desirable part of Sir George Clifford's motion and at the same, time left out what was deemed tamecessarily drastic. There was no Suggestion in. Mr Samuel's proposal that iha committee, ihould have power to inflict aijqualjficatione. That was to xeet with the conference, and by the time s case reached- ibe governing body there- would not be mock cW n "f of an. injustice occurlutg: Mr Samosrs suffgeation., in the minion of the writer, taok» » close second JM> tl*e appointrriGixt o£ st^eadi«cy stewards. and although it wss also defeated oit Wing put to jthe rote, it is a. grppostir tkat should not be lost sight cL Tbe air

of our sporting world is occasionally filled with" the doings and sharp practices of some of the clever division, but once the curtain is rung down on the particular meeting air which something shady has occurred, it appears to be nobody's business to find out what truth is really contained in the rumour. Very few clubs like to be troubled with inquiries, and it is here that Mr Samuel's committee could do good work. The motion for the appointment of stipendiary stewards was thrown out on the voices, although • thousand arguments have been, advanced in favour of the proposal, w-hich was probably killed because of the expense it would entail. Honorary stewards should really welcome the stipendiary stewards, as it would be the latter's duty to relieve the former of ail the unpleasant part of their office. However, the stipendiary steward has to go for the present. The compulsory appointment of a- judicial, committee of five, instead of being optional, as at present, was also lost; and it was such a sound and sensible proposal that it is a wonder it was thrown out. A committee of five would be infinitely preferable to a long list of stewards (some of whom are not too expert in racing matters), whose very numerical strength tends to make the machinery of racing law cumbersome and sometimes ineffective in its action. It is a stock boast that racing is primarily conducted for the purpose of improving and testing the quality of the thoroughbred, and incidentally keeping up the standard of the light horses, euch as hacks, hunters, etc.. which follows in its trail. Consequently it is somewhat astonishing that a comparatively mild proposal in that direction, whioh would have made •it compulsory, for every programme to: contain a mile sad a-quarter race, should be thrown out. It is possible that- such a rule would have proved a trifle hard on clubs, racing on only one day a year, but it is regrettable that, it should not have bean made compulsory for at least one race of thai distance to be found on programmes of meetings extending over two or more day*. The balance of the business, transacted was comparatively mild in its. objec^ and in some cases hardly calls for special notice. — _ — — — — — [ THE TROTTING OOIOTERENCE. I The annual conference of the retraesen- ! tatives of New Zealand trotting clubs was ; held last week in Welliniarton. when Mr G. Payling (president) occupied the chair. Nothing of any great moment was on. the business sheet except the proposed rule which, would have made it compulsory for trotting (?) clubs to have at least one race per day for trotters only, but this was rejected on being put to the vote. The chairman, in his address- to the. delegates, stated that "steady progress has been the leading characteristic of the year's sport, and those clubs affiliated to the association, tafeen all round, are in a flourishing condition and on a sound financial footing." The statistics furnished with the report go to prove the truth of the chairman's remark, and, that being so, the rejection of the clause is all the more pronounced and unsportsmanlike. The principal opposition appeared to come from the representatives of. country clubs, and this is somewhat strange, as the country folk have more use for a genuine utility horse than their brethren in the city. In town there is pome excuse for a pacer, as on good level roads he can act in a light, runabout trap with some degree of success, but where solid work has to be done or a stylish roadster is required the trotter is the only horse to fill the bill: in fact, the pai-Sr is a. racer pure and simple, ajid of no use except for the lightest of harness work or ambling about under saddle. It is clear that the commercial aspect of the question, was the cause of the motion being defeated, and it is regrettable that a representative body of sportsmen, presumably with the true interests of the sport at heart, allowed finance to dominate .the most important matter they had before them It is not intended to unnecessarily disparage the pacer, which is in some cases a natural gait. but it is time fha* some check was put on the ruling tendency to breed mere gambling machines. Apparently no attempt was 1 made to modify the motion by making it compulsory for dubs holdinsr two or more meetings "a year to provide races for trotters, but it ia to be hoped that the clubs who can count their revenue by the thousands will not always have the stisrma attached to them that they make tlie true interests of subservient to mere racing and gambling.