NEW ZEALAND HUNTS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3061, 13 November 1912, Page 63

NEW ZEALAND HUNTS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand Hun to Association was held at Christchurch on Monday, 4th inst. Mr G. B. Starkey (president) occupied the chair, and the following representatives were present.—Dr E. 0. Thomas (Woirarapa), Messrs H. Ellworthy (South Canter bury), H. Divers (Otago), ilr L. A. Liddell (Birchwood), S. L. Free (Christchurch), and W. H. Hatfield (Donne virke). correspondence. The Secretary of the Waikato Hunt wrote asking the association to bring pressure to bear in the direction of securing a totalisator permit for his hunt, as it received no assistance whatever from racing clubs, and never had done eo. The position the hunt was in with regard to its race meeting in not liaving a permit was a very serious one, as it could not give stakes sufficient to induce owners to start their horses at the race meetings. The Secretary of the Woodlands Hunt wrote stating that as the hunt clubs were chiefly instrumental in encouraging bite breeding of the best class of horses suitable for remounts, the writer considered that the time had arrived when representation'should be made to the Government for an ample supply of high class thoroughbred sires, which were essential for cavalry remounts. Further communications were received in connection with action being taken to secure totalisator permits for the respective hunt clubs.—With the evidence before the meeting it was resolved that the matter was rather premature for action. The president’s action in granting affiliation to the Otago and Dannevirke Hunts was confirmed.

Applications for registration of colours were received from, and granted to, Christchurch, o'iia.go, a.nd Danncvirke Hunts.

A letter was received from the Biirohwood Hunt, asking the association’s ruling on the following;—“lf a run is advertised for a certain place oan a member who proceeds to the advertised place of such run with a horse claim it as a run towards qualification certificate: (a) If the huntsman and hounds are at the advertised place of such run; (b) if the huntsman and hounds are not at such advertised place?”—To bo advised that the master alone must use hie discretion as to what he considers genuinely hunted; and, further, under "the rules of the association, and according to the time of the year, a horse qualifying must be genuinely hunted three, four, or five times. The sub-committee appointed at last annual meeting to report on the question of compiling a hound stud book wrote intimating that it would entail too much work and expense, but suggested that a competition be arranged for by the association in the form of a challenge cup, to be competed for by«hunits showing a dog hound. — Held over for further consideration. A letter was received from the Otago Hunt asking the association to move in the direction of making representations to the Government to pass legislation in order that bunt clubs could be subsidised by the Government from the revenue received from the racing clubs.—lt was pointed out that the Government had received £75,611 as its tax on the racing clubs for the 3 r ear ending October 3, 1912. and as there a.ro in all 17 hunt clubs, a subsidy of £2OO per hunt club would be a very modest request.— The Chairman said that this opened up a very large question, and if such action were taken it would be advisable to secure the co-operation of the various agricultural and pastoral societies, and, under the circumstances, it would therefore require a notice of motion from Otago in order that hunt clubs not represented would have an opportunity of dealing with it.—This was agreed to. GENERAL The balance sheet submitted and adopted showed a credit balance of £53 Os sd. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: —President. Mir G. B. Starkey (Bracken fie Id Huntb re-elected; hon, eocrotarv, Dr E. C. Thomas (Timaru); bon. auditor, Mr W. Turrell (Wellington); an executive of four members to be nominated by Rangitikoi, Hawke’s Bay, Christchurch, and Waimate. The next annual meeting is to bo held in the month of August in Christchurch during Grand National meeting. This change was thought desirable in order bo secure a larger attendance of delegates.