NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 51

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CONFERENCE.

At the annual conference of representatives of the New Zealand Trotting Clubs the president, Mr John Rowe, delivered the folJowing address; — Gentlemen, —Reviewing the season now quickly drawing to a close, the outstanding feature of the sport of trotting appears to be its continued rapid growth in popularity. You are doubtless aware that Mr George Hunter s Gaming Amendment Bill, which provides for 27 additional licenses to racing and hunt clubs and three to trotting clubs — a very small proportion to the latter everybody will acknowledge—pamo before the House last session. The ‘executive met in Wellington, and made strong representations to the authorities there with a view to getting a fairer distribution. Wo still maintain that trotting was deprived some years ago of several licenses to which it was justly entitled, and which have never been restored. Based on the reduction of the total by one-third, according to the Gaming Act of 1894, trotting clubs did not receive their due share, and representations were made to the various Governments for years past for a restitution, but without avail. Application to the Colonial Secretary at that time disclosed the fact that the four licenses which rightly should have been allocated to trotting clubs had boon granted to racing clubs. This can all be supported by reference to Hansard. Although we welcome Mr Hunter’s Bill, it is manifestly unfair to award trotting only three licenses out of a total of 30. As there are so many important trotting centres without the assistance of the totalisator, it is thought, in view of any increase, that trotting should receive at least 10 extra permits, including the four which, it has always been claimed, it was entitled to by law. Strong representations wore made by .the executive last October, which I hope will ultimately bring about the much-desired effect should the Bill become law. It has already passed its second reading, and no effort should be spared in th<3 interests of trotting clubs to secure a fairer proportion of the extra licenses proposed in the Bill, and I trust that this conference will again agree to deputationise the authorities and insistently ..urge the claims of our sport for greater consideration than they have yet received. Compared with all previous years, the work of the conference during the season has been exceptionally heavy, the bulk of which fell upon the members of the executive, and entailed an unusual volume of secretarial work. You will remember last year I Suggested that we" should obtain a report from time to time on the courses and appointments of each club, and also upon the conduct of their meetings, so that we should know whether they were kept up to a proper standard. The executive decided to go into the matter, and at a meting hold in Christchurch resolved that a report be obtained on all the clubs. This necessitated the appointment of a representative to attend all the race meetings throughout the year, and although this meant a heavy expense it was deemed advisable to incur it. An important matter that the executive was asked to undertake was in connection with the question of the appointment of stipendiary stewards. To this matter I shall make special reference later on.

Coming to the question of the appointment of stipendiary stewards, this matter was brought up last year by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, and left with the executive to draw up a report for our consideration to-day. In accordance with a resolution copies were sent out to all the clubs two months ago, and I think you will agree with me that the report is very comprehensive and informative. Details regarding the expense that would be involved arc laid before you as well as other valuable information for our guidance. Last year I dwelt' at some length orr the question, and I was not quite convinced that the time was ripe tor such a venture, yet I think the general feeling of the representatives then was in favour of it. However, we have now had a further 12 months to ruminate upon the matter and strengthen our minds one way or the other. The need for paid officials appears to be regularly urged, and during She present season there have been occasions when it has been forcibly brought homo to those who have a genuine interest in the sport that steps in this direction must be taken sooner or later. It is of the utmost importance that the racing should be under control of capable and reliable stewards, who take the. trouble to acquaint themselves with the duties appertaining to office, and give the requisite study to" the rules and the protection of the public. It is unfortunately the case that stewards sometimes know little or nothing of the rules and however anxious they may be to do what they think to be right, are prone to err.

To my mind ons of the greatest advantages of the' stipendiary system—and there arc many —would he that there would bo continuity of supervision. As the case stands at the present time when the mooting of a club has concluded, the stewards have finished their duties, and any notes, records, or observations which they may have made are not available for the stewards of the next club at which the same competitor may be starting, so that the inconsistency of the animal or the driver, always most difficult to separate or distinguish, is still more clouded by the fact that it is being viewed and decided upon by a different body of stewards who, perhaps, did not see, and more than possibly if they did. did not keenly observe the previous performance or misdemeanour of the competitor. Another advantage would bo to entirely abolish the most dangerous practice of foul driving, for with capable stipendiaries going from mooting to meeting and taking notes of any doubtful procedure on the part of a rider or driver, it would not bo long before the man who is prepared to risk the lives of those who are competing against him in a race.

would have his license cancelled and be relegated to his proper place. Men who are not versed in trotting law or who do not take the trouble to make themselves conversant with it, arc the ones who, as frequently as. not, are responsible tor wrong decisions, which land their clubs ;n difficulties with the powers-that-be, thus showing how desirable it is that the stewardship of clubs should bo in the hands of men not only of probity, but of experience. Such cases ns I have mentioned would afford the stipendiary stewards a wide scope lor their activities.

The result of their work should not be judged so much by the number of disqualifications or lesser punishments imposed, or the number of matters reported, but by the all-round general improvement of meetings. The stipendiary would keep a stricter supervision on the doings of the competitors, particularly the wrong-doors, who, with the fear instilled into them by the knowledge that they were being shadowed by the stipendiaries, would refrain from carrying out their evil designs. . The amount of salary suggested in the report that should be paid to the stewards would appear to me sufficient if the work that they would be expected to perform did not occupy all their time, and they were allowed to devote their spare time to outside work._ However, I do not wish tp -say anything further on this subject, except that I think that our sport has in recent years made such rapid progress that it has, to a great extent, outgrown the present system of control. If we are to have stfrr-ndiaries, they must be experts, thoroughly capable and strong-minded. Men whoso integrity is at all doubted, and _ who cannot command respect and obedience, should not receive the slightest consideration. I consider that as this matter is one arising out of last year’s business, sufficient not.ee has been given to proceed with it under the rules, should the principle be affirmed.

Last year I touched upon a matter of class trotting. After many years of racing in one particular groove, the time has now surely arrived when some of the leading clubs could reasonably start out with something new in the shape of a strictly class race or two.

The present class events are all right as far as they go, but it seems to me wc have been standing still and making no progress m this direction. I feel sure that the initiation of class racing* or short limit racing would be a successful venture for the strong clubs to embark upon, and not only would the events be looked upon with favour by owners, but it would bo welcomed by all lovers of our sport. For years past we have advocated a change, but thus far it has never been acted upon. Conforming to the usual custom, some rough statistics follow which deal with the operations of the clubs during tho season, copies of which are placed before vou.

” v ifvUUjUi'J iVIUjUA VJ As seen by these figures, the total prize money given away by the combined clubs is £53,315. This, with approximately £6OOO (subscribed by racing clubs which set aside part of their programmes for trotting events,, makes all but £60,000, the sum total subscribed, to the utility horse during the year. A comparison with last year’s figures will show an increase of about £IO,OOO on the part of trotting clubs. I am sure that these clubs, all of which raised their stakes, may bo congratulated on their continued prosperity. The order paper before the conference is. I am pleased to say, not of a very extensive nature, and I shall refrain from commenting on it further, as I think in the majority of cases it is well for mo, as chairman, to hear the reasons adduced for proposed alterations before expressing my views.

Club. | 1 •S <4 i i 15 1 1 ll 4 N.Z. Metropolitan PP tH T.C 4 9 72 £16,665 £13,685 For bury Park T.C. Auckland T.C. ... Canterbury Park 3 3 6 7 48 66 7,375 7,370 6^20 5,370 T.C New Brighton T.C. 2 2 4 4 32 32 4,530 3,615 3,750 2,555 Otahuhu T.C. 2 4 32 3,080 2,Uo Greymouth T.C. ... 2 4 32 2,405 2,285 Ashburton T.C. ... 2 2 15 2,050 1,580 Westport T.C. 1 2 16 1,000 800 Gore T.C 1 1 8 000 835 W anganui T.C. ... 1 2 14 600 500 Hubc Yalley T.C.... 1 1 8 635 4.55 S. tV airarapa T.C. Oamaru T.C 1 I 1 1 7 7 500 600 400 360 Nelson T.C 1 1 7 450 300 Inangahua T.C. ... 1 1 8 360 305 Marlborough T.C. 1 1 7 300 235 Southland T.C. ... I 1 7 255 Marmwatu T.C. ... 1 1 7 245 Poverty Bay T.C. 1 1 8* ISO Westland T.C. 1 I 6 135 130 Winton T.C 1 1 6 130 130 Granity T.C. I 1 7 125 100 Waikato T.C. — — — — 81 35 57 440 £53,315 £48,028