RACING IN WAR TIME

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 26

RACING IN WAR TIME

DISCUSSION AT TROTTING CONFERENCE. CHRISTOHUROH, April 10. At a meeting of the executive ot the New Zealand Trotting Conference to-night there was a brief discussion in regard to the possible curtailment of the sport during the war. The President (Mr John Rovve) said ho felt rather disappointed with the action of several clubs, 'ihey were all anxious to do what they could to assist to win tho war, and he felt certain that there was not a man in New Zealand connected with racing who would not be prepared to clear racing right out if it would help to win tho war by even ono day. Clubs had' been expressing their individual opinions, and he thought it would have been much better if tho Racing and Trotting Conferences could have held a combined meeting in Wellington and discussed the question fully and then submitted to the Government a scheme on which they would havo been unanimous, and which would have given the Government something tangible to work on. The president of the Racing Conference had issued a circular, and clubs had been asked a series of questions in regard to the continuance of racing under present conditions. Tho replies to those questions would in many cases be matters of personal opinion. Some clubs had expressed themselves as anxious to carry on, while others favoured a reduction. It would have been much better if arrangements' had been made for their views to havo been expressed through tbo conferences. The season was now well advanced, and in any case both tho Racing and Trotting Conferences would bo meeting in July. A discontinuance of the sport would affect some clubs very seriously. He knew of several olubs that had given every shilling of then profits to patriotic funds, and in the event of curtailing the sport interest on borrowed money would have to be paid or guaranteed by tho stewards and committeemen personally. It would not be wise for them to act until they ascertained what tho racing authorities proposed to do, and ho had arranged for an interview with Sir Geo. Clifford (president of the Racing Conference) at 3.30 the following morning. Mr W. J. Gore said that the discontinuance of the sport would have a very serious effect on clubs which had borrowed money for the purchase of property and the carrying out of improvements. Mr D. H. Roberts said he understood that arrangements were being made for a meeting of tho Racing Conference to be held in Wellington during the present month, and on his° suggestion it was agreed that the Trotting Conference should adjourn its consideration of the question until the following morning, in order to enable members of the executive to discuss tho matter with Sir Q. Cliffor . CHRISTCHUROH; April n> Mr J. Rowe, president of the Trotting Conference, conferred to-day with Sir George Clifford, president of the Racing Conference, on the question of racing during the war. Sir George Clifford said it was possible that a special meeting of the Racing. Conference would be held at tho end of April. Mr Row© agreed in the event of that taking place to call the Trotting Conference

at the same time, in order to take united action. Racing in war time was considered' by the committee of tho Dannevirke RacingClub, arising out of a circular received from the Sports Protection League on the subject, and a motion was unanimously carried to the effect that while the committee was of the opinion that racing was n6t detrimental to war winning, it was quite willing to abide by whatever' decision the Racing Conference came to on the subject.