TROTTING CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 45

TROTTING CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT’S INTERESTING ADDRESS. WELLINGTON, July 11. The Trotting Conference opened to-day, Mr John Rowe (Auckland) presiding. In the course of hie presidential address Mr Rowe said:— The report of the commission was thrown out, leaving existing allocations unaltered. Now, if the support accorded to any branch of sport can bo fairly regarded as the barometer of public opinion, then I can truthfully assert that our political friends will be justified in granting us this session the additional permits scheduled by your executive last year. I feel confident that any effort made in that direction will be cordially endorsed by my fellow-dele-gates. You will see that, as I stated two years ago, the non-totalisator meetings are still carrying on, notwithstanding the heavy taxes on the sport, showing clearly the necessity for more permits. I would also point out the position of the one-day clubs, many of which find it a case of great hardship, and each should, in my opinion, receive, without any undue delay, another permit. Whilst it is true that the Government is compelled to levy heavy taxation in order to liquidate the tremendous expenditure caused by the past war, I hope the time is not far distant when the strain upon our finances will be materially reduced. Obviously all must, fairly and loyally help the Government to maintain financial solidity; but to-day many of our clubs, with a falling revenue, find it difficult to provide the stakes based on the previous year’s net totaiisator revenue, and pay the heavy taxation levied by the Crown. The additional imposition of the taxation of clubs’ revenue and the Income Tax Act is unjust, and it is maintained that, the excess of receipts over expenditure as far as clubs are concerned is not profit in the commercial sense, and should not be taxed. It is detrimental to the efficient management of clubs, and retards proper provision being made for the convenience and comfort of the public. It also discourages enterprise in the important, national industry of horse-breeding. r The great advance made in trotting during the past few years speaks volumes for its popularity. It has been suggested that large fields should be reduced to a determined number by lottery; but (his method of elimination, I submit, would be manifestly unfair to owners. Division racing might obviate matters, provided, of course, that the gaming laws were amended, and I understand that steps are being taken in this direction. The racing authorities, having sanctioned a system for the employment of a staff of racecourse inspectors, the chairman of the Racing Conference (Sir George Clifford) invited the Trotting Conference to be associated with him in order that united action could be taken to exclude undesirable persons of all descriptions from racecourses and trotting (racks of the dominion. The control of the inspectors is in the hands of a committee of representatives from both branches of the sport. The cost was very carefully studied, and the method of supervision will increase very little —and in some cases it has decreased—the sum previously paid by clubs in their endeavour to eradicate the undesirable element. From reliable sources I can confidently state that our racecourse inspectors have quite justified their appointment, carrying out their duties with tact and discretion. Whilst, it is true that a number of our horses have been sold for exportation, it is satisfactory to note that many valuable ar imals have recently arrived in this country, and I understand that negotiations are in progress for the purchase of a considerable number of Aineriean-bred young horses and brood mares. The appointment of competent timekeepers ia absolutely essential; but I regret to sav that several instances have been brought under rSy notice, which denotes that some clubs have not been too careful in making their selections. A 6 correct timing is unquestionably one of the most important features of the sport, I trust tliat every care will be exercised in selecting future watehholders. It is absolutely necessary that handicappers should be supKlied with the correct times registered by orses; but it is a well-known fact that incorrect limes have occasionally been published. I would suggest that each club’s attention should be specially drawn to rule 343 by the Stipendiary Committee, and that it. lie an instruction that a certified copy of such times should either be taken by. or supplied to, the stipendiary steward in attendance who, in turn, could be officiallyappealed to if any dispute should arise. You will notice that, an effort will be made to seriously undermine the status of stipendiary stewards. I do not intend to comment at anv length upon such retrograde proposals, but feel that I am entitled to say that it is at least significant, in view of recent events, that these amendments should emanate from a club which declined to recognise the stipendiary steward’s correct definition of the rules. The stipendiary system has been in operation since 1916. and results were so satisfactory that the Stipendiary Committee, seme little time ago, placed on record its appreciation of the good work done by their officials. Complaints arid differences are occasionally bound to happen, but the improvement which has taken place in the cleanliness of the running at the larger meetings, and in not only the running, but in the whole control of the smaller meetings is sufficient testimony to the efficiency of our officials, and to the value of the system. It is now a decade ago since the rule relating to stakes for unhoppled trotting horses was first adopted. This was, no doubt, the commencement of a good movement to safeguard the pure-gaited one from extinction. Hopples were prohibited in trotting races in America many years ago, and an agitation was going on in some of the States there to have the hopples taken off the pacers; at that time we in New

Zealand first legislated for races exclusively for horses of the trotting gait only. Such races have ever since been w T ell supported by owners, and have proved most interesting to the public. The Forbury Park T.C. has to be oommended for its progressive policy, a few seasons ago, in instituting the New- Zealand Trotting Stakes for three-year-old unhoppled trotters. A few other clubs have added to their programmes races for unhoppled horses, of either gait, in excess of that required by the rules. I regrefc, however, that the movement is not progressing as rapidly as I would wish to see it. There is one other matter which I think is deserving of very serious consideration. I re-fen- to the question of dates of meetings. As the case stands at the present time each individual club selects the date which it oonsiders will best suit local conditions without reference to how it will affect the sport. Our trotting days are so few, and the owners interested so many, that 1 think the time has arrived when both the individual clubs and the Dates Committee will require to take the matter seriously in hand. It is utterly absurd that two meetings, particularly in the North Island, should take place so close to one another, that it is not possible for any owner in either island to compete at both. I would recommend all clubs, when considering dates for next year’s fixtures, to keep this in view and make a strenuous effort to apply for dates on the lines of my suggestion. Should they fail to do so, it will be up to the Dates Committee to take action. Among other remarks the speaker stated that probably the response to representations would be that the cost of the carriage of horses by- rail w-ould be reduced considerably. The balance sheet was adopted withouc discussion. Views of the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association on the question of losing fees for drivers and riders and the yard system of starting w-ere placed before the conference, w-hich suggested that the association should get some club to take up its view's and present them in the form of remits. This would be more expeditious. A proposal to run races with big fields in heats was referred to the executive. Mr Rowe moved to adopt a common rule in regard to the appointment of stipendiary stewards and racecourse inspectors, and the establishment of a. stipendiary stewards’ committee. The Racing Conference adopted a similar rule last year. The conference amended two sub-clauses to limit the powers of racecourse inspectors to investigating matters which gave reasonable ground of suspicion of corrupt practices and to make action by stewards’ committees optional, not mandatory. The subject of taxation and other burdens on trotting w 7 ere touched upon. Regarding the burdensome railway charges it. was hoped the representations made would result in a considerable reduction of the existing rates. Regarding taxation it was hoped the time would soon come when the burden would be reduced. The conference endorsed this opinion. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President Mr 11. F. Nieoll (Ashburton) ; vice-president, Mr J. Rowe (Auckland); executive —the president, vice-presi-dent, and Messrs B. Fox (Metropolitan), L. Cohen (Wanganui), H. »R. M'Kenzie (Otahuhu) s On the motion of Mr P. jgelig, it was resolved that prior to the shipment of horses out of New Zealand such horses must be branded by some responsible person, and a certificate given by the association. An addition was made to rule 69 providing that for trotting races on a programme for other than a trotting club tho stake offered must be equal to the average prize money, excluding the principal event. Provision was made that the association may pass a programme under special circumstances, although it does not comply with the conditions.