THE RACING CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 124, 18 July 1911, Page 6

THE RACING CONFERENCE.

COUNTRY CLUBS MOVING. (Per Press Association) Wellington, July 17. The country racing clubs’ imnoscut,iiives ••outiimed their deliberation « this afternoon. Mr Bruce, president of the Thames Club', piesided. He reported font a defeat -itmn had \v. ;tr:! on Jfin George Ciiifovd, chairman of the Racing Cunfufence, and laid before him the result; lions passed at the molding on Saturday night, asking that the conference should grant the concessions .e ked for. Sir Gewge r 'i fford. Hart , agieej that unity was necessary a;, the pic* sent time, and fully roal’sed tint (ne country clubs sl'.ould have bettor representation on tiie coiifeivnce, l;ut he would not pledge him sc if to call a special meeting. In summing up, Mr Bruce said he looked on the deputation as successful, because Sir George (.Idiot I tealisccl that country clubs world rot tolerate the present position any longei. One hundred ami three cubs were giving away thousands oi pounds in stakes, and were not to i e dictated to by eight clubs. He believed •h; George Clifford viewed tin- matt-w very favourably, and would make some move. The outlook WuS very hopeful. In reply to a immdm-, the. cl.auman said Sir George Clifford i.;d fid them straight that tim coriforenf.e would not receive the depuration, and that was the end of it. “If you want

somebody' to light,” he added “1 am just as, good as anybody. ! wil light anybody.”

in reply to another delegate, the chairman said the country clubs would get a hearing when the Wanganui remit dealing with the representation of country clubs was discussed by the conference. If they were not granted what they asked for, he suggested the combination of the North and South Islands, a management committee of four or live persons. . Regarding the threat of the Racing Conference, a member said that, if the country clubs ignored the conference, that body had the power to disqualify any horse owner or trainer racing at its meetings. The chairman said Parliament would bo appealed to, and the conference would regret its action ever after. There was nothing the Racing Conference was frightened of than Parliament.

Mr Buchanan (Waitara) advocated the formation of a country clubs’ conference, and to ask Parliament for a status, and moved accordingly. Mr W. Fraser supported the motion. Mr W. T. . .leanings. M.l’., urged caution,. saying the motion was a direct challenge to the conference. He advised waiting to .see what-.-the conference decided to do. The motion was withdrawn, and in its placo Mr Buchanan moved : “That the Racing Conference bo asked to discuss remit 33 from the Wanganui country clubs in the early part of tbc conference sittings.’’ The remit was as follows: “That this conference is of opinion that the New Zealand Racing Conference as at present constituted does not give the representation desired by country clubs, and they desire that some steps should lie taken by the New Zealand Racing Conference to set up a committee to sec if it is desirable to establish a New Zealand Jockey Club.” The motion was carried, and a committee was set up consisting of Messrs Bruce, Jennings,' Craig, Lysnar, and Fraser (North Island), and Messrs Sellars, Irvine, Colligan, and Tntton (South Island), to meet on Thursday night after the Racing Conference’s decision is made known, and convene a future meeting if necessary.

The chairman said he would send out the report of the country clubs’ mooting to till clubs and impress upon them tlie necessity for pulling the political lover in their own interests.

PRESS DENT’S ADDRESS. Wellington, July 18. The annual conference of delegates of racing clubs opened to-day, Sir George Clifford presiding. ’ In his address the president mentioned that the gravest moment during the past season had been the enactment of further legislation affecting horse racing. So far as this reversed the previous imposition of the baneful system of licensing bookmakers, if must meet with cordial approval. Unfortunately last session’s Act went further and decreed contraction of sport by a rather peremptory process. “To fortify ourselves against future attacks,” added Sir George, “wo should aim at a higher standard iu the appointments of out 1 racecourses, and afford such provision for the comfort of spectators as may increase the popularity of healthy opmt-a’f sport. It is remarked that our opponents consist almost wholly of those who have no personal hi owIcdgc of the subject of their invccj live. Yiiihmit waiting Fur a desit- | a;>!c change of prejudiced opinion, it | behoves us in combine For tie* preservation or our rights to all i ation.i] ar-macmcut hoc- inconsistent ..ath >norai obligations. A true defence, if o?»e is tlooped, is in establishing in •netiN minds Hint our aims, our pioct and our practices are al ove. mspicion. Never in (lie history of racing had a country a better opportunity for maiiitaiiiiug a noble sport in a noble manner.” It was decided that the trustees be instructed to bring up at next conference a statement dealing with the accident fund. The president reported having received a deputation representing a certain number of country clubs. He had assured the deputation that if anything could ho done to remove their grievances, whether actual or imagined, it was desirable to clear 1

away such' obstacles. There was an assumption that the conference was a said of Racing P.o iiamenl, with the metropolitan clubs ranged on one aide and the country clubs on the other. .Nothing could be fut liter from Urn Guilt. The ■delegates of iho roaulrv olubs on the eonlereneo w .*(••> ati cun pint lie contradiction of the i.nplication. JSe gave notice to move ihal a committee be set up to consider the constitution, and to report as to the feasibility of giving effect to the. clcputat ion’s representation i.e. (i) equal representation of country ami metropolitan clubs on the conference, (2) the suggested setting up of a New Zealand Jockey Club. The dates of meeting hitherto existing were approved subject to certain alterations rendered necessary by the Racing Commission’s report. Tiro Wellington Chib was allowed October 21st and 23rd for its spring meeting, and July 17th and 20th for i<s winter meeting. The Manawatu Club was all owed the usual dates, December 2(3th, 2/tb, and 29th, for the summer meeting; .Marten, January Ist and 2nd; Ta ratahi-Caiterton, December 2nd; Dannevirke, 13th; Hawke’s Bay, May Ist and 2nd, and June 20th and 21st; Master ton to change from Mat ch 21st and 22nd to March 28 th and —Dtli; Wanganui, May 21th and 2uth.