EXTRA RACING

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 17, 15 August 1928, Page 5

EXTRA RACING

STRATFORD'S CDUMS. RACING CLUB'S TIEWS. STRONG AGITATION URGED.

The claims of the Stratford Racing Club to extra days of racing were stressed at last nigh't' s meeting of members. Mr A. Coleman said the club had been unsuccessful in its application for a further permit, but it would be a great mistake to blame the Racing Conference for their nonsuccess. The tendency on the part of clubs was to blame the Conference for all their misfortunes, and he was sorry to see that the Auckland Racing Club had seen fit to adversely criticise the Conference and make certain unbecoming threats. Club s were governed by the / Conference, and unless racing bodies hacked up the Conference, despite domestic differences, it might be that the affairs of racing would be taken out of the hands of racing clubs, and administered by a Department of itlie Government. He thought the change would be one they would regret, and once it was made no further change conm* *&'e looked for. Clubs should be loyal

to the governing body. As a result of control by the Conference racing .was much better conducted i n New Zealand than in sOme other countries. Members of the Stratj ford Racing Club belonged to the club in the interests of the sport, and would regret anything which would bring the sport into discredit. Thanks of the clubs were due to the Conference, and to its president, Sir George Clifford, for hi« self-sacrifice in administering affairs of the Conference for so many years. Clubs should bJ\k up the Conference, although they had their own private grievances and thought that perhaps they did not get from the Conference the support they were entitled to.

Mr D. J. Malon e said that members had hoped that when the allocation of permits was again in the hands of the Conference tthe" claims of the club for extra racing days would receive more consideration than in the past. However, this did not appear to be so, and he understood that the Conference had delegated its power in this matter to the Dates Committee. He' felt that when th e matter of allocation of dates came up again, it fehould be dealt with on a different basis. He had run out some idea s oeT the matter which he thought might be submitted to the Conference" in the form of a remit. His idea was that 'the following facts should receive consideration: (1 The number of days already held by the club applying for a permit; (2) the" attendance at meetings, as shown by the gate receipts; (3) the area of country served by the club; (4) the question of suitable appointments, as set out by the Racing Conference and the Minister of Internal Affairs; (4) totalisator rtsceipts. Such a remit should receive considerable support if it was backed up by strong representation. - Taranaki's claims had been seriously overlooked, and it was time that the matter was brought strongly before the notice of the authorities. Twelve days' racing in' Taranaki wa a quite inadequate. There was no greater sporting community in New Zealand Jhan Taranaki, Ffrom the point of view of the number of horses trained Taranaki compared favourably with any other part of New Zealand. Sir Edwin Mitchelson had said that some of the points in dispute might be settled by a round-table conference. If "there was such a conference the speaker hoped that Taranaki would be represented at it. Mi' A. W. Budge thought one of the greatest drawbacks to getting another permit was th e good financial position of the club. The authorities said: "Why should your club have an extra permit when you have a profit of £2OOO for the year. Mr A. Colema n said he wa s not satisfied with the present position as regards extra racing for the Stratford club. The question of permits, however, was not one for the Conference. The Conference had n o permits. The position at present was a result of the interference of the Government. Wheu the Gaming Bill was last before Parliament members knew how the Bill

was kicked about and what little consideration Stratford got. The recommendations of th e Commission were favourable to Stratford, but the Conference had no permits to allocate. The club had a claim for just treatment, but it was denied

them, and clubs were given permits •which had not the wherewithal to carry them on. If there was a conference on the matter a deputation from the club should go to Parliament. What would happen then, however, nobody could say. Mr J. B. Richards endorsed Mr Budge's view as regards the financial position of the club. He thought that in the past the authorities had given too much consideration to ihig phase, but he hoped for a change in views and that in, future the authorities would recognise that it was in tthe ipublic interest to grant penlits to those clubs in the best position to provide a good programme of racing. ,