NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13481, 22 July 1907, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, July 22

The New Zealand Racing Conference opened to-day. Sir George Clifford was in the chair.

The President, in his address, said that all indications showed that the sport of racing had steadily advanced in popularity and that those selected to govern the sport had made every effort to secure the increasing confidence -of its supporters. No trade, profession, or pursuit whicli admitted of monetary profit had ever been wholly exempt from isolated attempts to reap golden rewards of success by forbidden or even Fraudulent methods, but, assuredly, in this country th 1 ? turf did not furnish an undue proportion of such oases. Attacks upon t>iu totalisator were still occupying the prejudiced and misinformed. To the former argument was inapplicable, but th? open-minded enquirer would find little in the conduct of race meetings, or in the effects of the totalisator, to warrant the abolition of an amusement affording much innocent pleasure. The sub 3titution of the totalisator for the bookmaker had lessened temptations, and tho removal of the totalisator would produce an effect diametrically opposite that sought for by the totalisator's mis guided opponents.