SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7180, 3 June 1891, Page 4

SPORTING.

ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held at the Empire Hotel last evening. Delegates from the Lancaster Park, Canterbury and Nelson Trotting Clubs, Auckland Trotting and Pony Club, Geraldine, Lower Heathcote and New Brighton Bacing Clubs were present. Mr J. S. Williams, President of the Association, occupied the chair. The motion in regard to alteration of Rule GO, of which notice had been given, was adjourned till next meeting. The Canterbury Metropolitan Plumpton Park Company and Eawarau Trotting Club were affiliated with the Association. The Secretary of the Canterbury Trotting Club wrote requesting that certain owners be placed on the defaulters' list until sums due to the Club were paid; also that the horses Nellie 111., Maid of Eoclea, Eingwood, Brosley and Pau-kau-che be debarred from running until the claims of the Club be satisfied. The request was granted. Mr "W. Kerr, of New Brighton, wrote, drawing attention to the remarks made at the C.J.C. Meeting in regard to trotting meetings. The writer hoped the Association would consider the matter, so that the true interests of trotting might be properly guarded. Several delegates expressed dissent from the remarks made in the Treasurer's statement before the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club, thinking that the aim was to crush Trotting Clubs. One delegate mentioned that when the Metropolitan racing body passed the last programme for the New Brighton Racing Club, which contained one trotting event, it waa given out that should any subsequent programme contain a trotting race such programme would not be passed. Eventually it was resolved to forward a letter to the different Metropolitan Eating Clubs, and to the Colonial Secretary, contradicting certain statements in the report presented to the C.J.C, the President, Secretary and Mr Connell being appointed to draft the letter. Mr Quill (Geraldine Eacing Club) said he would like to know if it was the intention of the Association to makn inquiries in regard to the proceedings at the recent meeting of the Canterbury Trotting Club, where horses that won races were afterwards deprived of the stakes on the ground of not being sent to win in previous races in which they had started. He thought the Association Bhould be given full particulars as to the running, and if the horses were not run fairly they should be disqualified ; but if, on the other hand, there was no fraud, the owners should be exonerated and receive the stakes. In the interests of trotting, and to settle the doubts in the minds of the public, the matter should be sifted to the bottom. The delegates from the Canterbury Club said the Stewards had decided, as appeared to them, fairly. The Chairman thought the matter was outside the jurisdiction of the Association, unless brought before it by one of the aggrieved parties. Mr Mace, the owner of Beadle, one of the horses deprived of a winning stake, said he was unaware that he could appeal to the Association, and announced his intention of doing so forthwith. The request for an inquiry having been made, it waß agreed to hold a meeting on Tuesday next, when the investigation will take place. Mr Connell (Nelson Trotting Club) gave notice to move— "That a Committee be appointed to revise the rules and suggest such amendments in them as may be deemed necessary." The meeting then terminated.