RACING FUNDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10871, 11 September 1913, Page 1

RACING FUNDS.

ACCIDENT MONEY AND STIPENDIARY STEWARDS' SALARIES.

GOVERNMENT WILL ASCERTAIN

FACTS. [From Our Correspondent.-]' WELLINGTON, September 10. • The Government informs Mr Dickson that it is not aware that the Racing Conference has used funds which were subscribed by trainers, jockeys' and owners for the assistance of licensed trainers and jockeys who meet with accidents,,,/for the.payment of stipendiary 'stewarcUrV : The Government will endeavour to ascertain the facts and if it is proposed to divert the funds subscribed for a specific purpose for tlie object mentioned it .will- endeavour to prevent such misapplication.

THE INJURED JOCKEYS'

MONEY

RIGHTS OF RACING CONFERENCE.

A CLEAN SPORT ARGUMENT

HAS THE GOVERNMENT JURIS-

DICTION? [From Our Correspondent.]

WELLINGTON, September 10. The appeal which the member for Parnell addressed, to the Government last weok to prevent the funds for the benefit of injured trainers and jockeys being used for the payment of stipendiary stewards, .raised a protest from a representative of tho other side of the question in the House to-day. The Prime Minister's reply to Mr Dickson ws sympathetic, and the member in thanking him for his assistance, again emphasised the need to protect this fund from the Racing Conference., This brought Mr Hunter to his feet. " I hope," said the member for Waipawa, "that the Government will not interfere with the Racing Conference over tho disposal of this fund. As a matter of fact, that fund has now reached a very considerable sum and | it is distinctly understood that any surplus not required for injured trainers and jockeys shall be devoted towards the. payment of the stipendiary stewards. It is," continued Mr Hunter, "in the interests of the trainers and jockeys that there should be stipendiary stewards, and it is a fair thing that in order that our racing should be conducted 011 fair and honourable lines trainers and jockeys should contribute through that fund to the maintenance of such stewards. It is in the interests of clean sport and racing generally that we should have these stewards. This fund has now reached a sum of £12,000, and this is the only fund out of which the payment of stipendiary stewards can be provided. I consider this is purely a matter for the Racing Conference to decide and the Government would be unwise to restrict tho distribution of the fund to the relief of jockeys and trainers. I hope the Government will not interfere in tho matter, but will leave it to the good sense of the Racing Conference to see that the fund is administered in the interests of clean sport." „ NO JURISDICTION.

The Hon W. H. Kerries, speaking on the subject, said that it wa.s hardly a question for the Government, as it wflxS entirely a matter for the Racing Conference and the racing public. " As a matter of fact," he remarked, "the Racing Conference is paying quite up to what we should have to pay under workers' compensation lor anyone who is injured. In many cases we pay a good deal more. The position is that we are getting an accumulation of money—fees derived from a tax of,£l 011 every horse that starts m a race, and we can deal with thai just as wo like." Mr Davey: "Then why not reduce the tax?" Mr Herries: "Well, that is a matter for the Racing Conference. They decided not to reduce it but to use it for perhaps a better fund than tlu> jockey fund—for the stipendiary stewards. ' Any way, the 111atier only affects those who go to races."

Mr Davey : '• The Government may assume jurisdiction.'" Mr Berries: "The Government nave no They can grant- totalisator and racing licenses, but_ they cannot interfere with the interna! working of tho turf, and it is a very good thing they cannot. (Members: " Hear, hear.".) All ihe owners arc satisfied and the jockeys and trainer' are satisfied.'' A member: "Tlie jockeys {ire not. Sir Herries: " Well.. . the jockeys hf.'-e nothing to comylaiu abuut.''