RACING CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19999, 15 July 1920, Page 8

RACING CONFERENCE.

meeting of delegates. (Special to the “ Star.”) m „ , WELLINGTON Julv 15 PRESIDENT'S REPORT ::iMi »»■ - trl £ttJ**£S\ , ±S land ird°r' xr r f r=scHtalivc of Westvas’s,!e? “ *y? ' f - Coh ™. whoso kindliness ASiS*.,*yß “ y 1,0 In dealmg with appeals « nc e our .Vt S' \re«r, W V” 1 ", , |? J bled lor tlloir Mrria* Km)' J! ';-V, ldwill, K ‘ Campbell, ami O iftS l s*. : ' U -C. P. iSiterrntt, K.C.. thr . lf - may bo well to recall tnai -mcc the institution of the appellate (nbtmal the >i r ncH ? of it? jndjjinoitel ior u " gMe «' lone(3 i whi)o iu „t wU.cmeu or differences bus hem, turf * Wna tt< ‘ v&n; * 80 b llio welfare of the . Tn ° motion from war-strain has riven ,in to all healthy outdoor sport “ m uu , racin'; has fully participated the past >ear having oeon, in every way, a record one. Increased attendances on our coursoa. mlduronu! turnover i u the lotalmtor, am! tieldii of sometimes inconvenient dimensions are clear evidence of the growth of public interest, Afl any institution thus suddenly expands new .problems ■ arise, and some med'.licalions Oi previous arrangements end regulations are gress or our sport, and .to endeavour, under ridering conditions, to so guide it as to onsine for it the fullest obtainable, measure of popular confidence. Absence of any serious criticism of the past administration of this iiomerenco, and the nature of its representative constitution, sufficiently guarantee our impartiality iu tho execution of the duties entrusted to us. In the course of tho past season wi’liout application to the conference, an association of jockeys was organised, chiefly by persona unconnected with :ho profession, with the nominal object of securing iiomo thirty-two points, which were dot died by its leaders. If these propositions had come from 1 licensed jockeys in the sj int which assuredly animates the great majority of them, such as were reasonable vn.Ul have been accorded by us oveiy duo consideration. As president of this conference I refused. to recognise them as presented b - , the association, partly because it was clear that its members .had joined it uijdor a lomritlc misapprehension of its nature, and partly on account, of tho dictatorial attitude it at 'wc assumed, ’the first reason was confirmed by Ilia speedy and voluntary resignation of most of the more prominent members. Ah to Ino other, the virtual control of the details oi racing could not be allowed .to fall into the hands of its irresponsible promoters. The choice lay between this conference with ,ts carefully devised system for securing justice to ail and the executive of the Jockeys’ Association claiming and striving to exercise a right to veto decisions o! the racing tribunals by the summary method, of calling a strike. The existence of racing as n popular institution was at stake, and I did not hesitate to ignore an association whose pretensions were so antagonistic to all the traditions of racing iu every part of the Empire, If owners, trainers or jockeys choose to form associations among themselves, and respectively present suggestions to this conference, no objection can be offered, but for any one of these sections to ally itself with outsiders and attempt to tyrannise over the rest, would destroy the mutual good feeling, essential to tho government of tho turf, and would drive many of our best supporters to other pursuits. Wo may trust that tho action of the Transport AVer kern’ Advisory Board, in ita interference with tho shipment of hovsea and the passages of jockeys and racing officials, was based on a misunderstanding oi the position. The prohibition is petty in itsoii, ci questionabie legalily. and’ in its effect hurts the whole community far more than the racing clubs, ot whom it appears to be aimed. Tho business of the conference tends to grow, and it would ' greatly facilitate its work if those secretaries of clubs, who have hitherto failed therein, would punctually forward tho customary records of meetings without necessitating repeated requests for them. Much needless and irritating correspondence can bo saved, especially in connection with payments of fees at scale. The Accident Eund constitutes a department of iteoif, and we may prido ourselves on. a result which, for administrative economy, can challenge all possible comparison. Its allowances are far in excess of tbs statutory provisions of the Workers Compensation Act, and criticisms to the opposite effect are indeed wide of the mark. Tho general trustees are now asking lor rather wider powers in order to remove any toasiblo doubt of the legality ■of somewhat generous views taken by them of tho scone of tho fund. Hardships may result from negligence in payment by owners of the qualifying fee, carelessness which may cause loss alike to owner and employee. To place himself in absolute security every owner should pay one fee for tho ensuing season prior to August J, or as soon ns he puts a horse into training. Secretaries oi clubs should ascertain that fees have been paid on every starter, as no horso with unpaid accident fee is tangible. to compete, and laxity in this detail may lead to serious complications in regard to stakes and total!sntov dividends, for which clubs might find themselves doubly liable. There is no excuse for non-provision of ambulance and medical facilities upon racecourses. Clubs can combine at. moderate cost for supplying tho requisite equipment, and rule 15 of part XXXV. of the-Rules of Racing imposes upon district committees certain obligations to this end. The adoption of a uniform race card has been suggested, and if an acceptable form could.be devised, it would bo a boon to all concerned. One wiU be submitted for your criticism, which it is hoped may lead to the acceptance of' the idea. The electric totalisator, when established on the principal racecourses, will assure adI herencc to the advertised starting times under all but very exceptional circumstances. Even with the older machine clubs would be well advised to allow no consideration of increased investments to delay the start of races. Volume VIII. of tho New Zealand Stud Book is to be published early next year. Breeders should be careful to return foaliugs promptly and correctly. Owners ot brood mares that are elirible tor entry are earnestly requested to have their marcs recorded, as failure to do so causes untold (rouble. Wo may turn to the Lerislaturc with some hope that cortiun restrictions unduly pressing upon racing clubs may be 'removed. Foremost among these is the levying of income tax upon clubs. This, however strictly legal, is morally unjust, inasmuch as special taxes of an onerous nature were, by agreement, imposed upon clubs and horseowners in lieu of other imnosts less easy to assess. ‘At the time of this settlement income tax was not resettled cs payable by them, end t.hcrefnro should not now ho exacted. Tho prohibition to publish totalisator dividend? is a petty annoyance, playing' into .the hand oi the illegal betting agents, as does the refusal of permission to secretaries of clubs to receive money for investment. Provision should also bo made for issue of pdditicnal totalisator licenses (or growing districts when recommended by this conference, and approved by tba Minister of Internal Affairs. A general redistribution of permits, as sometimes suggested . would load to confusion and widespread dissatisfaction, and i.-i scarcely practicable. It cannot bo questioned that the sport of racing has been very greatly and steadily improved since the _ institution and under the administration oi the conference. What evils remain may largely be traced to the influence, of unscrupulous bookmakers, ami we may congratulate tho authorities on taking more stringent measures to protect the public from tho retailers of unfair odds" Wo ask that larger powers be entrusted to tho Police and Telegraphic Departments for enforcement of tho law, and that such powers be not permitted to lie dormant," * Whatever may bo said to the contrary this Dominion has gone further than any other part oi the British Umpire in ita effort to cleanse tho turf from abuses, and otlr supporters have no cause to fear that this conference will comic to be tho pioneer in such reforms as may still farther attract our best citizens to the enjoyment fof a clean and wholesome sport. [Peb 'Pukss Association- ] WELLINGTON, July ]5 At tho Racing Conference the Stipendiar” Stewards’ Committee recommended that tlio positions oi judge and clerk of the scales now often honorary, should bo filled with ’nnbl officials. * Tho Dates Committee recommended that licenses should bo withdrawn from clubs having 'courses incompletely railed on the inside of the truck, if the railwuv was not completed by next year. No additional or , new totalisator licenses could be granted j as none was available, nor any daya of racing. ________