Conference of Metropolitan Jockey Clubs

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 133, 9 February 1893, Page 5

Conference of Metropolitan Jockey Clubs

Held in Wellington, Jany. 24, 1893

We have received from Mr. F. D. Luckie, the secretary of the Conference, the following official notification of what transpired thereat: — Delegates present : Auckland Racing Club, Wm. Percival; Canterbury Jockey Club, W. H. E. Wanklyn ; Dunedin Jockey Club, unrepresented ; Wellington Racing Club, Dr. Newman; Wanganui Jockey Club, A. Higgie; Taranaki Jockey Club, Hon. J. D. Ormond; Nelson Jockey Club, W. C. Gasqnoine; Marlborough Jockey Club, C. J. W. Griffiths; Greymouth Jockey Club, W. C. Gasquoine ; Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, Hon, J. D. Ormond and Capt. Russell; Capt. Russell, chairman ; F. D. Luckie, secretary. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The following letters were read: Dunedin, 6th January, 1893. F D. Luckie, Esq., secretary to Conference, Napier. Dear sir,—My Committee has had under consideration your post card summoning a meeting at Wellington on the 24th inst., also circular letter from Captain Russell, chairman of the Conference, re the formation of a New Zealand Jockey Club. In reply thereto I am instructed to forward the following resolution:—“The Dunedin Jockey Club have from the first opposed the formation of a New Zealand Jockey Club, and they see no reason to cause them to alter their former determination. In this they are upheld by the whole of the country clubs of the Otago Metropolitan District; and they therefore decline to send delegates to discuss a question which they have already decided to have nothing to do with, and will refuse to recognise a New Zealand Jockey Club if formed.”—l am, dear sir, yours faithfully, Sydney James, secretary DJ.C 13th December, 1892. C. C. Miles, Esq., secretary Manawatu Racing Club, Palmerston North. Dear sir.—ln reply to the deputation from the West Coast Racing Clubs, I am requested by the Conference to inform you that the suggestions made by the deputation concerning the constitution of the Metropolitan Racing Club committees came with so little notice before the Conference that the members were unable to discuss them so fully as to be able to give any definite reply. The subject shall receive my most careful consideration, and I will take an opportunity of discussing it at some future meeting of the Conference. —I am, dear sir, faithfully yours, W. R. Russell, Chairman Conference Metropolitan Clubs. December 14,1982. • The Hon. Colonial Secretary, Wellington. Sir, —I have the honour to inform you that your Circular No. 7 concerning the Stamp duty of per cent, having been deducted by the Racing Clubs from the investments on the total isator was before a Conference of delegates of the Metropolitan Clubs held in Wellington on the

18th ultimo. The Conference desired me to ask you to consider the fact that the programmes for the season ending 31st July, 1893, were published some months ago, and the added money offered in those programmes was calculated on and depended upon the understanding that the Stamp Duty would be deducted from the investments on the totalisator. To compel the Clubs under these circumstances to pay the tax would severely cripple their finance, and interfere with the endeavour of the Metropolitan Clubs to raise the character of racing by giving larger stakes. The Conference therefore most respectfully request that you permit the suggestions conveyed in your Circular to remain in abeyance.—l have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant, W. R. Russell, Chairman Conference Metropolitan Clubs.

Consideration of Notices of Motion. Capt. Russell to move — “ That the draft Rules and Constitution of the New Zealand Jockey Club be adopted, subject to such amendments as may be made by this Conference.” Capt. Russell addressed the Conference at some length on the subject of the proposed New Zealand Jockey Club, pointing out many advantages that would accrue to racing from such an institution, and regretted that owing to the action taken by some of the Clubs he was compelled to ask leave to withdraw the motion standing in his name. On the motion of Mr. Higgie it was resolved that leave be granted, and the motion was therefore withdrawn. Capt. Russell moved—“ That no delegate at any future Conference shall represent more than one Club.” Seconded by Mr. Wanklyn and carried. Capt. Russell moved — “ That no salaried officer shall be entitled to sit as a delegate at any future Conference.” The motion was seconded by Mr. Higgie and negatived, the division being, for the motion Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Wanganui, and Taranaki Clubs; against Auckland, Canterbury, Greymouth, Marlborough and Nelson. Capt. Russell moved—“ That the Conference take steps to put down the ‘ Walking Totalisator.’ ” On the motion of Mr. Griffiths, it was resolved that the attention of the Metropolitan Clubs be directed to Rules of Racing 25 and clause 6 of 154, under which takers as well as layers of the odds are liable to disqualification, and that it is desirable to take stringent measures to enforce these Rules. Mr. Wanklyn moved —“That Rule 22 of the Totalisator be struck out, and that the following words be added to Rule 14 after the word ‘ commission ’ in the second line ‘ less the amount of the State Tax.’ The proposed amendment to take effect at the close of the current year.” Amendment moved by Mr. Ormond and carried —“That it is not desirable to lay down any decision binding the future action of the Conference.” Mr. Higgie moved, and it was resolved —“That it is advisable to publish the New Zealand Stud Book under the authority and supervision of the Metropolitan Clubs, and that the Metropolitan Clubs be invited to furnish the next Conference with their views upon what lines such a publication should be prepared, and also what steps should be taken to defray the expense of publication.”

Notice of Motion. Mr. Ormond moved —“ That it being desirable that the country clubs should have some voice on the Conference, he would move at the next sitting, that the country clubs should have representation at future Conferences, and that ail the Metropolitan Clubs be asked to send delegates to the next Conference with full power to act in this matter.” Mr. Ormond also gave notice that the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club would draft proposals for giving effect to the foregoing motion. The Conference then adjourned to a date in July to be fixed by the chairman. [The gist of the above was published in our issue of the 26th ult., but as the above communication is an “ official ” one we publish it. —Ed. Sporting Review.]