Sporting Review. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1894.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 214, 30 August 1894, Page 4

Sporting Review. THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 1894.

The water of that muddy turf pool known as the Williamson v. Riall libel case was disturbed again last week. The members of the Taranaki Jockey Club, committee were called together to consider the remarks made by His Honor Judge Kettle in summing up the case in question. His Honor was understood to have given expression to an opinion that it was the bounden duty of the Metropolitan Club of the district to institute criminal proceedings against Messrs Riall and Cunningham for their statements in the libel case, and the meeting was held to obtain the views of the various members of the club’s governing body. As was only to be expected the committee declined to institute law court proceedings, and how they could have been expected to arrive at any other decision is hard to see. As the President of the Club, Mr Standish, pointed out, the laws of racing do not cover the institution of criminal proceedings, and it certainly appears to us that if action should be taken, the duty does not lie with the T.J.C. Mr Samuel contended that it did lie with the T.J.C., but it is very much to be questioned whether the matter does not properly rest with the Crown Law Department and the person whose character was affected by the libel. However, quite enough has been heard of this unsavoury case, and the committeemen wisely decided that as Mr Riall and Mr Cunningham had been placed under the ban of disqualification no further action shonld be taken. Disqualification is the supreme penalty of the Turf, and that has already been awarded. If the affair is regarded as a breach of the crimital law it is hardly the work of a racing body to set the legal machinery in action.