DISPUTE BETWEEN THE WELLINGTON AND JOHNSONVILLE TROTTING CLUBS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 326, 22 October 1896, Page 8

DISPUTE BETWEEN THE WELLINGTON AND JOHNSONVILLE TROTTING CLUBS.

As we have published some particulars of the above dispute, in which the Johnsonville Club allege that the Wellington Club promised to assist the club if they lost money through rejecting the nominations of horses that had been trotting under the North Island Trotting Association, and as only the Johnsonville Club’s side of the story has been published we now give some particulars of the other side of the case, as supplied by the president of the Wellington Trotting Club, whose letter is prefaced by the remark, “ The Wellington Trotting Club had nothing to do with the matter.” He then continues: —“ The facts are as follows: The Johnsonville Club’s January programme was duly submitted to, and passed by the Wellington Trotting Association in good faith that it was to be carried out under Wellington Trotting Association rules. Notwithstanding this, they (the Johnsonville Club) accepted the nomination of horses that had trotted at meetings not recognised by the Association. On this being pointed out to them the Johnsonville Club asked the Association ‘ to convene a meeting to meet their delegates in referance to the suspension of Rule 7a, as advertised in the Official Calendar, to see whether an exception could not be made in their favour.’ At this meeting the Association refused to countenance anything of the kind; but sooner than the Johnsonville Club should break the rules of the Association, or by not doing so, as they stated, lose by nominations of these horses roughly some £l4 or £l5 they were told that, though the Association had no

funds for that purpose, several individual members of the Association would sooner put their hands in their own pockets and subscribe towards that loss. This offer the delegate did not accept at the time, but subsequently held a meeting of stewards at the White Swan Hotel, and decided to accept the nominations. It was then distinctly given them to understand that the liberal offer of the few members present at the time of the Association meeting was withdrawn. They held a subsequent meeting, and, under pressure of horseowners, decided to reject the nominations above referred to. These are the facts of the case, and require no further comment. —Yours truly, H. D. Crawford, President Wellington Trotting Club.