THE RACING CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 850, 21 June 1906, Page 5

THE RACING CONFERENCE.

The notices of motion which will be brought up at the coming Racing Conference do not contain matter for very much discussion, for with one or two exceptions the subjects brought forward are not of great importance. The Taranaki Jockey Club has a motion “ That it is desirable the present arrangements by which the Christchurch ‘Weekly Press’ publishes the official calendar be terminated, and that the official calendar be published by the Conference itself, and that the president and secretary be authorised to arrange accordingly.” The arguments in favour of this are so strong that it is difficult to see how anyone having the best interests at heart of racing throughout the colony can possibly reject so common-sense a proposal. The Wellington Racing Club has tabled a motion that part 6, of rule 111., be altered to “ No club shall give a less sum in stakes than the net amount derived by such club from the use of the total!sator during the previous year.” The principle here is a sound one, but it might prove unduly onerous for some of the smaller and more struggling clubs to carry out. The Auckland Racing Club has two motions to be brought forward. The first of these is that Rule 2, part v., be struck out and the following rule be inserted in its place:—“The Metropolitan Committee shall have the power to appoint an advisory steward for any race meeting of a club in its metropolitan district that it may deem advisable, and the said committee shall, on the application of any club, appoint an advisory steward, whose fee in either case shall be paid by the club to whose race meeting such steward has been appointed or who has applied for the appointment of the said steward. In either case such advisory steward so appointed shall be entitled to demand an investigation by the stewards of the club of any matter occurring during the race meeting and may sit and vote as a steward at such investigation.” This is certain to be combated by the representatives of the smaller clubs, but such a rule would do much to prevent certain irregularities which from time to time crop up at country v meetings. The clubs outside the metropolitan body would no doubt rather resent what misrht be considered too much interference from headquarters, but if this objection can be got over, the move seems a good one. The club also is to move that in rule 7, part vi., the following shall be inserted:—“The Metropolitan Committee shall have the power to refuse to approve of the programme of a meeting of any totalisator club which permits any bookmaker to bet on its course.” Should this become law it will sound the death knell of the bookmaker, but there is a strong feeling growing that the fraternity are being over-harassed as it is, and therefore it is very doubtful indeed if the motion will be carried.