RACING CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1163, 25 July 1912, Page 8

RACING CONFERENCE.

The Racing Conference met in Wellington on Thursday, Sir George •.Clifford presiding. THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. The president delivered the following address: — We have to deplore to-day the absence from our midst of Mr. C. HoodAVilliams, whose long experience rendered him from the earliest of this conference one of its most useful members. We have now had one complete season’s test of the ill-advised legislation which so unduly restricted the days of racing within the Dominion. EVen if we admit that some’ few of the many racing clubs abused their trust, or failed to justify their existence, or were in undue proximity to neighbouring courses, no justification existed in this widely-distributed and growing community for a cast-iron legislation curtailing the recreations of the people and preventing their legitimate expansion in proportion to increasing population. This hysteric law-making must finally result in depriving many country districts of an annual holiday, or in seriously injuring those greater meetings which are chiefly instrumental in encouraging the breeding of the best class of horses. Det us hope that saner counsels will prevail, and that our legislators may learn in the near future that an amply supply of high class thoroughbred sires is essential for breeding good cavalry and general utility horses. The restrictive enactments have been based on want of knowledge and false analogies. The average inhabitant of New Zealand, with its many centres of population, cannot attend one-tenth of the race meetings available to the Eng lishman with his perfect system of race trains or to the dwellers in the principal Australian cities, whose opportunities recur almost every week. I maintain that we need more racing and more weight-for-age contests of the best class. Crush down abuses with the firmest of hands, but do not involve in one common ruin the imperfections of a great industry and its undeniable advantages to the State. Two classes of offence stand out for repression. First, attempts by owners or trainers to cheat handicap pers and the public; second, conspiracies between jockeys and others to defraud. Not a tithe of the innuendoes spread broadcast by tongue and pen have truth in them; but when they exist, the first and most efficient preventive will spring from the effective suppress of the already illicit source of temptation. A second remedy, which is only a palliative, is suggested in the appointment of stinpendiary stewards, and these policemen of the turf, if possessing the requisite knowledge and force of character, may be a secondary help towards purging us of the perilous stuff whcih we so earnestly strive to eliminate. As to the second class of offence, resulting from dishonest combinations of jockeys and others, its suspected existence is in great measure attributable to the false mercy which has granted another and yet another chance to offenders, and so wrought mischief to them and to the reputation of the entire body of deserving horsemen. For conclusive victory over these accusations against us we appeal, first, to the authorities to enforce the law by stopping its systematic defiance by bookmakers; and, secondly, to our own friends to refrain from so dubious a method of speculation as they afford. Attack the poisonous fruit at the very root of the tree. In passing, I may protest against the senseless prohibition of the publication of totalisator figures and dividends after the race. This serves no purpose except to abet the schemes of the professional trickster as against the straightforward sportsman, and reaches its climax of absurdity when applied to such races as the Epsom Derby. The diminution 'of racing .consequent upon “The Gaming Amendment Act, 1910,” is shown as follows. —81 clubs held 127 meetings (242 days’ racing) in 1910-11; 66 clubs held 108 meetings (199 days’ racing) in 191112: The increase of totalisator investments may be partially caused by this decrease of competition, but must have been mainly diverted from the banished bookmakers, as indicated by the large sums formerly paid by- them in fees. A' difficulty often arises, on change of ownership, where a buyer who has not previously paid an accident fee on another horse imagines that in purchasing a horse oh which the fee has been paid he also purchases the

advantages of the insurance fund. The right to these advantages is personal to the individual subscriber, and attaches against all the prescribed accidents on his payment of a single fee, but no such right passes to a purchaser. If he has not already paid a fee on another horse, he must qualify by payment on the purchased horse. I cannot conclude without a word of commendation for the Sports Protection League. It promises, with its huge membership, to be a bulwark of defence for all our sports and pastimes, against that surging intolerance which spies evil in the innocent recreations which are its best antidote. Lovers of all legitimate sports must combine to defend themselves both by argument and by a bold political front, for in such a contest union is strength. It is a truism that the recreations of a nation are the making of its manhood, and no statesman worthy of-’the name would fail to foster racing as one of them. Not only is it a healthy outdoor relaxation, but it is the centre of a large industry, employing about 5000 of our fellow citizens; it is a source of considerable revenue directly in taxation, and indirectly through the railways; the export of horses to Australia and India for racing and for military use is a colonial asset; and above all, if our defence scheme is to be duly organised the blood of the thoroughbred must supply the essential endurance to our cavalry remounts. In combating the ornaments of racing we are challenging the most

unpatriotic and short-sighted of our fellow citizens, and playing no ignoble part in the serx ice of a United British Empire. Sir George Clifford further said he felt it his duty to enter a respectful protest at the way in which successive Governments had ignored the con ference when dealing with matters of the greatest .moment to those whose interests the conference was appointed to guard. Before decisions in the readjustment of racing days and permits were come to, it would have been but courteous to formally or informally ascertain the views of the conference in the matter. The matter of the removal of S. Darragh’ disqualification was referred to the president. The conference has a credit balance of £Bl7. The accident fund a credit of £12,890. The committee recommended that the dates of racing meetings be approved, subject to the following exceptions and amendments; —Dannevirke Club to be allowed September 11; Avondale September 25 and 28; Marlborough to be allowed to change from October 16 and 17 to November 20 and 21; Masterton to be allowed October 17; South Canterbury to be allowed to change from October 21 and 22 to November 20 and 21; Auckland to be allowed November 8 and 9; Taratahi-Carterton, December 26; North Otago, January 2 and 3; Takapuna, January 29 and February t; Te Kuiti, .February 6; . Canterbury, February 6 and. S; Rotorua, February 12;; Gisborne, February. 13 and 14; Tologa Bay, February 22; Auckland,

also March 22 and 24; Kumara, March 24; Westland, March 26; Reefton, April 2; South Canterbury Jockey Club, April 16 and 17 in lieu of April 9 and 10; the objection of the Napier Club to Masterton Club racing on March 13 and 14 to be sustained, and Masterton to be granted April 24 and 25. The commitee’s report as above was referred back, as it had been compiled before the announcement was made that the Rangitikei Club was to get two days’ racing this year. The committee recommended the registration of the Otago Hunt Club, but declined the application of the Fortrose Hack Racing Club. The question of the appointment of stipendiary stewards was again before the conference. The mater was introduced by the Taranaki delegates, who sumbitted the following proposition: —“At each annual conference a commitee, to be called ‘the Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee,’ shall be elected, with power to select and appoint not less than two persons to act as stipendiary stewards at race meetings, on such terms, with such powers, and subject to such conditions as the committee may prescribe. The committee shall consist of five persons, who shall select a chairman, and may delegate to him all or any of the powers of the committee other than the power of appointing stipendiary stewards and the power of making, rescinding, or varying the bylaws and regulations (hereby conferred on the commitee), and the chair-

man may exercise such delegated powers as if they were hereby con-, terred on the chairman in the same manner as they are conferred on the committee. In the event of no stipendiary steward being able to attend any race meeting, a substitute stipendiary steward may be appointed by the committee or its chairman to act at such race meeting, and in respect of such race meeting shall be deemed for all purposes a stipendiary steward. The committee shall determine the remuneration to be paid to stipendiary stewards for their services and the amount required for the purpose. And in order to carry this rule into effect it shall be provided by the totalisator clubs in proportion to the gross amounts received by them respectively by way of investments on the totalisator during the preceding year. 'With regard so far as the committee may find expedient to any change in the number of days on which the totalisator is used by any club in trie current year, the amount payable by each club shall be fixed by the committee, and be paid to the secretary of the conference, who shall apply it as the chairman may from time to time direct. After several members had spoken in support of the motion, the chairman pointed out that the cost might run to £4OOO per annum, and he doubted the value of the stewards at any one meeting. A levy of % per cent, op the clubs’ receipts, would produce £3OOO. He suggested as an alternative limiting the jockey’s provident fund to £lO,OOO, and using the

surplus contributions for the payment cf stewards. The conference, however, adopted the motion with amendments limiting the club contributions to Is per cent., and increasing the committee to six, not including the president, who shall be ex officio a member and chairman. It is considered that from three to six months will be required to get the scheme working. Mr Perrett (Wanganui) alluded to the announcement of the Government that the Rangitikei Club was to get two days racing this year, one day to be taken from Marton and one from some metropolitan club. He was authorised by the Rangitikei Club to apply for the dates. It formerly held on the Ist and 2nd January. It was explained that the report had been compiled before the announcement in question was made. The report was adopted, and the president was authorised, with or without the assistance of the Dates Commitee, to adjust and settle a list of dates so far as alterations might be rendered necessary through any determination of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the president always having regard for a resolution passed last year affirming the right of clubs which lost their perihits to their original dates where they were reinstated as in the case of Rangitikei. After hearing an objection by the Canterbury Jockey Club to the dates applied for by the Wellington Racing Club for its spring meeting—viz.,

26th and 28th October —the Permits and Dates Committee recommended that the Wellington Club race on the 23rd and 26th October, thus leaving a week between the two meetings. Mr Abbott (Wellington) made an appeal for consideration of the application made by the Wellington Club for permission to race on the 26th and 28th October, instead of the 23rd and 26th October, as recommended by the committee. He said that if the Wellington Cluo was given Labour Day it would convert a non-paying meeting into the second best of the club. Mr Abbott’s amendment was carried by ■2l votes to 4. It was decided that the interpretation “metropolitan committees” be altered to “district committee,” and that five delegates (Instead of two) be elected by totalisator clubs in the metropolitan district. Rule 3 of Part VI (providing that no club shall give less in stakes than the net amount derived by it from the use of the totalisator during the previous year) was amended by adding a proviso that the rule shall not apply in the case of a diminution in the number of days on which the totalisator is used by the club. Rule 7 of the same part was amended to provide that clubs shall undertake “not to permit any person to carry oh the business of a bookmakr er.” Previously the prohibition had applied to “any unlicensed person.” Rule 8, Part XXIV, was struck out, and was substituted by: “The clerk of the scales before passing a jockey’s weight as correct shall satisfy him-

self that it does not exceed his correct weight by more than 21b in a fiat race or 41b in a hurdle race or steeplechase?’ Rule" 2, Part XXVI, -was altered to provide that a horse may be disqualified and the jockey punished if the horse crosses anothei’ unless two lengths ahead, or jostles another horse, unless it is proved that the jostle was wholly caused by the fault of some other jockey or that the jostled horse or his jockey was partly in fault. Rule 7, Part XXXI, was amended to provide that there shall be no appeal from the finding of stewards on the following matters: — (a) Short weight, (b) a cross or jostle, (c) a start in front of the post or on the wrong course or before the appointed time, (d) an obvious pull. Rule 1, Part XXXV, was amended to give power to trustees to invest moneys at interest on such terms and for such periods as they may think fit. The Canterbury (South) country clubs brought forward the following

remit: —“That the conference consider the necessity of taking the requisite steps to alter the incidence of taxation so that the tax be payable on the net profits of meetings only, instead of as at present on the gross turnover of the totalisator, gate receipts, etc.” Mr. G. Hunter said he thought they should not approach Parliament. It was a new Parliament, and they did not know what attitude it would take up in regard to the totalisator. They were getting on very well at present. Mr W. E. Bidwell said that unless they ventilated their grievances they would never get them rectified. They should point out to the Government the injustice of the present tax. — The motion was amended to read — “That the conference make representations to the Government with reference to the unjust system of taxation, so that the tax be payable on the net profits of a meeting only instead of as at present on the gross turnover of totalisator, gate receipts, etc.” In this form the motion was carried. Mr. G. Hunter moved —“That it be a permanent instruction to the Dates Committee not to allot the Saturday before Easter Sunday as the day of any race meeting.”—This was carried by 25 votes to 12. The following were elected to the Dates Committee: —Messrs. J. W. Abbott, E. W. Alison, E. Goodbehere. J. McKay, and P. Miller. Sir George Clifford was re-elected president. The president was authorised to make a special levy during the year for the benefit of the Sports Protection League.

Devastation and Monorail are a pair of rising three-year-olds wintering well at Ellerslie. Devastation in particular is growing into a fine colt and he should do well early next season. He is not engaged in the Avondale Guineas.