THE WAR AND SPORT.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15872, 11 April 1917, Page 6

THE WAR AND SPORT.

DISCUSSED BY TROTTING

CONFERENCE.

At tho meeting of tho executive of tho Now Zealand Trotting Conference last evening thoro was a brief discussion in regard to tho possible curtailment of the sport during the war. Tho president, Mr .John ltowe, said that lie felt rather disappointed with tho action of several of tho clubs. They woro all anxious to do what they could do to assist- to win tho war, and he felt certain that there was not a man in A"aw Zealand connected with racing who would not bo prepared to clear racing right out if it would help to win tho war by even one day. C'lubs had been expressing their individual opinions, and he thouglit it would havo boon much better if the K-acing and Trotting Conferences could havo hold a combined meeting ill Wellington, discusscd tho question fully, and then submitted to tho Government a scheme on which they would havo been unanimous, and which would havo given the Government something tangiblo to work on. As they were aware, tho president of the Racing Conference had issued a circular which had been published, and clubs had been asked a series of questions in regard to the continuanco of racing under present conditions. The replies to those questions would, in many cases, bo matters of personal opinion. Some clubs had expressed themselves as anxious to carry on, whilo others favoured reduction, and it would, as ho said, havo been much better if arrangements could liavo been made for their views to have been expressed through the Conferences. Tho season wag now well advanced, and in any case, both tho 1 lacing and Trotting Conferences would be meeting in July. Tho discontinuance of the sport would affect some clubs very seriously. He knew of several clubs that had given every shilling of their profits to patriotic funds, and in the event of tho curtailment of the sport interest on borrowed money would have to bo paid or guaranteed by tho stewards and coaimittocmcn personally. It would not bo wise for them to act until they ascertained what the racing authorities proposed to do, and he had arranged for an. interview with Sir Geo. Clifford, president of tho Now Zealand Racing Conference, at 9.30- the following morning. Mr W. J. Gore said that tho discontinuance of the sport would have a very serious effect on clubs •which had borrowed monev for tho purchase of property, and tn© carrying out of improvements. Mr D. H. Roberts said ho understood that arrangements were being made for a meeting of tho Racing Conference, to be held in Wellington during tho present month, and, on his suggestion, it wag agreed that tho Trotting Conference should, adjourn its consideration of tho question until the following morning, in order to enable the members of tho executive to discus 3 tho matter with Sir Geo. Clifford. COACHBUILDERS' PROTEST. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, April 10. At the annual conferenco of New Zealand coachbuilders to-day, a resolution was passed objecting to the bracketing of A. and r. shows with horseracing, as it was claimed that 6hows meant education for agriculturists. Another resolution advocated the closing down of racing in its entirety, ; because it was enabling gambling seri- j Dusly to interfere with industry. ;