THE ROWLEY DISQUALIFICATION CASE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19157, 14 November 1927, Page 10

THE ROWLEY DISQUALIFICATION CASE.

j TO THE BDITOB OT THE PBSSS. Sir—The essence of the judgment of the Conference was contained in the following sentences: — "We are unanimously of the opinion that the proceedings of the Judicial Committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club were irregular m important particulars. The appellants present at journed me*ing of the Judicial Committee held on November 7th, 1937. There was present at the adjourned meeting: a steward who had not attended the meeting on November oth, 1927, when the appellants made their statements to the Judicial Committee.''' "We are of the opinion that any person charged with an offence against the Rules of Racing must have an opportunity, if he so desires, to be present throughout the whole enquiry into his conduct. The whole of the evidence tendered to and considered by the committee holding the enquiry must be given in the presence of the person charged so that he may, if he is able, refute or explain that evidence." Lest it should be thought that the alleged irregularities of the Canterbury Jockey Club procedure upon which the Conference judges allowed the appeals of R. S. Bagby and A. R. Parker, involved any injustice to the defendants, 1 feel constrained to make a few j observations. I

(1) The Judicial Committee of a racing club is a tribunal of equity acting in pursuance of the Rules of Racing, and not a Court of Law.

(2) With one' unimportant exception, the whole of the evidence was taken in- the presence of the whole of the defendants, and- that one exception in •the presence of the owner. The whole of the evidence was taken down word for word by shorthand, and typewritten, and the defendants had the fullest opportunity of reading, explaining, or refuting it ab the meeting of the District Committee. (3) The presence of a steward on November 7th" who had been absent on the sth in no way prejudiced the case of the defendants, as the hearing on the 7th was opened by reading the whole of the evidence taken on the sth. On both Saturday and Monday the stewards were a quorum of a constitutionally appointed Judicial Committee. The Canterbury Jockey Club, not being answerable for the result, accepts the verdict of the Conference judges without demur. —Yours, etc., GEORGE GOULD, Chairman, Canterbury Jockey Club. November 12th, 1927.