METROPOLITAN CLUB

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27396, 8 July 1954, Page 4

METROPOLITAN CLUB

MID WEEK RACES NOT TO BE ENFORCED

CONFERENCE RESCINDS 1953 RESOLUTION

After the president (Mr A. L. Matson) had read correspondence between the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference in Christchurch yesterday rescinded a resolution, passed at the 1953 annual meeting, -which sought to make the club revert to mid-week racing at its August and November meetings. The dates committee had asked him to place the correspondence between the club and the association on the table, said Mr Matson. The club had written to the association, informing it of the resolution passed by the last annual meeting of the conference, and suggesting that if the resolution' was enforced the club might race on Thursday in cup week. The reply from the association said that it would oppose any further er—croachment on show dates by the trotting club.

It had originally beerf hoped that, after the Second World War. there would not have been any further racing on Friday in show week, said the letter. If the club decided to race on that date, the association would alter the dates of its show, and would probably hold it about the time of the Wellington spring racing meeting in October.

Letters were also read from the New Zealand Owners’ and Breeders’ Association and the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeciprs’ Association, saying that members of their organisations were unanimous that the extra costs involved in the cup meeting being spread out were compensated for by the large stakes provided. If the club raced on the Monday or Thursday in show week, there was every possibility of a heavy loss being incurred, and resulting in reductions in stakes. The president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (Mr C. E. Hoy) said that his club could race mid-wteek, but stakes would have to be reduced, and he moved that the motion be rescinded.

If all the evidence that had been presented yesterday had been before the conference last year, the resolution would not have been passed, said Dr. G. R. Kingston (Timaru). There was no doubt that might was on the side of big battalions. It always was. He had no wish to inconvenience the dub. Th© resolution was then rescinded.