COUNTRY RACING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 13

COUNTRY RACING.

CLUBS CONFER-

T0 REMOVE AN INJUSTICE,

COMBINED ACTION.

PARLIAMENT'S AID INVOKED

A conference of representatives of jountry racing clubs of the Dominion ivas held in tho Town Hall last night. Mr. Albert Bmco (Thames) presided, and :he following delegates were also pre;ent:—Ashhurst (Messrs. Ttos3 and 3vansJ; Avondale' (Mr. H. Hayr); Ashburton (Mr. H. F. Nicoll); Eotorua 'Messrs. P. Goodson and W. H. Moody); IVaitara (Mr. T. Buchanan); Kaikoura Messrs. Willis and Bemner); Patea (Mr. 5. Williams); Geraldine (Mr. J. Chadirick); Westiand (Mr. D. J. Evans); Mas■erton (Messrs. G. R. Sykes, M.P., and D. M'Lachlan); Beef ton (Mr. W. Irvine); [iiangub.ua (Mr. T. O'Brien); Manawatu [Messrs. J. Goring Johnston, H. Cooper, and H. Abrahams); Rangitikei (Mr. J. M'Kelvie); Nelson (Mr. J. Glen); Wsapawa (Mr. C. M. Whittington); Westport Mr. J. Colligan); Egmont (Mr. E. H. Nolan); Stratford (Mr. A. W. Budge); South Canterbury (Mr. E. E. Guinness); Waimate (Mr. A. A. Pocks); Dannevirke [Mr. J. Armstrong); Buller (Mr. H. Nahr); Pahiatua (Messrs. J. H. Escott, M.P., end J. M'Cardle); Marlborough (Mr. H. D. Vavasour); Marton (Mr. A. Way); Takapuna (Messrs. E. W. Alison, and R. Wynyard, secretary). , The first annual report and balancesheet wero adopted. Referring to the alteration in the constitution of the New Zealand Rac»>s Conference, the chairman members on tho Tesult of their united efforts in securing better representation. Tho question was, Were they now sabsfled'' • ■ ' „ A The opinion was generally expressed that members should be satisfied with what they had already achieved. They, had received practically all they had On tho motion of the chairman, it was decided to convey the thanks of the.country clubs to tho New Zealand' Racing Conference. . ... Consideration was then given « J* question of introducing a Bill into Parliament for the restoration of the lost racing days. The chairman said it might be argued that now they had peace they should let tho matter rest, but he for jftie would never bo satisfied until tho lost dnvs were restored. (Hear, hear.) Ihe chairman then submitted four alternative drafts of Bills, and moved that during the coming session the Country Clubs Conference promote a Bill in Parliament for the restoration of the lost days of racing. Th.is TOS seconded. : , Mr Vavasour (MarlboTOiigh) expressed the opinion that they should move wanly in tins matter. 'No Ministry could .increase the days of racing without, iloin,? themselves an immense amount ot norm. At the present time racing people had » fight the gooily-gocdy people all over tus country, and a Bill of tins sort would only add another lever to that opposition. Personally Mr. VnvasnUr thought a tiill of this sort was very ill-advised, Mr. ft. M'Lachlan (Masterton) did not agree with tho previous speaker. Ho considered they were jiist lis. food as the (JoodT-goodv people referred to, and tney should endeavour to get their permits 'Mr. Rcnnef (Kaikoura) did not think that any Briton would accept the- kicking tho racing clubs had received. The Marlborough Club had been very fortunate, undl still had its four days' racing, but tfcro. were many.clubs that had done splendid service nnd had been wiped out altogether. They, should use their united efforts to set those meetings back. Mr. B. W. Alison (Takamroa) thought that if Mr. Vavasour's club had lost its permit its members would not have been inclined to go so warily. There was no doubt a great injustice had boon dono.to many of'tho clubs, and they were meeting for tho purpose of having that injnsbce removed. It w*s idle to say there was too much racing, for wjiile there bad been an immenso' increase in tho population the racing had actually been reduced. They had the wowsers against them, andbeing given their way because they mad? more row than the racing people, and if clubs did not movo in this matter they would simply bo handing themselves over to tho other' sido. He personally was net inclined to do that. (Hear, hear) They should unanimously decide that night to work together for tho restoration of the lost days. Referring to the Rangitikoi Club s restored permit Mr. Alison said that whilo it was a regrettable thing that tho C«nterburv Club had lost a day, it was quite right that it should have.done so in tho circumstances. Someone had said it was a shamo, but it was no more a shomo than that somo of the country clubs should have been' wiped out altogether. ; (Applause.) Ho hoped that all present. would co-operate in supporting tho movement. ■ ~ , ... Mr. Cooper (Manawafai) considered that the quostion before them was one for the Racing Conference to deal with. (A voice: No.) That was tho opinion of his club. If this Bill were brought forward they would disturb a hornets' nest and tho wowsers all over tho country would riso against them. (Voices: They havo already risen.) They would rise stronger than over. There did not seem to be any reason for supposing that tho new Parliament had eny opinion different from tho last one. (The chairman: Haven t thevl) Mr. Cooper went on to say that he "hoped they had, but his club could not vote for this resolution. Ho hoped Ml the clubs would get their meetings back and his own club would support them in any rcasonablo way—(a voice: Vote for the resolution)—but they could not support this resolution. Mr. T. M'Cardle (Pahiatua) said that when he looked back upon all tho privations the settlers in his district had endured and tho trouble they had gone to in order to bring their Tacing track up to date, it was heartbreaking to see the property lying idle and the people deprived of their sport. No one could pouit to moTO than about three better tracks in tho North Island, and yet the Racing Commission had commented on the fact that their buildings wero inefficient and the club had lost its meeting. The chairman, before putting the resolution,- declared that the view ho held last year, he still hold. He would sooner see his own olub lose their racing altogether than that an injustice should ,be done to any of tho smaller clubs. If theso clubs were- to suffer at the expense of some of the larger ones then they would combine and sot about pulling tho whole of racing down. Tho resolution,'_6n being put. to tho meeting, was carried by 1A votes to 4. A few delegates did not vote. Subsequently Mr. Nicoll expressed strong disapproval of somo of the sentiments expressed by speakers to the previous motion. He considered that it was unsportsmanlike to talk of pulling the whole of racing down or to speak of the kicking they had been subjected to. A resolution in favour of forming a Country Racing Association mot with considerable opposition, several delegates contending that it would bo disastrous to the sport if a body were set up that might be in opposition' to the New Zealand Racing Conference,' especially as the country clubs now had belter, representation on tho conference. Eventually the motion was withdrawn in favour of a motion to defer the matter for twelve months.—This was carried. Tho meeting tben went into committee to consider the Bill to bo introduced to Parliament. It was finally resolved that the draft Bill as submitted be approved, and that the delegates presont waft upon the Prime Minister this morning nt 9.30, with the object of making representations to tho Government in support of the Bill. It was also decided that tho chairman be authorised to take such steps and action as he may deem advisable in connection with anv important matter affecting tho interests. of country clubs, and that the costs' incurred bo paid by tho country clubs. The conference unanimously endorsed the action of the Now Zealand Racing ConfcTfincc in regard to tho proposed amendment in the matter of racing taxation. It. was decided that in future years the conference of country racing clubs should bo held in Wellington on a date prior to the sitting of the New Zealand Racing Conference. At the close of tho meeting delegates carried by acclamation n vote of thanks to the chairman and tho Thames Jockey Club for their efforts on behalf of tho country r&oins clubs of New. Zealand,