THE TROTTING CLUBS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1803, 16 July 1913, Page 4

THE TROTTING CLUBS.

CONFERENCE 1913. CLASS TROHING BROUGHT UP. THE YEAR'S PROGRESS.

'• The annual conference of representatives f of trotting clubs registered with tho New ( 'Zealand Trotting Association was held yes- ! terday. Mr. John Howe (president and ! representative of the Auckland Trotting. [ Club) was in the chair, and clubs wero t represented as follow:—Ashburtou T. C. t (Mr. A. A. Fooks), Canterbury Park T.C. ( (Mr. R. Wallace), Forbury Park T.C. (Jlr. I W. J. Crore), Gore T.C. (Mr. F. Wallis), |j Greymouth T.C. (Mr. D. H. Roberts), « Hutt Valley T.C. (Mr. S. •V. Burridgo), ;; Inungahua T.C. (Mr. B. P. M'Mahon), i Marlborough T.C. (Mr. J. H. Pollock), J Nelson T.C. (Mr. J. Glen), Oamaru T.C. 5 (Mr. H. F. Gibson), New' Zealand Trotiting Association (Mr. P. Selig), New Zea-' laud Metropolitan T.C. (Mr. T. AVallace), New Brighton T.O. (Jlr. F. T. Panncll), Otahului T.C. (Mr. H. R. Mackenzie), South Wairarapa T.C. (Mr. W. Armstrong), Wanganui T.C. (Mr. C. E. Mackay), and Westport T.C. (Mr. J. Colligan). The statement of accounts and the bal-ance-sheet of tho Provident Fund were adopted. .The former showed a credit balance of J267 7s. 10d., while tho latter showed ,£llOO on fixed deposit, and a | credit balance of 4:361 14s. fd. .

: President's Address. . , The president, in the course of his an. ! nual address, stated that during tlis nasi ; decado trotting had made strides. This was evidenced by the attendances at meeti nigs. lerhaps this was only commensurate [ with the iucreasa of the population. As to the year's operations, the president laid i figures beforo the meeting showing that 37 meetings (a total of 59 days' trotting) hud been held, at which 451 events were .! decided. The sum of ,£43,026 had been i given away in stakes, as compared with ; 0C3C,G61 in. 1911-1912. In addition, «£(JOOO ; had been provided by racing clubs for trotting events, included 'on the programme of rata meetings. After further allusion to .the progress of the sprat, the ! speaker went on to say that considering the littleencouragement which the sport j had had, its advance had been little short I of miraculous, but there were some of the ; smaller clubs which would require to l awake to a sense of their responsibilities. ; He ivas still of that opinion; to. do jus- ' tiee to trotting they would need to keep i in view the fact that thcra is still room \ for improvement—in some cases, much I improvement. In this connection, the exj ecutive of this conference or the associaj tion should report at intervals on the courses and appointments of the various ■ clubs. ■ , ! "The. Manawatu Trotting Club," contin- ! ued the president, "as you will see from i a letter that will come up later, is tnak- ( ing an application to Iho Government for j a totalisator permit, and asking for our support in the matter. This club, which | has a very strong membership, and lias i held two successful meetings, has certainj ly some claims for consideration. The ! district serves a most populous area being the juncflon.of the largest railway service I in the Dominion, enabling sportsmen from ! distant points to attend' its meetings and ; return home on the samo day. At last ■ year's conference, as a result of a similar application from' this club, adsputation !,• was appointed to wait on the Minister I ■ for-Internal AlFuirs in the matter of to- | talisator permits.' . . . Mr. Bell 'gave i! us a very good hearing, but, although he I had discretionary powers under tile Act, | ho was not at that time prepared to use ? them. ... , . i , "There are a number of_ other j 1 entitled .to consideration 'in the event of any increase or redistribution, of permits, notably Southland, Taranaki,. anil " Waikato. all solid.breeding centres, and i. ail equally anxious for the improvement •' of tho light harness,' horse. ... . The only other notice of motion that is like to oauso .much discussion will be tho proposal to introduce class-trotting. 5 his is ono which the association brought ui>. three years ago. In. view then of probable legislation by the Government winch might have affected the clubs at that time, tho matter was allowed to stand over. It was brought up the followins year, and was again postponed for the 'same reason. If tho proposal becomes law, the matter should be taken up wholeheartedly by the foremost clubs. The introduction of class-trotting would assist to do away with tho necessity of handicapping in class events, for tho horses would start almost together. It would also solve, to a very sreat extent, the problem of starting. This is an important matter wherein there is some room for improvement. What I particularly wi,sh to speak about is what is called tho 'moving up' start, about which there seems to bo a general feeling of dissatisfaction. When that stylo was first introduced, tho horses were brought up to the post at a walk, whereas now thev come up, at such a pace that the start is in most cases a flying one. It seems difficult to suggest a remedy; but if the horses were ooniDclled to come more slowly to the mark, it might be more satisfactory. Another matter which is on the' order paper is a proposal to bring in a new rule affecting the present composition of the association. Tt is excellent in prinand one I should like to see in .lirnctice: that is. if I were not convinced that the present system cannot be improved upon." The president also referred to tho ciuestion of stipendiary stewards, as reported elsewhere. . Correspondence.

A letter was received from the Manawatu Trotting Club putting forward claims (o a totalisator permit. Tlie letter set out at great length the position of the club as compared will trotting clubs in tho South Island, and pointed out that the club had already mado a success of its meetings without the totalisator. The president moved: "That the, letter bo received, and that the matter be kent in view." They all had sympathy with the club, but the present position of the permits was clear, they could not get any more, and he did not suppose any representative present would wish his club to forfeit a permit in .favour of Manawatu Mr D. H. Roberts (Greymouth) seconded the motion, and. in ''doing so objected to the tone of the club's letter which suggested taking days from some of the clubs already in possession of permits. After brief discussion, the motion was carried. Another letter putting: forward claims for a totalisator permit was received from the Westland Trotting Club. Mr. Roberts moved that this letter be received and treated in the same manner as the letter from the Mannwatu T.C.—Carried. Granity Trotting Club forwarded a petition (signed by some SOO persons) praying for a totalisator permit.—The petition was accorded tho same treatment as the letter* from tho Manawatu and Westland Clubs. Carriage of Horsos. The question of transit of trotting horses arose out of a letter from Mr. W. fiimes (Chris'tchurch), asking if the conference was in favour of joining a deputation to the Government on the question from the Racing Conference, as proposed by tho Canterbury Jockey Club. Mr. B. P. M'Mahon (Inangahua) stated that the position 011 tho West Coast called for immediate action. The accommodation for horses and attendants was "simply disgraceful," and needed improving even if owners were put to increased cxpenso. Mr. D. 11. Roberts (Greymouth) and others endorsed his remarks. Air. P. Selig (N. 55. Trotting Association) then moved that a deputation from the conference wait 011 the Government in reference to the question the same day, the deputation to consist of the president (Mr. John Howe), and Messrs. M'Mnhon, Fooks, Roberts, Gore, l'annell, 11 ml tho mover. The motion was carried unanimously. Alterations to Rules. 011 the motion of the New Zealand Trotting Association it was decided io amend Rule Till so that nice meetings .-houlcl not be deemed unregistered meetings in cases where they are "held subject to tho Rules of Racing" and where "tho totalisator is not u.-ed, and not more than three races ore trotted in oDe dov." The New Zealand Trotting Association

also moved an amendment to Rule 104, providing that all mile races should bo run in licats when there were twenty startera or more—Lost by 10 votes to b. Rule 115 was amended to exclude from the definition of "joint interest" "tho fact that a trainer receives in part payment of his services a commission on the amount of the winnings of a horse shall not constitute a joint interest, provided that such commission dees not exceed 10 per cent, of tho winnings." An amendment to Kule 11G (referring to the registration of joint interests) was moved by the New Zealand Trotting Association to provide that the secretary of the association should be supplied with "tho name of the person with whom tho power of entry, acceptance; withdrawal, or declaration of forteit rests, and such person shall, for the time being, and for such purposes, bo deemed to Le tho owner.''—The amendment was unanimously agreed to. Rides ltWi and 229 were also amended to provide for tho inclusion of the names of horsos as well as persons in the "Unpaid Forfeit List." Uule 281 was amended to ninko it clear that in dealing with cases of inconsistent running, the stewards might review the form of 'a horse at any meeting held ivithing fourteen days previously. An alteration to Rule 274 was agreed to so that in the case of an objection or a complaint not being sustained at a meeting where the tolalisator was not used, tho deposit forfeited should be only two sov's. instead of 5 sovs., as at a totalisator meeting.

Short Limit Racing? Mr; P. Selig, on behalf of the New Zealand Trotting Association, moved to mako the following addition to the Rules of Trotting , "jN'ew Part—Short Limit Racing.— The association shall refuse to pass the programme of a club unless such club , provides for short limit events during j tho season as follows, that is to say: If a club holds four days' racin<* at least one Taco of .£100; if a club holds six days' racing,(of two meetings), at least two races of JJIOO each; if a club holds three or more meetings, at least equal to one race per meeting of .£IOO tach. Nothing herein contained shall he deemed to prevent a club increasing the amount stipulated above. Short limit is defined to mean—4 seconds in 1 mile, 5 seconds in 1J miles, 6 seconds in 1J miles, 8 seconds in 2 miles. Distances of races to be left to each club's discretion. This rule shall only be applicable to any meeting at which tho totalisator is used." Mr. A. A. I'coks (Ashburton) seconded tho proposed addition, but strong opposition to tho motion was shown by the delegates from New-Brighton, Otahuhu, Marlborough, Forbury, .Ureyniouth, and other ccntres. Oil being put to the meeting:, the motion this lost', tho ayes being 5 and the noes 12.

s ° , Totalisator Permits. 3- TTT l i. r - 1'- Wallace moved, and Mr. R p Wallaco seconded, a resolution: "That a the totalisator permits be granted in tlie li same manner as last year." This was earned without discussion. i- 'A'lj© Host meeting of the conference was 0 ?w e ,,- for tlle Underwriters' Booms, s Wellington. Officers Elected. a °®?! :rs for the eusuing year were elected as follow:—President, Mr. John Rower vice-president, Mr. \V. J. Gore; executive, r the president, the vice-president, and li T ; i'annell, C. E. Mackay, and s D. 11. Roberts; Dates Committee, same as tlie executive. e "" 1 STIPENDIARY STEWARDS. 1 J IN REGARD TO TROTS. r ' PROPOSAL SHELVED POR YEAR. r Stipendiary stewards wero discussed at J. iengtn at the 'trotting Contejence yester- , day, when a proposal to employ them at trotting meetings in iNew Zealand was ; shelved for a year. An'opcniiig reference to tlio subject was made i>y .the president . (Air. Joiiu Kowe). iu tiie course of his ;; remarks, lie-said:— ''To-jlay will bo the first time that wo [ shall , have before us something delinito m the shape of u notice of motion re- ; gardmg Vila appointment ot stipendiary stewards; In weighing tho matter lam not at all sure that the time has arrived for tho ( appoiiitincut of these oificers, but since it is a proposal at this conference, . I will place some points before you. We must ask ourselves these questions:—Are the duties in relation to the running of meetings becoming so onerous and responsible as to warrant tho engagement of paid men? and, aro the duties proposed to be given to stipendiary stewards essentially, different from those which the present stewards are expected to perform ? ... You are doubtless aware that the racing clubs, as a result of legislation on the part of tho Racing Conference, have had tho services for the last twelve months of three stipendiary stewards to assist them at their meetings, and I think it is safe to say that they have already to somo extent justified theil appointment. Perhaps it is not generally known that where the racing clubs encourage trotting by setting aside one-fourth of their racing for trotting horses the stipendiary stewards only take cognisance of the racing events. . To me this seems inconsistent, and I would suggest that where trotting events are outside the control of trotting clubs, tho programmes should only be passed on condition that all the races, so far as supervision is concerned, will be treated alike. As I have said before, tho most important meetings, as a rule, aro J managed by men thoroughly acquainted , with tho rules of trotting, and quite com- i petent to carry out the duties expected of 1 them, but at smaller meetings it is some- J times different. Trotting events on the programmes of racing clubs almost invari- ( ably draw big fields, and 'therefore are, as i a rule, the most profitable races to the i clubs concerned, but in the majority of. c cases they are conducted under the super- ; vision of officials whoso practical experience of trotting is decidedly limited, and i where the knowledge of the rules of f trotting is no more extensive. . . . Then n there is tho question of inconsistent run- n ning, which opens up a wide field for con- v troversy, and upon which I do not intend C to tako up your time, except to say that t intentionally inconsistent running n not marked by obvious pull- c ing would be a matter of opinion, and very difficult to prove. ... J

There can be 110 question that in a variety, of ways stipendiary stewards would carry out certain classes of work, upon which tho officials of clubs 'are not supposed to bo authorities, and by tho nature of their duties would-be continually travelling up and down the country and become acquainted with all those closely connected with tho game. Such officers would therefore be of material service to secretaries of clubs who are not expected to know much about the bulk of the people they come in contact with. The knowledge that vigilant eyes were upon them would go a very long way in keeping the evilly inclined within the paths of rectitude." Question of Cost Raised. Tho matter came up at a later stase of the meeting when among the notices of motion it was proposed to add a new I rule'providing that stipendiary stewards should bo employed. i\lr. T. Wallace (Metropolitan Trotting Club), in moving the adoption of the new rule, said that as the president had covered practically tho whole of tho around in his address, there was only tho matter of the expense to refer to. Mr. Wanklyn, secretary of tho Racing Conference, had assured him the appointments for racing had been a success and that if the Trotting Confereneo could stand the expense it would undoubtedly bo a move in tho right direction. Mr. ■Wallace estimated the annual cost of one stipendiary steward as JCBOO, and tho annual cost of assistants at .£2OO, Ho pointed out that L nbout «£SOO of this amount would fall upon five of tho large clubs, and that some of .the clubs would be put to very little expense at all. lie admitted thai as to the benefits to be derived from the scheme lie had nothing lo go upon except what he had been told and of course second-hand information was not worth much to anyone.

Discussion and Decision, Mr. I'. T. Pannell (Xow lirightani spcomleil the motion, but said lie would certainly like tn ji'P ii report nf tn the cost More the mutter was definitely dealt with. , .Mr. A. A. I''ool;s tAshburton) ami Mr. 11. I!. Mackenzie (Otaiiuhii) moved ns mi amendment, dial I lie whole nifltlcr l>e referred tn (he conference executive to report to the niixl: conference, and that, dm report be circulated "two months before the meeting. The amendment was supported bv

'.Messrs. P. Sol iff (N.Z.T. Association). J. H. Pollock (Mnrlljoroiißh T.C.), and 13.1'. .U'Mahon (lnanpahua T.C 1 .), who all expressed the opinion that the stewards of tlio trotting clubs were quit? capable of controlling their own meetings to the satisfaction of nil concerned. Mr. M'Mahan strongly opposed the motion. ]Ie said that lie would vote for tho amendment, but if he were here twelve months hence and tho report favoured the appointment of stipendiary stewards ho would then vote against it. Mr. Wallace said he would not press the motion as against the amendment, and on being put to the meeting the amendment was carried without dissent.