THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 4

THE TURF.

; I * if. COUNTRY RACING CLUBS i; / j : ; PROPOSED ASSOCIATION ilfor mutual protection and SUPPORT. !! j; In accordance with a resolution adopted at tho last Conference of tho Counftry Racing Clubs, tho executive has forwarded to tho various country clubs an loutlino of the constitution and objects t df tho proposed Country- Racing Clubs' lAssociation; also' a voting paper on tho itjuostion of founding such an association. An accompany letter signed by Itho chairman of tho executive (Mr. Albert Bruce, of Thames) runs as follows: "Tho proposal to establish a Country Clubs' Association • has -been before ;the clubs prominently during the past .two years, and tho merits discussed, and as tho enclosed draft of tho constitution and objects also details tho proposition, the executive have little to add, still they would earnestly point out that if all the clubs in tho dominion will join and work together !|far their common weal, tho combination he one that tho enemies 'of■•hieing' iri'ust seriously reckon with. Tho executive also wish to emphasise that the association will add strength to the Now Zjcnlnnd Racing Conference, and will be tlio means of preventing plashing interests that practically have everything in t£qmmnn. The executive. cannot.. r,toft :j?t;rongly urge clubs to be "alive to their interests, to not again alloyytjicir pr.iv,i J . .lopes to bo taken awa.v Without practically having a voice in., the i matter. What, has happened once will.happen again unless the clubs, being forewarned will be forearmed. Our enemies' Jfjtrength lies in their combination; they a compact fighting So wo may well copy their jcjjampjd' in this respect. You will j)l,efiso strictly . observe tho instructions on tho voting paper, enclosed. Tho paper must be in the hands of tho executive prior to tho commencement of tho business 9f tho IDI4 conference. The conference will nicet at tho Town liall, Wellington, on tlio Tuesday evening prior'to the meeting day of the New ZeJlnni[l..-Racing' Conference —tho probable date of our. lijccting being July 14, at';;'half-past o'clock —and the executive., trust that your club will send. . ;; Obiccts of ths Association..

tho objects of the association are set forith in tho following form"To'combirfe together the country, hieing clubs of; ;tho Dominion for mutual protection and support—particularly-in tho following, viz.: (a) To securo justice .to country, racing clubs in the distribution of tcjtjilisator permits, and also !to endeavour to securo for the association a voice in tho allotting of same.' (b) To assist as far as possible in the election tflJ'JParliament of: persons favourable to retention of tho tofcalisator. ' (c) To .'endeavour to securo an increase, of totalisator permits to country /racing clubs, oommensurato with the incrcaso of'population, and the needs'and desires of-country inhabitants, (d) To endeavour! to' protect tho interests/ of country', racing clubs with reference to tlio.questi<ji{ of State taxation, (o) T9,endeavour! to secure equal representation with metropolitan clubs on district committees. (f) To prevent undue interference with tlio privileges of country racing eliibs by any club or combination, (g) To |bo a medium of communication between country racing clubs and tho New Zealand Racing Conference, so that'tho stfqngtli of united voice and action mayhe'brought "to bear 011 all questions affeatinH tho interests of country racing clubs." . „ ;' , Constitution.

The name of the association shall bo the Neiv Zealand Racing Clubs' Association. . All racing clubs licensed to use the totalisator .prior., to tho passing, of the Gaming'Ainendment Act-1910; shall be cliaiblo foi; enrolment. The officers of tho association shall consist gLa.-.prcsideiit, .vice-presidcnt,. and four nVefiibers ivhV sliall comprise the-association's executive; also a secretary and treasurer,(combined). Should tI)Q president chosen be a resident of tiro North Island, 'then'- the vice-presi-dfnt must bo-'choseii - out of tho residents of tho .Souths Island,;, and vice versa, and of- the .'four Mother members of.', tho executive two shall be selected who arc residents of the North Island and two from the residents of the South Island. . The president, . vice-president, and four other members comprising the executive shall bo elected annually at the annual general meeting. Tho;. Secretary: .and treasurer \ (combined office) shall bo elected by the executive, who also shall havo the authority to dispenso w;itli his services. 'The associatioii'i shall hold an-annual gencral:,moeting durfng. ; the ; month of July ill each and every year, and the priority of placo : . of meeting shall bo .Wellington City, ' ■

.Evory- enrolled club -shall be eligible t<j bo represented"at' all "meetings of the association. A delegato may represent any number of 1 clubs, but ha sliall have only ono vote. lifts.--executive; convene rieetingof ;the they dtcin. it; necessary, and ■hn 1! eall' a spccinl meeting of the a'ssooiation'not-'earlier tH4)i fourteen days; tSor,,, later- "than after, rtlie receipt of :a written requisition, signed, on belialf of at least ten clubs, specifying the object ofi such meeting, and the discussion tKefeat slfalkßb cbiffinc<T ; -/tb tlie'special matter stttjed:. *-Nb rule of tho association .."eJiaVF"Jio nltejred, added to or resoindcifj. and> r no rnlo shall bo sT(l)stituted,'"exce'ptiijftjat a special ineeting called for tho purposo. /jSnouIU it not bo "convenient at any tinio to convene a.-special meeting for t of any question, other tjjfatj tho alteration of any rule, either or( ,w 'tho of Jho -ejsecijtive. or, arjy'ton clubsr, taltrf a 'plebiscite ques'tTou' for, decision shall bo clearly set out, in the voting paper. On tho receipt of tho voting paper by each club, a meeting of; tho co mm it too of each club sliall bo htM and the majority present sliall decidtfhow tho vote is to bo cast... .{l'jie expenses of tho association shall bej .lorno pro rata by totalisator clubs oijj .the amount received through tho nfti<s]iine during tho previous racing season}; and the clubs eurolled.-in tho assoc'.?li!on j'l? A s !r their lietmlfs through circaimstenoos'-ovor which tliey had: iro, c<Jn£rol SliSirpay {lie's ft mof one guinea onnplly.