TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2202, 15 July 1914, Page 4

TROTTING

ty RAPID GROWTH IN POPULARITY CONFERENCE OF CLUBS YEAR'S OPERATIONS REVIEWED Delegates from trotting clubs in all parts of tho Dominion met for the annual conference at the Fire Underwriters' Rooms yesterday. The following wero, presentMossrs. J. Rowe, President (Auckland Trotting ClubJj . A. Foolcs (Ashburton Trotting Club), R. Wallaco (Canterbury Park Trotting Club), 1 W. ,T. Goro (Forbury Park Trotting Club), ]?. Wallace. (Gore Trotting Club), D. H. Roberts (Greymouth Trotting Club), A. M. Samuel (Hutt Valley Trotting Club), James Noble (Inangalnia Trotting Club), J. G. Armstrong (Marlborough Trotting Club), John Glen (Nelson Trotting Club), It. C. Jordan (Oaniarn Trotting Club),'P. Selig (New Zealand Trotting Association), G. B. Ritchie (New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club), E. A. Archer (New Brighton Trotting Club), R. Absolimi (Otahuhu Trotting Club), W. Armstrong (South Wairarapa T'rottiiig Club), C. E. Mackay (Wanganui Trotting Club), F. -Roche (Westport Trotting Club). Mr. J,- B, Norris : acted as secretary. The President's Address. In the course of- his annual address to delegates, the president remarked on. tho continued japid growth in popularity of trotting. .Continuing, -the president said: - Coincident with the expansion of the" sport, the breeding industry goes steadily •en. There is keen activity among breeders all over tho Dominion to breed and supply tlio ever-incroasing deraiin'd for the best stamp of horso i'or racing and light harness purposes. Breeders have long, seen the wisdom of going far afield, and at big expense and risk to secure stock of the highest lineage front which to breed. To; them and thei rfollowers of recont years much- praise is due .for their pluck and .enterprise. . • .• ■ Gaming Amendment Bill. '"You are doubtless aware that Mr/Geo. Hunter's Gaming. Amendment Bill, which provides, for 27 additional licenses to Kac-. irig and'Hun\ Clubs and three to Trotting Clubs—a verj\ snlall proportion to the latter everybody will acknowledge—came before,the House last session. 'The executive met in Wellington, and!made strong representations- to : the authorities ,thero ■with a view to getting a fairer distribution. We still mantain that trotting ivas deprived some years.ago of several licensts .to. which .it was 'justly entitled, and which have never been restored. Based on the. reduction of the total by one-third, according to the' Gaming .Act of 1894, trotting clubs did not receive their due share, ..and representations were 'made t° the various: Governments- for-.yeara past, lor a restitution, but without avail. Application to the Colonial Secretary at. that time disclosed the fact that "the four licenses which rightly should have been 'allocated to trotting'clubs had been granted to racing clubs. This can all be suppoited by reference to Hansard.' Although wp welcome Mr. Hunter's Bill, it is manifestly unfair to award trotting only, threp. licenses out of a total of 30."-V "As there are so many important trotting, centres without the assistance of the 'totalisiitor,' it is-thought, in view of any increase, that trotting should receive' at least ten extra permits, including the four which, lit has always been claimed, it was entitled to by law. Strong- representations were made by the executive last. October, which I Eopo will ultimately bring about the much-desired effect should the Bill becohrelaw. .. . Itrustthat this conference will again agree, to deputationise the; authorities and; insistently urge the claims of our sport for greater consideration than they have yet received. ..... I'' ' i . : ' Class Trotting.: . - "Last year I touched upon a matter of After many years of Taeihg in one particular groove, the time has now surely jr,rived when some of. the heading clubs .could reasonably start out :with something -new In the', shape of-, a strictly class raco or two. "Tho present class events are'all right as far as they go, but it seems to me we have been standing still., and' making no progress in this'direction. I feel siito that tho initiation of class racing or short limit racing would be a successful venture for the strong clubs to embark upon, and not only would the events bo looked upon with favour.by owners, but it would be ■welcomed" by all lovers of our sport.'For years past'-'we have advocated a change, but thus, far it has 1 never been acted upon." . ',•••, . - • . . Conforming to .. the usual' custom, the president gave some rough-statistics which dealt with- the operations of the clubs during the - season. "As seen by these figures, ' said the president, "the total prize money given away by the combined clubs IS tE53,315. This; with approximately •£6OOO subscribed-by Pacing Clubs which set aside part of their programmes for trotting events, makes all but .£60,000, the sum total subscribed to tho utility horso during the ycaT. A comparison with last year's figures will 4how an increase of about ,810,000 on- the part of trotting clubs. I am sure, that these clubs, all of which raised their, stakes, may be congratulated on their continued prosperity." • On the motion of Mr. Selig,- it -was decided to thank the president for his address, and to .circulate printed' copies of the address among the; clubs. ■ General Business. Correspondence was read from the Southland, Westland, Manawatu, and South Canterbury Trotting Clubs, asking for permits. Mr. Selig moved that representatives of tho clubs be heard at the timo dates and permits applied for were being considered. A deputation from the Manawatu Trotting Club was then received. Mr. M'Elroy, who ivas the first speaker, pointed out that the club's stakes had been increased" to '•£245. At the last meeting tho club made a profit of i£6o. Thi>ir membership was 170, at ,£1 subscription, fully paid up. Ho asked the conference to assist them' by joining a deputation to wait on the Minister of Internal Affairs, and urge the passing of Mr. Hunter's Bill, increasing the'numbor of totalisator permits. Mr. Watson also spoke in the.same strain. Tho president said they, wore glad to receive tlie deputation and he could assure them that nobody was more anxious to see Mr. Hunter's Bill pass than -the Trotting Conference. He was sure the representatives would do all they could to gain more trotting days. Mr. M'Blrov thanked the conference for receiving the deputation and the president' for his remarks. ■ Mr. W. Armstrong-moved that all nontotalisator. meetings he. inserted in. tho "Turf Register." This ■ was carried. Mr. Selig moved amendments affecting rules regarding sales and their notification to tho association. These were agreed to with amendments. M,r. Selig moved the addition to Pule 25-1 of tho following words:—"AH claims for fees shall bo paid within 31 days of the date of such riding or driving."' The mover said that many letters were received by the association complaining that owners did not always pay up. Mr. R. Wallace seconded this motion, which-was carried. Mr. Selig 'moved to increase the fine of five sovs. in Uulo s!io to ten sovs. This was seconded by Mr. Noble and car-, lied. Totalisator Permits, etc. ; On the uiothin of Mr. PobeTts, seconded by Mr. ll.'Wallace, it was decided (after considerable discussion) to allot the totiilisator'pn'inits in the same manner.as .'they-had Iwn"allotted last year. : - It was agreed that tlio incoming executive bo a deputation to wait on the Minister in. regard to totalisator -Election of-ofiicers resulted'as'follows:— President, My.. John Rowe; vice-president, Mr. W, J. Gore; executive. Mrssrs. Rowe, Mackav, Gore, Pannell, and' Roberts; com' niittce to deal with dates, members of tlio executive.'The iw.rotary wa? voted a bonus of 10 guineas. It was droided that the iip.St meeting (1!ll.-)> ba hold in Wellington in the rooms. I ,V hcarly vote of thanks to t l , H-ai- curled- by acclamation*