"A PAINFUL INCIDENT"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 16 July 1915, Page 6

"A PAINFUL INCIDENT"

AT RACING CONFERENCE HON. J. D. ORMOND LEAVES THE KOOM Owing to the attitude of certain, members of the New Zealand Racing Conference on a matter of racing law', the Hon. J. D. Ormond left the con- j ferciice last night, and annouueed his | intention of having nothing further to do with it. As on a previous occasion, the Hon. 0 M Samuel (Taranaki Jockey Club) moved to alter the rules so that tho decision of t-lio stowards of a club should not be final on the matter of "a cross or jostle" and on the matter of "an obvious pull." The mover pleaded strongly for jockeys to bo given the right of appeal on such matters. Mr. W. T. Hazlett (Southland) seconded tho motion, and tho Hon. J. D. Ormond (Hawke's Bay) spoke in support, urging the ■ conference. to do away with the present un-British method. Tho motion was lost for want of a three-fourths majority, the voting being: Ayes, 18; Noes, 17. As an alternative, Mn Samuel had given notice to move that tho decision of tho stewards on the matter of "a cross, -jostle, • or pull" should be final only "if a- majority of all the stewards present when the race was run signify to tho secretary in writing, within an hour after tho race was run, that they are satisfied, from what they themselves saw, that the cross, jostle, or pull (as the case may he) was caused with the intention, of preventing a horse from winning," . The Hon. J. D. Ormond said he did not' think'it was worth Mr. Samuel's while to proceed with the motion. In view of the attitude of tho conference, ho could not sea liis way to continue with them. He would resign his position as trustee to-day. and have nothing further to do with the conference. ' Haviiig expressed himself in these terms, he left tho room'. Mr. Samuel said ho felt inclined to. follow- the same course. He withdrew his alternativemotion, ; but pointed out that his efforts had.been directed to removing a reproach from the conforence. He hoped that the president would take it on himself to devise some means of giving these lads fair play and. to prevent' the victimising from which they had suffered in the past. Tho president (Sir Geo. Clifford) expressed the opinion that lio one should say that anybody was going to ho victimised by the judicial committee of any club. _ When Mr. Samuel considered the aspersion east by liis words upon the gentlemen who acted on those committees he should be : more guarded. Mr. Samuel replied that his words applied to the conference for ' retaining such rules. "Wo don't do it with any bad intention," lie added, "but the effect of it is most deplorable." Later in the evening, Mr: G. Hunter, M.P., referred to the painful incident of which members of the conforence had' been witness—tlfe retirement of his

friend and colleague, Mr. Ormond. Mr. Hunter was quite sure that in due courso tlie president- would receive Mr. Ormond's resignation, and tlie conference should direct the president to ask ■Mr..Ormond'to reconsider his decision. (Hear, hear.)

The Hon. 0. Samuel concurred in what Mr. Hunter had said.

The president, remarked that it was with a_ feeling of deepest regret that he had witnessed the retirement of Mr. Ormond. The, president;was quite sure that when' Mr. Ormond thought' of those ties which had united them for so many years he would reconsider his decision. (Hear, hear.).