COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3133, 11 July 1917, Page 7

COUNTRY RACING CLUBS

DID THEY GET A FAIR DEAL?

CURTAILMENT METHOD

CRITICISED

. The_ annual conference of country mo tig clubs was held in Wellington last night. Mr. A. .Bruce (Thames) presided. The executive reported that two of the most important matters which had arisen during the year were tho curtailment of race days and tho reduction of race trans, Tho executive oould jot see what influence these, restrictions would have on tho course of tho war, but they could see a big loss of revenue to tho Government at a timo whon revenue was eo necessary and extra taxation was being imposed. The curtailment was o,uite uncalled for, and would be quite ineffectual from a military standpoint. The racing clubs should combine against those opposed to racing. •The.report was adopted. A discussion' ensued on the subject of the reduction of racing days. Mr. J. Mloavey (Levin) favoured cutting out all racing if that would help to win the war. '.

Mr. W. J. Dickie. M.P., representing Methven, said that if it would help the nation in tho war all racing shoiid bo cut out. As things stood it seemed that the.country clubs had suffered for tho benefit of metropolitan clubs. The cuts should have been mado in tho big clubs. - ,

Mr, Short (Opotiki) moved: "Thatlhis ■association strongly protests against tho method of curtailment decided on by Cabinet, and that the members of tho •respective country districts be urged to have tho matter reopened and brought before the House, so that tho members of Parliament may have a say in the settlement of it." Mr. Brewer'(Waipawa) seconded tho YnotaonMr, E. W. Alison (Tnkapiina) said tho curtailment of racin* in Auckland hod meant the cuttingout of a sprint? meeting, and horse-owners were lamenting the disappearance of races which carried valuable stakes.'The method of curtailment had been considered at meetings at which country clubs had been represented, and the best had been done for all parties; and he hoped the motion would not bo Mr. Short said ho realised that the country delegates to thoso meetings had been up against astono wall through having only five votes against 6ix. However, most of the horses were bred in tho country, and wHero would- the big clubs be without the horses? Mr. Alison said that if tho matter were allowed to go'to Parliament, tho' racing clubs would get worse treatment than they now' 6tood to receive. The motion was lost. -It was resolved: "That as the curtailment of race trains.will seriously afloat !he l success of a. great many.racing clubs throughout. th« Dominion, representations be mado'io the Minister of Rail■waysiby tho oresident, protesting against the action'of the Bailwny Depnrtnieat in refusing'to "carry passengers lo any race meetings, as in the opinion of this association the railways .should be run as far as possible to meet tho public rec]'uirem'ent6, and that' Tjassengeis should certainly mot be debarred from travelling by train to race meetings where tho running of train's, or additional carriages, ran be carried out without increasing the number of men employed." Conference adopted the following motion:—"That this association regrets the persistent and objectionable efforts of a faction of racing representatives to have permanent racecourse detectives appointed." ■'•',''' " "

.It was resolved: "That this association emphatically protests against the proposal submitted for consideration by the New Zealand EacirjJ Conference on the motion of the Auckland Racing Club, viz.: "No trainer shall, whilst employd in training horses for payment or remuneration or upon terms, train or 6tarl in any race'any horee of which he or his wife is owner, or in which he or, his wife has any interest required: by these'rules

to be registered. Any horse eo trained or started shall bo disqualified for a period of not less than 12 months," aa tho passing of such an arbitrary rulo would operate unjustly, and would not lend to tho purification or botterment of racing. Tho balance-sheet Allowed that tho contributions during tho year mummied (" .£2O 83. (id. There was <i balance of .£3 Bs. id.

Tho levy for tho year was fixed at ono guinea. Mr. A. Bruce was re-elected president of tho association.