TROTTING ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 3

TROTTING ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF THE BOARD. The board of the Now Zealand Trotting Association met in Christchurch on Wednesday. Present;— Messrs. P. Selig' (chairman), H. W. Kilchingham, H. F. Nicoll, J. Williams, R. W. Short, J. M. Samson, and W. Denton. The South Wairarapa Trotting Club wroto further in reference to the timing of tho horse Waiteranui in tho Diamond Bracelet Handicap, in respect to which a protest had been made by the trainer that the time was lCsec. too fast, and the time-keeper had altered the time. On the motion of Mr. Nicoll, it was decided to circularise clubs asking them to pr.y special attention to the appointment of time-keepers, as serious mistakes had been made. It was further decided to write to tho South Wairarapa Club stating that the club should not have allowed pressure to be brought on the timo-kcopor in a case where the official time was obviously correct.

On the application of tho Auckland TroP ting Club, a fine of £2, imposed on S. Galbraith for not being liconsed, was endorsed.

The New Brighton Trotting Club wroto stating that its Judicial Committee had considered the driving of J. Bryce. driver of Queou Chimes in tho New Zealand Derby on May 4, and found him guilty of interference, for which he was suspended for the remainder of the meeting. Mr. Williams protested that the board was meting out differential treatment in respect of Canterbury clubs. The decisions of outside clubs were simply endorsed, but every decision of a club in Canterbury waß keenly scrntinised and criticised. He took strong exception to remarks made by certain members regarding a decision in another case at the last meeting. Members expressed tho opinion that Mr. Wllliams'B remarks were uncalled for. Every case received full consideration. The chairman said it was impossible to orevent members expressing their opinions, even in regard to matters of fact. It was the board's duty to see that clubs imposing disqualifications followed tho proper procedure and adhered to the rules. Mr. Williams said that the board had no power to review the club's decision in this case, an the matter at issue was ono of fact. Mr. Kitchingham said that, while the board could not go into matters of faci, it still had power to review the punishment meted out by a club. The chairman auoted tho rules, and said that it waß doubtful if tho board, according to the rules, could oven rovicw the nunishmont. Personally he thought the recent amendment to ihc rules constituted a grave mistake. A motion that tiio evidence forwarded by tbe club shculd be read was carried, an amendment by Mr. Williams that the club's action should be endorsed, as the board had no power to rovicw tho matter, lapsing for want of a seconder. The evidence was read, after which th» clyiiruitfi! saitl. tlmt the rule made it mandatory in such cases, whatever the punishment of the driver, that the hor6o should bo distju-ulifled. That was tho only point ho wanted to refer to. Mr. Kitchtnghara said that that portion of tho rule, evidently referred to cases in which the horse had won the nice. J!r. Williams moved that the club's .notion Bhonld be endorsed. Mr. Short moved an amendment that, in view of the frequency of complaints of this sort, the loard should warn the offender. The ohainii.'n said that the board rouM take no notion of nnv complaint which did not come bttore it officially. Arising oul of further discussion as to the extent of Bryce's suspension, whether it affected him as owner, driver or tniii'.n\ or in all eiipaciiio?, Mr. Denton said that Bryce had voluntarily withdrawn all ''.■t'fcp trained by him during the remainder of the meeting. Mr. Kicoll expressed the o : .iiin>ii that, as there were no previous nlVeneos of the kind 'proved against Bryce cliinm: tbe h.sl twelve lmnitliß, Ihe board shot-Id tnk« no further action it; ihc matter. The ?t I-jcct v.-ih then (troppo''. W. Clarkin "mi'.v'.l for the r--!ov;;l of the disona-lilication of the horse Sh:\ijinrl, disqualified for competing in sc'-eral !•-"■■>'! in the YvVarai-ana district I efore )■■■<,■-. registered. Correspondence was read from tho Waikato Trotting Club onct tillers on

tile subject, and it was decided to remove the disqualiDcatlon, and to instruct the owner to rename tho horse.

C. A. Dougherty wrote asking for Hie removal qf the disqualification on his horse C 2, and permission to rename the horse Garibaldi. The chairman said the case was not u. Berioua one. Tho Application was granted. The Walmato Plains Trotting Club wrote asking that J. Geo should be cautioned for Btartlng before time. A similar request was made by the Methven Racing Club in respect to A. Beggett. H was decided to caution In both instances.

The application of Olarkson Bros, to chance the name of tlte horse Ruralwood to War Bond was granted, subject to payment of registration fee.