JOCKESTS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 204, 24 May 1920, Page 4

JOCKESTS' DISPUTE

RECOGNITION OF ASSOCIATION ASSURANCE TO THE PRIME MINISTER By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, May 22. "I do not think it would be much loss to the country if we did away with racing altogether.' It would not trouble me in the very slightest. Perhaps as Treasurer I should not get as mucli revenue, but that would not worry me, for I could get it eome other way." . That statement was made by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) to a deputation of trade unionists which waited upon him to-day with regard to the jockeys' dispute. The deputation desired that Cabinet should use its best endeavours to get the New Zealand Racing Conference to recognise the New Zealand Jockeys' Association. The members, went away apparently satisfied when the Prime Minister replied that tho assurance, given him by members of the Racing Conference was that there was absolutely no objection to the association appearing beforo the conference.

In the course of his reply to the deputation, Mr. Massey said he did not pretend to bo a racing man, but ho knew a little about this trouble, and he had looked into it as far as time had permitted. There was a dispute—it was sub judice, by the way—between the jockeys and the racohorse owners; but that had nothing to do with the Racing ConferMr. M'Combs interrupted that the employers were intimidating the employees in the hope of bringing about their withdrawal from the association.

Mr. Massey: No! So far as I have been able to judge, the employers have not moved at all. I think you are mistaking tho members of the Racing Conference for the employers of the jockeys. Mr. M'Combs: They are one and the same! Mr. Massey added that he had arranged for the dispute between the jockeys and the owners to be dealt with. The Hon. E. Mitchelson had stated publicly tho reasons for the disqualification of the three jockeys. They, had broken their engagements. , . Mr. Howard: How did they break their engagements? Mr. Massey: A jockey engages with an owner to ride a certain horse, or horses, on a given day. It is a very serious thing for the owner, and for the public, if he fails to keep that engagement. • Then followed a little argument between the Prime Minister and members of the deputation us to tho conditions ruling at Avondale for the meeting at which the jockeys were disqualified. Mr. Jfassev observed that it would, not be much'loss to the country if racing were abolished altogether. Mr. E. R. Cooke remarked that if the Racing Conference was going to take up the old-time hostility to trades unionism and to tho' laws protecting it, the 6port had better cease. Mr. Massey: "Whoever breaks the law of tho country must face the music. The. Racing Conference may make such rules and regulations as it likes, hut it must keep within the four corners of the law af fliw ooiintrr. Wo "won t stand finy nonsense oftha t kind!" He added that ioekevs who were suspended had the nght of appeal to the Racing Conference. ' , . Mr. Renn: Not always! . Mr. Massey: According to my mformaW further discussion of minor details, the Prime Minister stated that he was given to believe by members of tho Racing Conference, whom he knew to be honourable men, that .the conference was always willing to receive any jockej with a complaint, and that there was no objection to mee.ting tho Jockeys' Association. Of course ho could not bind the conference, but that was what ho been given to believe.