JOCKEYS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 209, 29 May 1920, Page 7

JOCKEYS' DISPUTE

THE DISQUALIFIED MEN ASSOCIATION IN REPLY The secretary of tho Jockeys' Association (Mr. G'. 'C.'Sheath) lias 'written to tho' Prime Minister in reply to the' letter of the ellairmah of ■ the Auckland 'District Racing • Cdaimittee (Hop. v El' Mi(cholson).The association' contends that the suspension of the three jockeys by the Auckland committee was contrary to the Rules of Racing, and it makes the following comments on other points in-Mr. Mitchelson's letter:— "Mr. Mitchelson. States the ' suspensions of the three jockeys has'nothing whatever to-'do with their connection with- tho Jockeys' Association. If so, I will be pleased if he will tell you why the president of' the Jockeys' As-sociation,-Mr. E. C. Itne, the founder of-the Jockeys' Association, Mr. L. H. Hewitt, and 'Mr."J: -B. O'Shea.'the only . jockey ; ridinjr' -at' the Palm'erston meeting, who refused point blank to resign from the Jockeys' Association, and was warned that : lie' would'-be punished for not doing'so,'have been singled .out and punished. To mo as to other reasonable peisons ft will take some'explaining, and I will await Mr. Mitcheleon's answer .with -interest. Aro you aware, that in air 27' jockeys '/who were'at 'Avondalo refused to vide? ' Yet these are 'tlio only threo punished: I contend that every one of'the 27 jockeys wore equally guilty, for the'responsibility for the stoppago of the meeting. . In 011 a raco alone''li ■horsei-had to-be scratched, and therefore all sliould punished if -these three aro worthy of punishment. .

"With reference to tho statement that the association litis -solely, to do with racehorse owners and trainers, that is certainly- tho . position Miv Mitchelson • would like.- but, believe me, we aTo greatly interested in- all' matters mfTect-. ing tho conditions -under which jockeys follow!, their, calling :in thlis. country, and although we have-so far failed to' get tho conference and clubs to meet us and discuss ..matters <in dispute wo live in hones that they will shortly realise, that the position',, that, they nr» adopting- is . unreasonable, and, further, that you will intake racing, clubs amenable to the laws of this land.'

"As to'tho last part of Mr. Mitchelsoii's letter it is; to put it, very mildly, very misleadjng. Mr.• Mitchelson states: 'The suspensions -Jiaive nothing to do ' with-"the actions- .of 'tlie jockeys on. th«' flrsit" day of. the ■' meeting.' - April 7/ Why, 'then, was' Mr. Hewitt charged in writing by the Auckland . District Committee with' the following offencer 'That oil April 7 and 10 last you incited certain jbekoys engnged to ride at tho AvondaTo Jockey Club's meeting tn break, their engagements." '» As a matter of -fact the Whole emanated from., the action of Mr.'' Hewitt on the first d-iy,' when lie Vent' to tho {stewards' and complained, on behalf, of his fellowjockeys,' against tho inhuman conditions under which the ■ jockeys were called upon to ride, in- that the raco track ,was 'tlai.ger'nus to life and liritb." Tho reply that 'Mr. Hewitt' received -from the, stewards' was - that' they' would not postpone Iho races. ' In the faco of this "reply the ■ jockeys' finished the day and carried out their 1 , riding engagements and, as far as they were concerned; tho mat-, ter had ended.- But'not'so'with regard to the Av'ondale stewards.- Mr. Hewitt was called'' before tlieni on the second day of' the meeting, before the races commenced, and yet, in face of this, Mr. Mitchelson makes tho above misleading statement. ' It .is an absolute fact that ■Ihat if Mi\ Hewitt had not approached the' Avondale Stewards the first day, not one jockey would ba.ye been suspended. I challenge Mr. Mitchelson to deny this fact.' ■ .:

"I would like J[r. Mitchelson to tell, why both .tho Auckland District Committec and the' Avondale stewards denied the jockeys ihe right to bo represented by counsel at the hearing, a right hot denied to the humblest person in rtny British Dominion? Was it. 'fair after refusing them this right to have against them Mr.' Pi Earl, K.C.. who conducted tho case-against them at. the hearing when " they wero called before tho Auckland District Committee and when their licenses were suspended? Not only had Mr. Earl the right to cross-examino, - but every man on the'committee (seven), had the sain.o privilege, which he exercised freely. I would also like.you to know that at the hearing., not 'one jockey came forward and faced Messrs. Kae,- Hewitt or Cl'Shea to bear out tile charge ; that these three jockeys had' approached' any jockey lor the--purpose of getting them to • break 'their engagements of in any way icnuse a--strike.

"Willi reference to tlie statement as to tlu. trades unions beintr misled, goodness only knows that wo tried every conciliatory method for months to get tint X./j. .liacing Conference niul the club's to meet lis mid - discuss our condition!,, but they point blank refused to have 'linytiling'to do with ns. We were driven to invoke the aid of the Labour organisations of this country, and since they have come to our aid what do wo find, that the ■ president of tho N.Z. liacing ■ Conference for the fast time lit tho history of the Dominion iifjvecs t.u meet tho jockeys in conference (the one? that have' been intimidated into resigniiij!: and admits that their ','oiiditions could be made better. We also at the Koyal meeting held in Christcliiirch' luul the secretary of- the N.Z.'Kncing Conference, Mr. H. li. Sellers, mingling, freely with the jockeys in the jockeys' room 0" may state that tho representative of the Jockeys' .•Wviciati.ov '13 not allowed to enter the. jockeys' room to minglo with his members.; k'ggiug tlicm to resign from tho .association, openly admitting that.Sir George. Clifford' would lie delighted to meet tlieni (Kir Gcorgo Ciiliord admits this in.the l'ress a tinv days latei'l,, makes me think, was it not piearraiiged between Sir George Clilford and Jlr. Sellers, admiltin" that their conditions certainly wanted'altering and would be itllered. So,'after .nil, the Jockeys' Association, when backed up by the powerful Labour organisations of this country, has at last achieved something almost undreamt of in' tho history of racing of this or any otner country..

"Tho people of tli is conn Iry have been enlightened lately as to the conditions imposed by despotic racing clujjs.. on jockeys, and T am certain that things are going to 1)0 made, better for . t'ho jockeys. Even Sir George Clifford liimkcll admit.-- this. Can anyone deny this has been brought: about bv the formation anil activities of-the New Zealand Jockey.-;' Association."