RACING CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1920, Page 1

RACING CONFERENCE

THE JOCKEYS’ DISPUTE

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 15.

Reference was made at the opening of the Racing Conference by Sir George Clifford, President, to the jodkeys’ dispute. He said that if the proposi tiqns from the Jockeys’ Association had came from licensed jockeys in the spirit which assuredly animated the great majority of them, such ns were reasonable would have been accorded every due consideration by the Con ference. As President of the Coin enco he refused to recognise them as presented by the Association parti' because it was clear that its members had joined under a complete misapprehension of its nature and partly on account of the dictatorial nature it at once assumed. Tho first reason was confirmed by the speedy and voluntarv resignations of most of tho more prominent members. As to the other, the virtual control of the details of racing could not he allowed to fall into the hands of its irresponsible promoters. The choice lay between the Conference, with its carrying a devised sys tern for securing justice to all, and the executive of the Jockeys Association claiming and striving to exercise the right to veto the decisions of Racing Tribunals by the summary method ff calling a strike. The existence of racing as a popular institution was at stake, and ho. did not hesitate to ignore an Association whose pretences wore so antagonistic to all traditions of racing in every part of the Empire. Seventy owners, trainers and jockeys eliose to form an Association among themselves and respectfully present suggestions to the Conference. No objection could bo offered, but foi any, one of those to see the time to ally itself with outsiders and attempt to tyrannise over the rest would destroy the mutual good feeling essential to the due government of the Turf, and would drive many of our best supporters to other pursuits. In conclusion, Sir George Clifford said:—“We may trust that the action of the Transport Workers Advisory Board in its interference with the shipment of horses and passages, jockeys and racing officials, was based on ,a misunderstanding of the position. The prohibition is felt in itself to be of questionable loyalty, and in its effects hurts the whole comma nity far more than the racing clubs at which it appears to be aimed.”