NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1923, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CONFERENCE.

SPECIAL ALEF/l'lN'd ihi.es and administration. WELDIN' iTON, January 23. A special meeting of tin' Trotting Confcienee was lit-lti I lore this afternoon to eonsider proposed amendments in the rides governing the constitution and administration of the provident fund. The president, Air 11. F. Nicoll, occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of delegates nearly all the clubs being represented. The president, having explained the business of the meeting, called upon Air Selig, the president of the Trotting Association, the body which hid first suggested ihe review ol the rules in this respect, to move the amendments. Mr Selig said that a eloser examination of the new rules adopted at the lust animal meeting of the conference, perhaps a. little hurriedly, had revealed that they throw responsibilities upon the fund it had not been intended to hear. Personally ho, had hern inclined to allow the matter to stand over till the next annual meeting of the conference, hut in consultation with the chairman it had been decided to deal "itii it at once. Tile effect of the amendments now proposed would he to revert to the old rules and so relievo the fund from the additional obligations. The whole queston could then he taken nt<> careful consideration and fresh proposals prepared lor submission to Die conference in July. Air Selig moved in this direct on and the motion being seconded by Air 11. Andrew. was earned unanimously without discussion. I\doXSi ST EN T lit' NXI Xd. This having disposed of the business for which the special meeting was Called. Air Janies Ke.we said he would like to refer to the question of inconsistent running and obtain a ruling from the president. There could lie no I doubt that inconsistent running was I prevalent, hut when the attention of | officials was called to instances ot the I evil, trey declined that, nothing could he done, since Sir dcorge Clifford had la !:.d that no action could he taken except i n the day on which the offence "as committed. This meant that suspicious improvements in form would not l.e dealt uilli at all. If a horse ran last one day and then came out and v.en easily under similar renditions I -'o next day. no proceedings could follow because his first performance could not he quoted against his owner nr trainer or jockey. .Mr Howe thought the stewards ought to he lice !■' take action at any time, and lie asked lor a idling trom the president on the matte r. The president said lie knelt the statement u,e- gcner.Jh ■> uributr d to .Sir dcorge dliliop!. and was accepted iiy the racing clubs, if not ip. cite trotting clubs. The tildes of Trotting however', cbd not restrict the sen) e of an enquiry to a single day, and taciliinli.il l. e punlm lion ol all legitimate evidence. Air Huberts said there woie cm tain questions of fact which had to b ei.qiUied into promptly under the Hides 01 Trotting. I his was mill fair to the parties concerned. [Jut theie was nothing, lie thought, in the rules to prevent any relevant evidence being produced at an enquiry. Air .Selig said h was glad ili-‘ m..iter had been brought up, a< it v.a----ol the fiist importance that both lrolling am! lacing should be kepi above reprove.i so far as tile admini-i, ation o| the roles was concern-d. lie loald

nut Ml/ w ilctacr .Mr •>' ;!' ipH.ling S: r n mge flill'i.r.l e, irre. tI v . !.,it i • 11 1.1 i ■■■ [■ i I•• ii in mind that l|. govcrue,! l.y ,!- .mu I nil.-, ii. .i liv til.' Kill— .t Ha. in/. The object (It 'LI '-.. 11l lls stin.dd 1.0 til get at Ill" Until mill tu net accordingly i! "i.i nut iliiiiix mere was nearly so in.a ll I raltduJi-iix r<.ll■ iill as wns cumin. >ii.,v supposed, lint w,"a lever tli.ru \\:is ought to In 1 limit v. jili drastically •Ur L. (olr n ioutinded tl.o conference llntl tlio nutting riili'.s were tin(rotting law. There was no such tiling aif inconsistent running m the Kales , i Uaeing. it would lie very inconvenient, to some |.co] le il there wore. Hut t o was mnuzctl to limi any member oi the <-'• nlerciice doubting lor a monient t..e i'dtiti. no/ oi the Hides oi Trotting on this |ieint. Sir Keurge l_'lill'ord's wont naturaljv anil properly coented tor a great deai in Ihe liming (. oiifercni e oni it oi.i inn enter into lie iklihe.itmii> and ui" islons .•! tiie Trotting Collie! enee. pacing and trott.ng were Iricuits, Inn. tin.*/ > ire i|uiti* iudr.en- : ii l at in one another. The [insolent reilei a toil his expiissnm oi opinion, and the discussion of the s.ibjecL closed. I ADMIXIXTKaTTO-V ! .Mr Huberts suggested that an enquiry should be instituted into the ail- ! ministration <■( the provident fund, lie dill not wish to imply that there . bail been any negligence or any extravagance, but tie pointed out that £2OO j oi the U(il-l collected last year was ex- j pended upon administrative charges. It Inked as it the account needed a j comprehensive overhaul. .Ur McKenna, supported Mr Huberts’ I view and urged that particulars of the j account should be .supplied more regu- j iarly. 1 Mi Selig said that audited copies of the accounts had been .supplied annually, not only to the clubs but also to their delegates anil the desire oi tae Trotting Association was to see the members of the eonlerenee in possession of the fullest information. A motion by Mr Huberts direct! ig the executive to look into the posit! .n anil to repoit to the conference at its next meeting was carried without dissent. STIPJtX DTAHY STEW All OS. Mr lloberts said lie considered the time had ai rived when the system of stipendiary stewards should Lie considered. He wanted to know if the system was working .satisfactorily, and if it was producing the results its promoters had expected. After discussion it was resolved that the executive should report upon the usefulness and efficiency of the system. The conference then went into committee, and, on resuming, adjourned.