DRIVERS' LICENSES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1928, Page 1

DRIVERS' LICENSES

board reviews the position

AMENDMENT TO RULES SUGGESTED.

DUNEDIN, May 4

At a meeting of the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association, held in Dunedin to-day, the secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Conference forwarded the judgment of the appeal judges in tlie F. G. Holmes case. The judgment lias already been published, and at to-day’s meeting it caused' a lengthy discussion by 'members.

-Mr Armstrong, in referring to the upholding by the New Zealand Trotting Coiilereiice judges of the appeal lodged by F. G. Holmes against a decision of the Board, said there seemed to have been some confusion over the matter. Apparently the judges’ decision was based on the fact that Holmes had been definitely charged with three offences. It appeared to him that the letter had been couched in rather unfortunate terms, and lie would Inter submit what be considered a very necessary amendment to the rules, which be hoped would meet the position. The Licensing Committee was not greatly concerned over the Timaru ease, which,however, had been definitely mentioned in file letter forwarded to Holmes. The Board’s action had been taken on account of Holmes’s record as a driver generally. The appeal judges had acted in accordance with the Rules of Trotting, and members of the Board made no complaint as to tho finding. The Licensing Committee had a difficult task to perform. Thousands of applicants for licenses had to be reviewed each year, and the committee did its best to mete out even-handed justice. AYlien it come to the reviewing of licenses the committee was again faced with a difficult task, and members had seen at various race meetings drivers in races not temporarily fitted to take part in contests where largo fields were engaged. Some drivers were not quite so competent as they might be. Often there were men keen to abide by all the rules, but in the beat and excitement of the race they showed them-* solves temperamentally unfitted. They bad a responsibility to every person engaged or interested in the sport. The owners must bo protected from tlie carelessness of those they employed. The competent and careful drivers must lie protected from tho rash arid incompetent, and also trie public must he considered, and tho very highest standard of efficiency on the part of horsemen insisted upon. The holders of licenses must be made to respect the Licensing Committee. It was the duty of the Licensing Committee to review these licenses, and to say whether they should be renewed. The Licensing Committee should have every support, and a wider power in performing their duties.

Air Armstrong moved the following amendment to tlie rules for inclusion in tho suggestion book:— Add to Rule 21(i, under sub-clause 2 of Rule 72:—“For the purpose of this rule the Association shall appoint two of its members to act as a Licensing Committee, which shall, subject to the approval of the Association, issue licenses under this rule. Such Licensing Committee shall he empowered to review from time to time all or any licenses so issued, and may for good and sufficient reason recommend to the Association the suspension or cancellation of any licenses issued.” Air \V. il. Denton said that in July the Licensing Committee would have to issue fresh licenses, and it seemed to him that if the committee was not permitted to review past records it was going to be very difficult lor tile committee. He considered that under the rules he still had power to review these licenses.

Mr Geo. AfcAlillan endorsed the renarks. and said lie thought that the Accusing Committee deserved the snpjdrfc and received the support of tlie Association.!

Mr J. Al. Samson referred to tlie •other unfortunate letter that had been :ent, but stated that tlie Licensing ..’ommittee should have wider powers.

Mr Armstrong said lie considered that the past records of a lieonselu,filer should lie considered. He could not very well confine tlie review of a man’s record to one season. ’Hie committee in coming to its decision bad taken action on Holmes’s record. Die decision was arrived at in order to teach Holmes that more attention might be paid to its driving in races. Tlie resolution was carried, and tire letter from tlie Trotting Conference was received. '