TROTTING CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1930, Page 2

TROTTING CONFERENCE

ATTACK ON BOOKMAKERS

WELLINGTON/ July 9

“It is estimated, so I am told, that there are at least 150 bookmakers, of all classes, operating in Auckland city and suburbs. With ‘Wellington and Christchurch as .the headquarters for the Dominion, what must it be like in those cities?” asked Mr John Rowe, ol Auckland, vice-president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, in hi. address at Wellington to day. 5! Rowe presided in the absence of the president, Mr 11. F. Nicholl, who is England.

In complimenting the clubs gei:c ally on the manner in which the spn had been conducted throughout th season, M” Rowe said that the club:

Sich had experienced a decrease ■ their totalisaior receipts could, with out fear of contradiction, lay the principal cause at the door of the bookmaker. This parasite of humanity was increasing rapidly all over the Dominion'and, lie was sorry ito say, appeared to be fostered by certain officials. Tin bookmakers were kept provided with telephones and telegraphic communication by the Government and, in fact, generally! allowed to do as they liked

It was well known that the bookmaker wns in greater force to-day that he had been for many years. Mr Rowe said that he was informed that the bookmaker was now conducting a house to house canvass and one wellknown firm was reported to have a staff of one hundred on tbe road. It was illegal to publish dividends, yet the Government allowed the Broad casting Company to pick up a piivate telephone wire and relay a description of racing for tlie special benefit of bookmakers, hotel, and billiard room clients. He was not suggesting that these officials were hand-in-glove with the bookmakers, but it looked very suspicious. He was well aware that certain owners were strong supporters of the illegal fraternity and these owners were the first to cry out when a dub was compelled to reduce the stakes on account of a decreased totalisator turnover. They made laws for the good and safe conduct of the sport, and found that those who made and administered those rules were the first to break them.

“As long as the big owner supports these illegal parasites there must be a decline in the totalisator turnover, with a reduction in stakes which must necessarily follow,” said Mr Rowe. “Tlie Government should realise the great amount of revenue they are losing through the operations of the bookmaker and help the: clubs to restore that revenue by exterminating this prey on humanity. The publication rjf dividends and the facility to telegraph money to the ' course would be the quickest solution for the restoration of the lost revenue,” concluded Mr Rowe. -A

THE REMITS. The proposal of the Inangahua Trottion Club that in all cases where trotting events are held by facing clubs, the minimum stipendiary steward’s fee shall be payable to the association, was lost.

The Inangahua Club also brought forward a proposal, regarding racing clubs which included trotting events on their programmes. It provided that, should the average amount invested

on the totalisator, together with the average amount received in nominations and acceptances for (the trotting events, exceed the average investments and amount received in nominations and acceptances of the racing events, then 10 per cent, of the excess received .for nominations and acceptances, together with 5 per cent, of the totalisator excess, shall be- paid to the association and distributed to the clubs whose finances are adversely affected by tin racing, such moneys to be given in stakes. This was referred to ttie executive to report to the Conference next year. A proposal by the Cambridge Club was carried providing that the principal event at a meeting may-have the title of Cup if any trophy is given. The Cnnibridge Club proposed an addition to tlie rule regarding the amount to be given in stakes. It provided that the net amount of revenue from the totalisator should be the sum remaining after the deduction of all levies by the conference or association, which were regulated by the totalisator turnover. This was carried.

A proposal by the Trotting Association was carried, providing that, the association, when approving the amount of stakes in a club’s programme, should have regard as expedient to any change in the number of days which the totalisator was used by such club in the current year. The Ivaikouia club proposed that the allowance of ten per cent, of the winnings of a horse to a- trainer without the necessity of registering a joint interest should be increased to twenty per cent. This was lost. The Trotting Association’s nropmal to increase the fee (for registering a joint interests from 2s Cd to 5s was withdrawn. The Tnaugahua proposal (•> abolish individnl colours, and that mlonrs he allotted to each horse nccorlkig to the horse’s number in each race, lost. The Kaikoura Club propos'd to nake it. optional for an owner to register his racing colours.

This was lost

Tne Trotting Association remit was approved, providing Limit an owner who desired to register a mare solely for tlie purpose of inclusion in the Stud Book should be absolved from paying the registration fee. The Gore Club proposed that where a name had been disapproved by the chairman of the association, tlie owner of the horse should have, the right of appeal to the President of the conference.

This was lost after the chan man cf the association had explain.'l ii.rt names of horses were appro'nd bv ihc association, and not by tbe chairman. An amendment of tlie rule enlarging the powers of tbe starter, proposed by the Trotting AssoviUion, «ns carried.

Another proposal' by the Trotting Association widening ti:e power-: o' a stipendiary steward to line a linismen for a breach of any ride, even if Hie in-ident did not occur during a race, was carried.

Tlie Win to n Club proposed that in the event of an appeal being mad" against the decision of tbe stewards o r a club, the dividend should he held un until the anneal was fimd’v derided. This was lost, and a similar proposal by the Thames Club was withdrawn.

These remits were hrmwbt forward as a result of tlie c'ses in which Pei. Tilriwn and Lord Haldane were disqualified this Wn.:*nn after winning rates. The dividends were paid on the decision of the stewards,'hut in each ease this decision was reversed on appeal. The ’argument, against the remit was that -Vo finen"ml side cf meetings would he prejudiced bv ho 1 ding up investments pending an appeal. The The rims Club pro"oserl n nile + ~ give any person charged with an offence the right to have a rwresmitn 4 *”** urgent at am* inn'dvv, simh ronresen tat've to art on'v in an advisory• capncifv to the person charged ■ The reni’t was lost.