The Guardian Ind Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1930. RACING AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1930, Page 4

The Guardian Ind Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1930. RACING AFFAIRS.

The Gaming Rill suffered its annual fate in Parliament last week when it >vas talked out. Apparently with the constitution of tho House as at present, there is not any hope of the passing of tne measure. Actually there is a majority in favour of the bill, but the opposition consists of two sections, and lor the time being there is what has been described as an unholy alliance, the two factions uniting with the common object of defeating the bill under the forms of the House. And so it came about that the Bill was talked out. It does not appear that the Government .rave the measure “the fair run” tho Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) promised the deputation which waited on him. To begin with, the bill lvas not in too favourable a position on the order paper, and at the crucial moment there was not any suggestion of suspending the Standing Orders of the House in order that the bill might have got past the second reading. lit appears however, that had the bill reached the committee stage, its fate would be seated under stonewall tactics and the moving of inuimerable amendments with a view of delaying progress. It seems remarkable that a House supposed to represent the intelligence of the country should so treat a simple matter such as that proposed in the bill. AH that was proposed was that racing clubs should have the same facilities is the illegally conducted bookmaking business with regard to the use of the Dele crapli, and that the newspapers should be permitted to publish totai:sator dividends. This simple request is year after year the occasion for an unusual combination of forces to prevent the matters Becoming the law of the land. On the issues at stake very little is vsaid by the opposing members, but they can become very diseou rsive on various aspects of rae-

ing and its affairs generally, and many extravagant statements are nado. From the Labour side nf the House there is always a mighty 'blast in opposition to the measure, and the comments of the speakers invariably rail against the management of racing in the Dominion. As a matter oT fact, racing in this country is conducted as far as the control of the ■Racing Conference will permit, m a

clean and healthy condition, and all connected with racing; Hire beholden lor the almost paternal interest- the Racing Conference takes in those so eonnected. .'Some of the Labour members had something to say about the control of the jockeys, but- the control from the time the lads begin as apprentices is entirely in the interests of the lade. Their living conditions are seen to, their working conditions are assured, and their earnings are safeguarded. In sickness or accident there is a special fund to succour them. In the pursuit of their calling there are special officers to see to their safety, and at every turn their interests are regarded as paramount under the rules of racing. A won derful system has been built up for the internal management of racing, and those intimately connected with it derive the benefit of the forethought nnd interest displayed. The Racing Conference appears to have offended Labour organisations when it refused to countenance union principles in the ranks of the -jockeys. The Racing Conference preferred to carry on impartial control and conduct of the sport, rather than that the sport should be made the plaything of union organisations disponed to strikes and lockouts, In a short and sharp tussle the Racing Conference won, despite the heavy backing of the recalcitrant .organisation, and the result has been ail for the benefit- Of those engaged ih the spOrt, ibid for the sport itself, It to-day enjoys a high reputation made by the standard of excellence and good con-duct-under which the isport in directed, The loss of the earning Bid is a gain for a section of the opposing forces in the- House, and is to be regretted but ,there are times when sections will be short-sighted, if not one-eye i, and this is such an occasion evidently.