SOUTH CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2842, 4 May 1882, Page 2

SOUTH CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

A meeting of the committee of this Club was held last evening at the Grosvenor Hotel for the transaction of ordinary business, and to consider a proposition to the effect that the various Racing Clubs in the colony should be invited to co-operate with the view of inducing an amendment of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, MEMBERS PRESENT. There were present—Messrs DMaclean (Chairman), T. Hall, J, Meikle, E, .Stansell, J, K. Stansell, R. R. Taylor, D. McGuinness, M. Jonas,.and E. G. Kerr (Hon Sec.)* the gaming and lotteries act. Mr Hall said that, before transacting the regular business of the meeting, he desired to bring under the notice of the Club the manner in which the Gaming and Lotteries Act worked with reference to race meetings generally. The main object of the Act undoubtedly was to put an end to consultations, hut it affected, in a ranch greater degree, the practice of getting up sweepstakes •on the different races to be run, and, in consequence of this public iuterest in racing had decreased. With decreased attendance the Club suffered, and what he was about to propose would, he thought, be a step in the right direction. Ho would move — “That a circular letter be written, asking the various leading Racing Clubs in New Zealand to join in memorialising the Government to take stops to alter the Gaming and Lotteries’, Aet| so far as to its working on racecourses,, especially asregards sweepstakes. The form of the proposed alterations to bo agreed upon by a Committee of the various'Clubs, and that the Secretary and the mover draw up a circular letter.’”

In continuance, Mr Hall said that the late Christchurch meeting bad been a miserable affair, and their own meeting bad been but poorly attended by the public, owing to the absence of all interest in the races. Under his proposal gambling would still be provided against, and no advantage could he taken of the removal of the prohibition on sweeps. Mr Meikle said ho quite agreed with Mr Hall, and he would second the motion.

Mr Kerr said that while fully agreeing with the spirit of tho proposal, he thought it did not go far enough. The public should be asked, by means of a petition, to take tho matter up, not merely in so far as sweeps were con corned, but to ask Government to repeal the whole Gaming and Lotteries Act. If it were wrong to indulge in a few harmless sweeps, then it was equally wrong to go on to a racecourse at all. Ho disagreed in fob with the Act, and f !9 pccpic out of every 100 shared his opinion. It was proper to stop cheating, but not to interfere with the harmless customs of the people, and when Government stopped betting and sweeps they did wrong. Visitors to races were now simply in tho position of vagrants, and if they indulged in anything approaching a mild sweep they had to keep their eyes open for the police. He would not limit the proposal to races ; the public bad a perfect right to get up sweeps anywhere. Messrs ITali, Mci.klo and McGuiimess though; that as a Eaeing_ Club the question of how tho Act affected race meetings only should be considered. Mr 11. Stausoll said if a Com uttoe

drew up a memorial to send round to other Clubs the matter would assume a more definite shape. The motion was put and carried unanimously. NEW MEMBER. Mr JCbenezer Smith was elected a member of the Club. STEEPLECHASE MEETING. The Committee then proceeded to discuss the question of holding the annual steeplechase meeting. Several were of opinion that it would be better to follow the Grand National Meeting in Christchurch so as to catch the horses on their way down to theWaimato and Oamaru meetings. Others thought that the time was too short and it would be betterif the mectimg were held about days after the Oamaru meeting. Ultimately a resolution fixing the date of the meeting for Friday June 2 was carried. The weights will be published on May 25, the day after the Grand National Meeting. A programme containing the following events was then drawn up. Timaru Steeplechase Cup Handicap of 120 sovs; Maiden Steeplechase Handicap of 50 sovs; Tally-Ho Handicap Steeplechase of 75 sovs ; Hack selling race (fiat) of 10 sovs; Consolation Steeplechase Handicap of 40 sovs. ACCOUNTS. The Architect, (Mr Duval) reported that J. Delaney, the contractor for additions and improvements to the racecourse buildings, had satisfactorily completed his contract, with extras. The amount, £l6l lls, was passed for payment; A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Duval for his kindness in preparing plans and superintending the work free of charge’ The meeting then terminated.