TROTTING CLUB’S ATTITUDE

Southland Times, Issue 24880, 21 October 1942, Page 6

TROTTING CLUB’S ATTITUDE

GORE RACING CLUB’S PROGRAMME The following letter from the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association about the attitude of the Gore Trotting Club to the decision of the Gore Racing Club to have trotting events on its spring programme has been sent to the Gore Trotting Club in reply to that club’s letter, printed in The Southland Times on September 28:— We would say first that your club appears to be somewhat unduly perturbed by what is described as our “rudeness” and “lack of courtesy.” We regret that you should have construed our frank and candid criticism, backed up by facts and figures, as being in any way discourteous. We are of the opinion that frankness and plain speaking are a decided factor in bringing about that right spirit which you so admire. It is evident from your letter that you have taken a purely local view of the matter under discussion. Your viewpoint has been confined almost entirely to your own district. Surely you must realize that a question of such far-reaching importance should be dealt with and settled by a body having Dominion status. The point which we emphasized in our previous letter, and to which you made no reply, was that even if the usual trotting events on the racing clubs’ programmes were included this year trotting would suffer more than the 50 per cent, reduction decided by the Cabinet and racing something less than the 50 per cent. Bearing this in mind, our association on several occasions interviewed the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry. We were finally successful in obtaining from him a definite promise that he would not grant a permit to any racing club which deleted a trotting event from its programme. The Minister, however, on receipt of your advice agreeing to the cancellation of the one trot, naturally did nothing further in the matter, and the whole of our efforts in this direction, which had been considerable, was made of no effect. ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW LEAD As to our acting unfairly in forwarding copies of our letter to other South Island clubs before awaiting your reply, we were so extremely disappointed by your action, and so very anxious that other clubs should not take it as an example to follow, that we could allow no delay to occur before advising them to the contrary. We stated in our previous letter that the South Canterbury Jockey Club was already endeavouring to follow the lead given by the Gore Racing Club; if the other trotting clubs, thinking that your course of action was the approved one, merely acquiesced, you can realize the very substantial reduction which would ensue—in addition to the 50 per cent, approved by the Cabinet. In regard to your query relating to our having received information from the Trotting Association which was not vouchsafed to your club, we advise that we were not favoured to that extent. We have not been in communication with that body over this matter at all. The implication that the association might hold back information from your club is scarcely plausible. In reply to your summarized points: (1) As the case, at the time of your club’s action, was still being considered and contended by the trotting and racing authorities, your club’s action materially weakened the trotting authorities’ argument. (2) Our letter was not rude but indignant, which was fully warranted by your club’s lack of consideration for trotting interests outside your own immediate circle. (3) As your club had already taken action and allied itself with the Racing Club authorities, and without awaiting the result of- the negotiation then in course of consideration, your club, being the offender, cannot protest on that score.

GOLF l Stead Cup Tournament , The Stead Cup golf tournament opened at • Queen’s Park yesterday in unpleasant i weather, a high wind making conditions • tricky. There was a good number of competitors representing both, city clubs and • several outside clubs. The best gross scores ; returned in the first round of the competition were:— > A Grade.—Mrs J. F. Field 91, Mrs G. E. , Glennie 94, Mrs J. M. Mackintosh 94. ; B Grade (Amateur Sports Cup).—Mrs R. i Richardson 103, Mrs A. C. Ford (Invercar- . gill) 105, Mrs A. D. Reid (Gore) 106, Mrs ■ G. Caldwell 106, Mrs M. Fairbrother (Invercargill) 106. The best cards returned in handicap events • were: A grade medal round, Mrs J. M. Mac- ; kintosh, 94-18-76; Mrs J. F. Field, 91-10-81. B grade medal round, Mrs Shaw (Chisholm ■ Park), 108-34-74; Mrs R. Richardson, 103-28-i 75; Mrs M. Fairbrother, 106-30-76. Canadian foursome, Mrs D. Lee (Nightcaps) and Mrs ■ J. J. Lawson (Tuatapere) 95-19-76; Mesdames D. K. Torrance and D. W. Stalker, ; 96-19-77. The second round of the Stead Cup com- ; petition, a medal round, and the second round of a teams’ match will be played this morning and this afternoon a bogey match will be decided. SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ TENNIS ' Good progress has been made with the 1 secondary schools’ tennis championships. All the girls’ titles go to High School and all the boys’ to Marist. The senior girls’ final will be played between Miss P. Hardy (High) and Miss H. Fallow (High). Both have had comfortable wins and a good game should result. The junior final resulted in Miss Robbie (High) defeating Miss Cameron (High) 7-6 after a hard-fought game. These players proved too good a combination in the junior doubles and had an easy win. In the boys’ section K. Curran (Marist) and K. Corkery (Marist) will meet in the final. In their games against Walker (High) and Bloomfield (High) respectively they forced the pace from the start and won comfortably. The doubles in which these four took part was a long game noted more for steadiness than brilliancy. Curran and Bloomfield were the outstanding players. There were some very close games in the junior section, Don Crawford being involved in three 9-8 games. McCaw (Marist) created a surprise by soundly defeating Richardson (High) 9-4. He will now meet O’Brien (Marist) in the final. The junior doubles final was easily the best game of the morning. Cochrane and McCaw (Marist) just beat Roughan and Branks (Marist) 9-8. The finals and combined doubles will be completed on Saturday, October 31, at the Invercargill courts. SOUTHLAND LADIES’ BOWLING CLUB The Southland Ladies’ Bowling Club held its official opening on Thursday. Mrs Hay, the president, welcomed visitors from the various clubs and asked the Mayoress, Mrs Wachner, to declare the green open and to roll the first bowl. The Mayoress was presented with a shoulder spray. Ten rinks then took part in a game of bowls. During the afternoon tea adjournment Mrs Haydon, president of the centre, congratulated the club on again winning the inter-club competition and handed it the Brass Bros.’ shield to hold for another season. SOUTHEND CROQUET CLUB The Southend Croquet Club held its official opening recently. The Deputy-Mayor, Mr A W. Jones, who was accompanied by 1 Cr W. Aitchison, declared the lawns open ] for the season. The Mayoress (Mrs A. ! Wachner) presented the prizes to the win- ‘ ners of the following competitions: Golf ; Miss M. Meredith (Invercargill); ladder’ , Mrs Corbett (Northend); French, Mrs WatIson (Invercargill); corner ball, Mrs Haase , | (Invercargill). J