BIG PROBLEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 352, 12 May 1928, Page 7

BIG PROBLEMS

OWNERS’ OPPORTUNITY UNANIMITY REQUIRED BENEFITS OF ORGANISATION Several times during the present trotting season “Abaydos” has advocated the reorganisation of an Owners’, Breeders’ and Trainers’ Association in this province, pointing out the numerous benefits that can accrue from such an important institution. That the question, while still dormant, has not been altogether lost sight of, is evidenced from this letter from a local enthusiast signing himself “Horse Owner.” “One cannot fail to be struck by the numerous criticisms that have appeared in the Press regarding the handicapping of trotting horses, and although I quite agree with the critics, my experience has been that it has never had any beneficial effect. “My sympathy is entirely with the horse owner on this question, and I would like to suggest that this is an excellent opportunity for some enthusiastic persons to rejuvenate the Trotting Horse Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. , "A strong deputation . from such a

body would surely cause the clubs to realise that there must be a genuine cause for complaint, or it would not be so constant, and after all surely the owner (who provides the material) is entitled to be heard. “There are, of course, other questions connected with the sport, but which cannot possibly be approached individually. Just why the North Island association lias not been a successful body I don’t know, but I feel sure that there is much good to be done by an association run on similar lines as the Canterbury one.” It may be remembered that when the Auckland Club issued its 1927-28 schedule, there was a general howl from a number of owners and trainers that the respective cards were framed too tightly. Never Too Late To Mend “Abaydos” made the suggestion at the time that if an Owners’, Breeders’ and Trainers’ Association had been in vogue, the unsatisfactory position would not have arisen. The majority of owners and trainers agreed with this contention, although it was mentioned that when the association was operating its affairs did not appear to run smoothly, chiefly through lack of unanimity. The writer would again suggest to Auckland provincial owners, breeders and trainers that in their own interests, and the interest of the sport, and also the clubs operating throughout the

I district, the resurrection or reformation of such an association, on sour%l lines, would prove beneficial to all concerned. The Canterbury Association has sot its business down to a fine art, and has dons and is doing invaluable work in the direction of programmes, transit facilities and charges, and anything, in fact, that is in the interests of those engaged in the sport. It seems incredible that in a province such as Auckland, where the light harness sport has grown to such dimensions, and importance, those chiefly concerned are not sufficiently alive to the benefits of such an organisation. Now is the time to act, and a revival of such an association in this district would be a wise move. If members pulled together a highly successful organisation should result, and the question referred to by “Horse Owner,” as well as all subjects of import to the welfare of the sport and those associated with it would be satisfactorily dealt with. “It is never too late to