TROTTING CONTROL

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 542, 20 December 1928, Page 10

TROTTING CONTROL

AUCKLAND OWNERS ORGANISE PROVISIONAL COMMITTEE ELECTED The unanimity of opinion among the 25 trotting owners and trainers who met in Mr. F. Knight’s shop at Newmarket last evening resulted in the North Island Owners,’ Trainers and Breeders’ Association being revived and a committee appointed to reorganise the union. Mr. D. R. Revell who was appointed to the chair, outlined the value of a live organisation, referring to the splendid work done in the interests of owners, trainers and breeders by the Canterbury organisation. What was being done in the South could be done in Auckland, providing the movement received whole-hearted support and the work was not left to the few willing ones. . . The chairman expressed the opinion that the trotting sport ha.d lately shown a downward tendency, and there was a feeling among the public that stricter supervision and control was required. “The game went back in Christchurch for a period,” said Mr. Revell, “but it has moved forward again and this is due in large measure to the splendid work of the Canterbury Owners’, Trainers’ and Breeders’ Association.” Replying to a question, Mr. J. Shaw said the old association was still in existence, but it had been left to two or three to try and carry on the work. If there was more strength behind the movement, the executive could do much more good. Mr. F. Knight, secretary, mentioned several things that had been done by the committee in the interest of the owners. In practically every instance where they had approached country clubs their requests had been granted. WRONG ATTITUDE Mr. A. E. ‘ Adams, Te Awamutu, strongly favoured the reorganisation of the association on sound lines. He contended that in the past individualism had been the stumbling block—personal grievances taking precedence over more important affairs. The association had to his mind adopted a wrong attitude in approaching clubs, and the exercise of tact would have a much better effect. He was sure if placed on a proper basis, the association would have strong provincial support and also the backing of North Island light-harness sportsmen. After several others had spoken on the benefits that would accrue from a live-wire organisation, it was resolved: — “That a provisional committee be set up to solicit support from all Northern owners, trainers and breeders, with a view to placing the association on a sound footing, and that a general meeting be held in February during the Otahuhu carnival, to appoint officials and transact general business.” The following were then elected to the committee: —Messrs. J. Shaw, J. Sterling, W. Collins, A. E. Adams, E. Sandel, J. Gee, J. Millen, T. Roe, T. Brady, H. Kinnimont, R. Saunders and Haliburton-Johnstone. Mr. Adams suggested that business men interested in the sport should be eligible for membership. In the South the owners were the backbone of the organisation, but they were far more numerous than in the North, hence his idea of strengthening the association by the inclusion of business-men in sympathy with the sport. He thought that owners such as Messrs. Wilfred and Campbell Johnstone, J.. R. Corrigan, R Fisken and J. H. Lloyd would if approached give the movement wholehearted support. MUTUAL BENEFIT One speaker considered the first duty of the association should be to get a strong membership, and then define a line of action. The organisation would not be antagonistic toward clubs, but would assist them in many ways for the mutual benefit of all. After the meeting had closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the chair, Mr. Revell briefly explained the system of handicapping advanced by Mr. G. McMillan and published in The Sun. The scheme had met with the approval of owners throughout the Dominion, and the conference would deal with the proposals shortly. Mr. A. E. Adams outlined a system he had spent considerable time in compiling, whereby the penalties were fixed on the value of the stakes won by various horses. This proposal will also later be fully dealt with in The Sun.