SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 87, 21 July 1910, Page 3

SPORTING.

TROTTING CONFERENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. With the object of minimising the possibility of obstruotion during a race, through the unfair use of whips, it was decided to reduce the length of whips lor saddle horses to 2ft 6in, and those for sulkies to 4ft. On the initiative of the 'New Zealand Trotting Association, it was decided that In.the event of heat racing all the starters' names shall be displayed on the totalisator before the decisioii of the first heat, and speculation shall be confined to it irrespective of the second and j final heats. The tote shall be finally closed on the event before the start of the first heat.

A motion :by the New Zealand Trotting Association that no tote club shall at any meeting give in stakes less than £2OO per diem or less than £250 per diem, where two meetings are concerned, met with Opposition from the representatives of the smaller clubs, one stating that the Stamp Duties Amendment Act of last session was pressing heavily on the small clubs. They would be eventually crushed out without anything else. The motion was withdrawn to see how many tote permits will be grant--1 ed under the proposed amending gaming legislation. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. J. W. Rowe (Auckland); vice-president, Mr. ■). Colvin, M.P. (Wcstport); executive, Messrs G. B. Ritchie (C'liristeluirch). F. T. Pannell (New Brighton), W. J. Gore (Dunedin) and the president and vicepresident ex officio. The chairman stated in reply to a question that if there were any drastic alterations in the number of tote permits o-ranted the Conference would pro'bably°be called together to consider the matter.

The South Canterbury Trotting Club applied for a tote permit for its fuutre meetings if one were open for allocation. —(No action to be taken in the matter.

Permits for the use of the tote were allotted the same as in previous years.

Mr. Sclig said the time might come when he would be forced to review the position and probably re-distribute the permits. An attack was being made on the tote by representative people. He thought it was generally admitted that while there was horse-racing there would be a certain amount of speculation. Those persons who considered that the tote was the safest niul best means of betting should be up and doing. lie suggested that those who wanted to retain the tote should form a sporting league outside of politics. Members of the league should then only vote for those candidates for Parliamentary honors who were in favor of the tote.