THE JOCKEYS' DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1920, Page 5

THE JOCKEYS' DISPUTE.

REPLY TO SIR G. CLIFFORD. By Telegraph.—PfeSs Association. Wellington, June 12. Mr. Sheath, secretary of the Jockeys' Association, in an official statement in reply to Sir G. Clifford's reasons for not recognising the association, says It was news to him that BO jockeys, had resigned from the association. The only person under the rules of the association who could receive resignations was himself, and he had not received anywhere near that number. He had not had an opportunity of perusing the list in the hands of Sir George Clifford, but the fact that Sir George produced it proved conclusively that owners and trainers were a party tc the resignations, and confirmed the statements of individual jockeys that they had been threatened with the severest punishment it was possible to inflict, namely refusal of owners to allow them to ride their horses. No jockey, Mr. Sheath emphatically stated, had resigned of his own free will. Many who resigned had since rejoined, stating they would risk any punishment. Delegates at the conference represented 22V! jockeys, but even if the association had only fifteen members the law said clearly that the other party must meet them and discuss the dispute. If owners and trainers refused to discuss the dispute the onus was on them for defvin» the law. * ° All this was put before the owners' and trainers' delegates at the conference, but Mr. Sheath added that Sir George Clifford had said distinctly in reply that he would' not recognise the association as at present constituted, and that he would not recognise or confer with ahy association of jockeys,