JOCKEYS' DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1920, Page 5

JOCKEYS' DISPUTE.

SIR GEO. CLIFFORD HELD UP. .PASSAGE BY STEAMER REFUSED FIREMEN'S STRIKE THREAT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurcli, Last Night. Sir George Clifford, president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, had booked a passage by the Mokoia tonight, but the firemen declined to go to sea with him and Mr. Rutherford on' board.

When Sir George Clifford was told of the firemen's attitude his fh'Bt inclination was to stay on the 6hip and let matters take their course, but on second thoughts he decided to go ashore and save trouble on account of the many passengers on board who had important reasons for travelling. As' Sir George Clifford left the ship the passengers cheered him, the firemen making a counter-demonstration.

Apparently the firemen declined to sail with Sir George Clifford and Mr. Rutherford for the reason thafe.thtiy are racehorse owners, but there appears to be some mistake about Mr. Rutherford, for it is understood that not member of the well-known spacing family of that name wa3 on board the Mokoia^ It looks as, if Sir George Clifford will not be able to preside at the New Zealand Racing Conference at Wellington on Thursday, when one of the principal items of business is the consideration of the iockeys' dispute and the best means of affecting a settlement. .As Sir George Clifford left the Mokoia a fireman shouted out: "You will never travel by this boat or any other Union Company boat," and this remark was followed by a counting-out, and the men walked along the deck as Sir George proceeded up the wharf. 'lf you only knew it, you are losing one of the best friends you have," Sir George remarked to one group. Sir George lifted his hat to the crowd as he finally left, the wharf, and with his daughter returned to Christchurch. '