NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8493, 23 July 1907, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph—Press [Association. WELLINGTON, July 22. The New Zealand Racing Conference opened, to-day. Sir George Clifford, the President, was in the chair. In his address, Sir George Clifford said that all indications showed that the sport of racing had steadily advanced in popularity, and those selected to govern the sport had made every effort to secure the increasing confidence of its supporters. No trade or profession or pursuit which admitted of monetary profit had ever been wholly exempt from isolated attempts to reap the golden reward of success by forbidden or even fraudulent methods, but assuredly in this country the turf did not furnish an undue proportion ot such cases. The statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with the Accident Fund showed that the receipts, including £4,500 brought forward, amounted to £7,557, claims paid £786, claims not settled £594. The credit balance amounts to £6,522. Mr George Hunter gave notice to move that contributions should be reduced from £1 to 10s. The committee to consider the totalisator permits and dates of meetings was appointed as follows: — Messrs Friedlander, Alison, Goodbeherc, Hood, Williams, Abbott, and McVay. A motion, "that this committee be appointed for the next Conference as well," was negatived. The opinion was expressed that if the committee was to be a permanent one the metropolitan clubs should have further representation. Sir George Clifford moved a long resolution providing machinery by which suspected cases of malpractice could be investigated and dealt with by a permanent tribunal of five members appointed by the Conference, which should have power to issue, cancel or suspend owners' licenses. The motion was seconded by Mr Vavasour. Mr Alison said he thought the proposals were too drastic, and would cause no end of trouVe. Mr Samuel sympathised with MiAlison's views, but felt that it was time something was done. Still any method of. licensing owners should be avoided, -• , 7 hj? could not think of anything u.vre dangerous. He j moved that a permanent committee of five members be appointed to make enquiries and take such means as may be expedient to deal with any circumstances coming to its knowledge with regard to any corrupt practices. The Chairman said he would support Mr Samuel's motion, and it was decided to defer its further consideration until the next day. Mr Nolan moved a resolution pro- i viding for the appointment of four stipendiary stewards by the Conference, the salaries to be paid by the various clubs in proportion to the gross totalisator earnings. The delegates were not in sympathy with the proposal, and it was negatived un the voices. A motion to make the appointment of a Judicial Committee compulsory instead of optional was negatived by 24 votes to 16. A motion was moved by the Hon. J. D. Ormond that the programme of every meeting shall include a flat race of not less than a mile and a quarter was negatived. Hon. J. D. Ormond moved to amend the rule relating to days over which race meetings shall extend as follows: —Two days' meeting not to extend over more than three days, three days' meeting not over more than five days, four days' meeting not over more than eight days. The motion was negatived by 22 to 18. A resolution was passed providing that jockeys' fees must be paid at the scale as for a losing mount and the balance of the fee for a winning mount shall be deducted from the stakes payable to|the owner. It was also'decided that jockeys must ride their horses out when they have a reasonable chance of running second.