THE RACING CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10290, 19 July 1911, Page 6

THE RACING CONFERENCE.

POSITION OF COUNTRY CLUBS

By Telegraph—Press Association

WELLINGTON, Last Night,

The annual conference of delegates from Racing Clubs opened to-day, Sir George Clifford presiding. In his address, the president mentioned that the gravest event during tho past f-eason has been the enactment of further legislation affecting horse-racing. So far as this reversed the previous imposition of a baneful system of licensed bookmakers, it must meet with cordial approval. Unfortunately, last senior's Act went further, and decreed a contraction of the sport of a rather peremptory process. "To fortify ourselves against further attacks/' added Sir George Clifford, "wo should aim at a higher standard in'the appointments of our racecourses, and afford such provision for the comfort of spectators as mayincrease the popularity of a healthy open-air sport. It is remarkable thnt our opponents consist almost t wholly of those Who hod no personal knowledge of the subject of their invective. Without waiting for a desirable change of prejudiced opinion, it behoves us to combine for the preservation of our rights to all rati in al amusements not inconsistent with our moral obligations. The true defence of our claims lies in establishing in men's „ minds ! that our aims, our processes and our practices are above suspicion." Never in the history of racing, Sir George added, had a country a better opportunity for maintaining a noble sport in the noblest manner. It was decided that the trustees be instrueed to bring up at ■ the next conference a statement dealing with the Accident Fund. The President reported having received a deputation representating a certain number of country clubs. Hf> said he had. assured the deputation that if anything could be done to remove their grievances, whether actual or imagined, it was desirable to clear away such obstacles. There was an assumption that the conference was a sort of Racing Parliament, with the metropolitan clubs arranged on one side and the country clubr, on the other. Nothing could be further from the truth. The delegates of the coin try clubs on the conference were an emphatic contradiction of that implication. He . gave notice to move: "That a committee be set up to consider the constitution and report as to the feasibility of giving effect to the deputation's representations: (1) Equal representation of country and metropolitan clubs on the Conference. (2) The suggested setting up of a New Zealand Jockey Club '" The dates of meetings hitherto existing were approved subject to certain alterations rendered necessary by the Racing Commission's report. The Wellington Club was allowed October 21st and 23rd for its spring meeting, and July 17th and 20th for its winter meeting. The Manawatu Club was allowed the usual dates, with December 2Cth, 27th, and 29th for its summer meeting. Other dates were fixed as follows: Marton, January Ist and 2nd; Tara-tahi-Carterton, December 26th : , Dannevirke, September 13th, Hawke's Bay, May Ist and 2nd, and June 20th and 21st; Masterton to change from March 21st and 22nd to March 28th and 2Mi ; Wanganui, May 24th and 25th.