Conference of Racing Clubs.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 3018, 6 July 1893, Page 3

Conference of Racing Clubs.

There was a large number of delegates S resent at the Conference of Racinsc Club elegates held in the Ashburton Racing Club's rooms last evening, the following being the Club? represented:—Ashburfcon —Mr Hugo Fj inlander; Akaroa—Mr J. 0. N. Grigg; Duntroon—Mr Hislop; Ellesmere—Mr H«nley ; Fairlie Creek -Mr R. Friedlander ; Gore—Mr A. J. Kelly; Lyttelton and Poit Vlatoria— Mr E. Gates ; Maniototo—Mr Purnell; NorthOtago—MrHislop; OhokaandEyreton—Mr W. Lynskty ; Geraldine—Mr Pierpoint; Thaaru—Mr E, T. Rhodes ; North Canterbury—Mr Bush ; W»ikouaiti Mrßialop; Palmerston—Mr Hislop; Reef-ton-Mr Denshire; Roxburgh—Mr Crisp; South Canterbury—Mr Rhodes; Tinwald *-Mr Stone; Tapanui—Dr Leahy; Upper Wairau—Dr Leahy j Wyndham —Br Tweed ; Tradesmen's, Oamaru—Mr R. L. Rule ; Kurow—Mr E. P. Lee ; Kumara —Mr Graves; Hororata—Mr Cress well ; Plurapton—Mr Howell; Heathcote—Mr Rattray, The Chairman, Mr Hugo Friedlander, on behalf of the Ashburton Racing Club, welcomed the delegates, and hoped their deliberations would be of benefit to the cause for which they were assembled. It spoke well tor the Ashburton Racing Club that so many representatives present had been selected from that body. He thought it was strange that under a Liberal Government, which was supposed to legislate for the masses, it should be necessary to call a meeting representing the majority of the Racing Clubs of New Zealand, to protest against the action of a minority. The Metropolitan Clubs had framed rules, possibly with the best intentions, but against the interests of most of the Racing Clubs of the colony, and especially the country Clubs, who had not been considered in the framing of these rules, and it was only liberal that those for whom rules were made should have a voice in their making. The rules laid down with regard to the fixing of stakes were far to t harsh, and could not be complied with by country Clubs, m was proved by the fact that since they were in force seven well conducted country Clubs in the South Island had had either to forego the^r meetings or to Buffer a loss, while all the time the proprietary Clubs were flourishing. He thought the delegates present were in Sympathy with the Ashburton Racing lub in determining to be represented in the Conference at Wellington. He would point out that by forming the proposed Association ot Country Clubs they need not necessarily take any action, but if their requests were not complied with it would strengthen their position in taking further steps to have the racing governed on a fair and equitable basis. He had much pleasure in moving the first resolution—"That an Association of Country Racing Clubs throughout the South Island be formed, consisting of one representative for each Club." Mr Purnell, in seconding the resolu- j tion, said that previously the whole thing had been worked for the benefit of the Metropolitan Clubs, and if continued would lead to the extinction of the country Clubs, so that it was time a Defence Association should be formed. He did not see that because the' Canterbury Jockey Club gave larger stakes they had a right to rule the country Clubs, and he hoped to see steps taken to form a New Zealand Jockey Club, in which all Clubs would be represented. Dr Tweed suggested the insertion of the words/ * bona fide" before "country" in the resolution, so that there would be no doubt about the exclusion of proprietary clubs. The insertion was agi eed to, and the motion was then carried unanimously. The next resolution was proposed by Mr Crisp—" That the affairs of the association be managed by a committee of management, consisting of ten persons to be chosen annually at a general meeting of the association." The motion was seconded by Mr Pierpcint (Geraldine) and carried. Mr Hislop proposed and Dr Leahy seconded— -'That a Committee be ap-1 pointed to frame rules for the management of the proposed association ; the committee to consist of representatives from Ashburton, South Canterbury, Reefton, North Otago, Southland, North Canterbury, Geraldine, with power to add to their number." Mr Bush thought that rules should first be drawn up and submitted to all the clubs for approval. Mr Purnell explained that the proposed rules would simply be for the working of the association, and not rules for the guidance of racing. Mr Lee moved as an amendment— " That a provisional committee, consisting of representatives lrom the Ashburton 1 Geraldine, North Otago, and Timuru clubs, be appointed (1) for the purpose of calling upon the country clubs to appoint representatives in accordance with the fiisfc resolution ; (2) to draft rules to submit to the association ; (3) to convene a | meeting of the association." The amendment was put and carried. On the motion of Mr Purnel), Mr E. i Saunders was elected hon. sec. pro tern. The next resolution—"That it is desirable that New Zealand racing should be I governed by a representative body or bodies, and not, as at present, by unrepresentative bodies "—was proposed by , Mr Bush and seconded by Mr Denshire J pro forma, the latter gentleman agreeing with fn amendment by Dr Tweed excluding the words "or bodies," the effect being to leave the power ot government in the hands of one general body. After some discussion the amendment was put and carried. Dr Tweed proposed, and Mr Stone seconded,—" That this Association is not satisfied with the present made of ruling New Zealand racing, as by it the very existence of some of the oldest and best Country Clubs, whose meetings largely assist to maintain the sport, is seriously jeopardized, and a continuance of this undesirable state of affairs will have the effect of encouraging Proprietary Clubs, »nd this Association of Country Clubs in* tends to resist it." The motion was gamed unanimously. MrPierpoint moved that—M This meeting of delegates instructs the Secretary to write to the Conference at Wellington, to be held on July 7, asking them to reconsider the amount of added money for the Country Clubs as they consider the pre- j sent amount excessive." Mr Bush seconded the motion, which was carried, and it was also resolved that resolution c 1, 4, 5, and 6 be telegraphed^ to. the (3h%ir T roan p,f the Oqnfqrence passed unanimously, together with the names and the number of clubs represented from each district. MrPierpoint thought th.c Conference migh.t establish a rule dealing with the clashing of dates of meetings which occurred occasionally. Mr Bush suggested that they might embody clauses in the rules allowing more power over jockeys, by which foul riding could be checked. He thought the idea of raising the weight to seven scone which had been acted upon in. Auckland was a good on,e. He thought that yery §hqrt races ans extreme light' weights did not tend to bring forward the finest stamp of horses, and a horse that could npjt carry eeven stone was nofc a good horge. A vote qf thanks to. the Ashbiurkon Racing Club for calling the Conference,! and responded to by Mr H. Friedlander, and a vote of thanks to the chair, closed the meeting. A meeting of the provisional committee was held this morning when ruleq for the management of the Club were drafted, to, be submitted to a meeting of the As^o*