MINISTERIAL.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1690, 12 June 1929, Page 1

MINISTERIAL.

THE HON. P. A. DE LA PEBBELLXT VISITS ALEXANDRA. DEPUTATION PROM DUNSTAN RACING CLUB. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) arrived in. Alexandra last Thursday night in com-; pany with Mr.Kelleher (inspector o£ totalisators). < Mr Poultoh and Miss' Crabb were also members of the party; A deputation from the Dunstaii" Racing Club awaited on the Minister' with regarding to obtaining a sator permit for the club. The deputation was a, strong one Which was introduced by the Mayor (Mr W. Bringans).

The Mayor prior to introducing the deputation extended a very cordial welcome to the Minister to Alexandra on behalf of the T'esidents. He congratulated Mr Perrelle on attaining such an important portfolio on the Cabinet and hoped that his stay among his old friends in the Goldfields would be a pleasurable one. Mr Bringans apologised for the unavoidable absenee of Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P., who had been detained in Dunedin on account of his wife's health. The Mayor then introduced the President of the Dunstan Racing Club (Mr R. Tolrill). The Hon. Minister, prior to hearing the deputation, thanked the Mayor for the remarks made about himself and; the welcome extended. He said that' he was glad to visit Central Otago agaiu where he had spent so much of his early life. I-Ic referred to the air of prosperity in the area during the days of the mining, of the fruitfuluess of the soil in the orchard lands and hoped that the tide of prosperity would never ebb. He also referred to the progress made in farming in Central Otago. During his trips in the North Island he was pleased to note that the barrier which had existed between the North and South Island was disappearing and a better understanding was iu existence to-day. Referring to the poliey of the Government he said that the desire was for closer settlement and already several properties had beeu purchased to be split up. Intensive cultivation and cheap money would bring prosperity.. The Minister again thanked the Mayor for the cordial welcome.

Mr R. Tohill (president of the Dunstan Racing Club) said that he and his fellow members desired to plaec before him the ease of his elub in respect of a totalisator permit. In the mining days this club had held a permit but during the war period had, on account of the sport being temporarily stopped, lost its permit. * The 1 racing club was nevertheless still carrying on. In 1921, £330 had been given in stakes and recently £126. The club had now over 200 members. The original racing.track had been acquired for residential purposes. The present track was a domain of 50 acres under irrigation on the flat near Mutton town Gully. It would be a boon to the sport in Central Otago if a permit was granted; Mr L. Ryan also spoke in support of the request. He said that the sport had been established in the early sixties" on a course in the immediate vicinity of the town. After surrendering the land for residential purposes the club decided on the Clyde racecourse. Prosperous times have come again and a permit was necessary to help along the club and racing in Central. Mr W. Noble pointed out that the nearest meeting on New Year's Day (the day on which the club held its fixture) was Waikouaiti on one aide and Wyndham in the south. It was a long way for anyone to journey to have a i bet. - i

i Mr C. M'lntosh stressed the fact that similar requests to a previous Minister had been sympathetically re- ' eeived. Some of the finest race meetings were held in this part in the early days. He asked the Minister to consider the matter of a permit for the [ Dunstan Kaciag Club. Mr C. Burgess said that iu view of ."the important position which the club ' held in the early days—a three day's was held—it was entitled to consideration. This place was the principal race meeting in the South Island t iu the early days. The stakes were good i and tho horses came from all over the 'country. Mr Perrelle said, in reply, that in the first place lie must tell them that no trotting permits were available at present. There were two floating permits for gallops, which were allotted to clubs in financial difficulties. The i Racing Conference had jurisdiction over these. He was sympathetic to their request for a racing permit. He realised how far they were situated from the racing centres. Country clubs such as thoso in the Goldfields held their meetings as a sort of picnic.» He advised • the club to first of all put tho matter ! before the Racing Conference for consideration. When they did that they would find that he would not stand in the way. His policy was to depend a good deal upon the opinion of sports-men-rthose who devoted time and work to tho sport. He hoped they would put the matter through the right channels. They could depend upon his sympathetic consideration of their request, every aspect of which had been noted. The Minister referred to the absence of Mr W. A. Bodkin, and stated that it was only because of his wife's illness that he was not present to join with them in their request. Mr Bringans, on behalf of tiie deputation, thanked the Minister for the manner in which he had received the request for a permit and expressed the wish that during his sojourn in Central Otago he would have a pleasant time in renewing old acquaintances.