RACING PERMITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 10

RACING PERMITS.

I PARLIAMENT'S AUTHORITY. \, MINISTER STRONGLY BACKED.! GAMING BILL IN JEOPARDY. MKAXS OF RETALIATION". ! ■ ! I (I'y Telosraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.* j WELLINGTON, this day. l The granting of the racing permit to .the Waikato Hunt Club to race on Labout Day has developed into more than a local dispute or a conflict between the Racing Conference and the Minister. When the Auckland District Committee decided not to pass the Hunt Club's programme, its resolution, judging by its j immediate sequel, placed the whole controversy on a new and wider basis, that of the Racing Conference's authority I com pa red with that of Parliament. Such an issue is awkward just when I Sir George Hunter has before Parlia- [ ment u private member's bill contain-1 ling several matters highly desired by the! '■racing authorities. This is the weapon with which Parliament will retaliate on the Racing Conference for endeavouring to thwart Ministerial plans. ; Congratulations. ■ : That the foregoing suggestion is not • far-fetched will be seen when it is men- ; tioned that the latest development has ■jbeen the receipt by the Minister of In- ' Jternal Affairs of a letter congratulating ■ ]him on his decision to grant the Waikato I ! Hunt Club its Labour Day permit, this • 'being signed by a majority of members of the House of Representatives. Unless i j there is a satisfactory adjustment, with t the Minister carrying his point, it may • be taken as a certainty that the major- • jity behind the Minister will use its . ipowers in a most direct way against the i !Racing Conference, namely, by voting against the bill originating from that body. The issue will not arise until the Government gives Sir George Hunter an , opportunity to move the second reading of his Gaming Amendment Bill, but this will come in due course.