TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14369, 31 May 1912, Page 2

TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

DEPUTATION TO THE HON. G. W KUSSELI/.

TWENTY DAYS WANTED. |

A deputation, of country racing men waited on the Hon. G. "W. K«ss?il ; .Minister of Internal Affairs, yesterday afternoon, to ask that totalizator permits should be restored to some racing clubs in Xorth Canterbury. The deputation was accompanied by Mr D. Buddo, M.P., and Mr G. Forbes, M.1 , .

Mr l>. Buddo said that tne deputation wished to discuss the-ques-tion of the unfair ;illocation of totalisator permits by the Racing Commission of last year. The deputation wanted the Ohoka-Eyreton and North Canterbury Club psrmits to be again issued. These clubs desired to race 0:1 their oto accounts. Both clubs were financially strong, and there was nothing in the conduct of their meetings to which exception could be taken. They were in a jjositioa to provide everything for the comfort and safety of tho public As to the club in North Canterbury, which did get the permit, there was not one man in a hundred in North Canterbury who previously knew of its existence. (Laughter.) Mr Forbea challenged this statement.

Mr Buddo said that the. two clubs did not know ivliy thoy had been depriycxi of their permits* The representative of the OhokaEyreton Club said that the club hart been holding meetings for forty yean. The betting: was not heavy, and should not exceed £2000. It was gonerally the small owner and the farmer who Rot tho benefit of the meeting. The breeding of thoroughbred horses should ba encouraged, especially in these days of motor-cars.

In reply to Mr Russell, it was stated that tho Ohoka course was ten miles from the Rnngiora course, and nineteen miles from tho next course. Tho last meeting was' a failure.

Other members of the deputation said that the Ohoka-Eyreton Club had erected buildings, and discharged its duty to tho public. The Kacing Commission, they contended, had taken an arbitrary view of the position. Tho Minister asked how the club got on before tho totulisator was instituted.

Tho reply was that the bookmakers then took the »>!ace of the totalisator. Mr Forbes said that the race' meetings had always borne good reputations, and it was a surprise when they -were "snuffed out." It was not a fair thing to tako away the permits from the district without good reason.

Tho Minister said that Mr Buddo, his predecessor, knew something of tho totnlisator question, which was lilie the porcupine. It had a good many quills, and was difficult to take hold of. The report of the Commission was to stand tintil July 31st, nnd then the Cabinet was to decide ivhat was to bo done. He quite realised that in some of the country districts the totalisator might make the difference between a successful day's sport, and an unsuccessful one. It was hard on the districts where racing had been carried on in a fair and honest' way, to bo "snuffed out" by the Racing Commission. However, the totalisator question had to bo-decided by tho Cabinet, as a whole. Personally, lie thought that where permits were given, tho Government should insist that tho meetings were conducted on a method that would encourage the breeding of good hunters, light artillery horses, and good remounts. Ho would not give consideration' to a. country meeting that , woiiild "have only a number of sprint' gallops, which would not increaso the .stamina or weight-carrying capacity of tho horses. Several country-clubs had iirged strong claims on the grounds-mentioned, and ha would bv> strongly disposed in favour of those clubs which /went in for long-distance races anil steeplechases. Hβ pointed out that the Dominion was entering on a new phase of the.defence question, and they wanted to supply their Artillery with fast, strong, wellbuilt horses. They also wanted to le able to provide the Imperial Government -with from 10,000 to 20,000 firstclass remounts, should that bo desired. This might be assisted by the- totalisator, or through special prizes given through the Agricultural Department. Ho would giv« the case most careful consideration, but the deputation must not bo disappointed if this ticklish and thorny question was left over for another vflar.

ilr Buddo thanked the Minister for lib reply. The Minister added that if the Houso would allow him another twenty days' racing to. distribute over the country, it would roost many cases of undoubted injustice that had occurml in connection with the allocation of. permits.