DOPING CASES

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27628, 7 April 1955, Page 4

DOPING CASES

POLICE ACTION HELD UNNECESSARY

MINISTERIAL REPLY TO QUESTION ' (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 6. “It is considered that in the circumstances the persons concerned in cases alleging the doping of racehorses have reasonable protection.” said the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr S. W. Smith) in a written reply,, circulated in the House of Representatives today, to a question by Mr M. Moohan (Opposition, Petone). Mr Moohan had asked whether, because of the. serious nature of the penalties imposed by district racing committees for the doping of horses, the Minister would consider, in the event of a positive reaction to swabbing, action being taken by the Police Department and the case being dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court. “The procedure is that the majority of the cases are taken in the first instance before the district racing committee, and at these hearings the defendants are entitled under an amendment to the Rules of Racing to be represented by counsel,” said Mr Smtih in his reply. “There is a right of appeal from the decisions of district committees and such appeals are heard by appeal judges appointed by the New Zealand Racing Conference. - ■ “From the decisions of the appeal judges the defendants have recourse to the Supreme Court,’* concluded the Minister. If a person was found guilty of doping a horse, then he was guilty of fraud, and should be dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court, said Mr Moohan, discussing the! Minister’s reply. Mr Moohan said a racing Inquiry on. the doping of.the hones Was the oniyi place he knew where the defendant haid' to prove he was not guilty. “Nobody ex-, cept the Judiciary has the power to take! away the livelihood of anyone,” he said.