N.Z. “Ideal” For Horse Breeding

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32117, 13 October 1969, Page 14

N.Z. “Ideal” For Horse Breeding

“I think New Zealand, like Ireland, is ordained by nature to breed first-class horses—the climate, soil, and availability of mares and stallions will attract buyers from throughout the world,” said Lord Wigg, chairman of the British Horse Racing Betting Levy Board, in Christchurch last evening.

Lord Wigg, who is in New Zealand for 13 days to observe racing dubs, spoke highly of the Ellerslie course, which he visited on Saturday. “It is obviously an extremely well-run course—the greatest attention is paid to provide first-class facilities for racegoers, and the entrance fee is possibly among the lowest in the tyorld.

“However, I wouldn’t attrl; bute that to Government involvement. I attribute it to one of the English-speaking people’s greatest gifts to the world—that of voluntary service. Many people are working, as a public service on such courses here,” he said. "And I say the less Government interference the better.” Racing should be controlled by those familiar with the sport, not by politicians, he said. Racing required some regulation, but should hot be run as a Government depart, ment

Lord Wigg, who was the Cabinet minister who instigated the investigation of the Profumo scandal in 1963, was "staggered” to be questioned about the case when he arrived in Auckland on Friday. “The issue is so old;” he said. "I believe the pressin Britain, in any case-—is

more concerned with selling papers and advertising than in the proper production of newspapers.” Lord Wigg will visit the Inglewood stud of Mr R. E. Adair today to see the stallions, Tiber and Afghanistan, before lunching with the committee of the North Canterbury Trotting Club at Rang!ora. This evening he will be the guest of Mr D. W. J. Gould, a former chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club. He will visit the Westport Jockey Club's race meeting at Riccarton tomorrow before leaving for Queenstown. Lord Wigg is a life peer, from the Borough of Dudley. He has been chairman of the Horse Racing Betting Levy Board since 1967, and was a Labour member of Parliament from 1945 to 1967.