REFORM IN RACING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1160, 22 June 1911, Page 6

REFORM IN RACING.

j FORTY-THREE DAYS'LESS,

!: COMMISSION'S REPORT.

j ONE DAY LESS HERE. i. ■

I MARKED REDUCTION OF TROTS,

The following amended report from tho Racing, Commission has teen presented to the Governor:—

"May >it please your Excellency,—Wo respectfully submit to your Excellency the report of tho commission appointed under .Section 6 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1910, adjusted to meet objections raised by the law. officers of the Crown ,to the report as originally presented. 1

"We > do not, however, concur in tho ralidity- of such objections, but it is unnecessary to discuss this point as the decisions of -your commission on the matters submitted to it are not affected thereby.

"In amending the report for the purpose of avoiding the inconvenience, of further;- delay, wo lmvo altered tko 'conditions' imposed upon some clubs to 6imple--'recommendations.' Wo lay stress upon the. fact that most of these conditions or. recommendations are intended to secure the safety and comfort of the spectators or of tho riders, and tho observance of. the decencies of lifo in the .management of a sport conducted under the license of the Stato for the entertainment and recreation of the public. Tho conditions or xccommendaticns are the outcome of an exhaustivo inspection of tlia racecourses of the Dominion, and we strongly" ; and'■■unanimously''urge■ their eniforcem'ent in all important points within a reasonable period.

"Wo make the additional recommendation that where a club' desires to alter tho numbcr of its totalisator licenses for tho; utilisation of the allotted days of racing or trotting. it should as a rule bo permitted to do so.'. "In witness whereof we have hereunto Mt'-our hands and seal this 'nineteenth day-of Jllno in the year one thousand niueVhundred and eleven." . GEORGE CLIFFORD, (Chairman), ALBERT E. COHEN, "> JOHN M'VAY, E. 11. NOLAN, J. HOWE. '. ORIGINAL REPORT. We have the honour to report that after careful consideration and a personal inspection of nearly all tho racecourses we have) in accordance with the terms of .our . commission, allocated the statutory number of days on' which the totalisator may,be used. For this purpose wo hare been obliged to reduca the days of racing by forty-three and the 'days of trotting by eleven, being the proportionate reUnction required by the Gaming Act from the number allotted in 1910-11 for -meetings at which the totalisator was used.

We should promise that we' have fulfilled, the duty imposed on us with regret, as we aro unanimous in the opinion that some measure of redistribution would 'have -been preferable, and that with the exceptions which could have been thus remedied, and considering the consequential diffltaHon j clubs' ca.used by ttSnnltrlcfions imposed''by the Gaming Act;'the days of racing are not excessive to supply 'the re<pii*cments.~;of's6 scattered a population." >•* !

We have recognised as a principle that the larger cities cater not only for the rccreation of their" 'own residents, but that their greater resources enable- them to provido efficiently for a periodic influx from neighbouring districts. We have also regarded the less accessible communities as entitled to special consideration wheruvw' tlieyhavo shown any active desire for racing .by the provision of needful equipments.

Wo have thronghoivt borne in mind that any af/proach to the proprietary principle in the ownership-of racecourses, and any personal interest ' in the profits derived therefrom, are strongly to be deprecated. It is obvious that wherp courses are held on a leasehold tenure from companies or ■individuals . there is danger, if not certainty, that sooner or later a more or less disguised form of profit sharing must ensue.* We therefore recommend that in all such cases there shall be required, where it is possible, the acquisition of the freehold or of.a right to race in perpetuity •at a fixed rental.

The need for totalizator clubs in the King Country and in tho Bay uf Plenty •was recognised l:y the Commission, and one day has been .allocated; to the .-To Kuiti R.C. at To Kuiti, and one to the 'Bay of Plenty J.C. at Tauranga. In order , to guard against any possible accrual of personal profit, we consider that in tlie'event of the dissolution after December 31, 1911, of any racing or trotting club, or of the cessation of; any such club to carry on the business of racing or trotting, the surplus (if any) of nssets over'liabilities shall be devoted to the funds of the nearest hospital or hospitals. In eases where neighbouring tlubs amalgamate, any such surplus or surpluses may be considered as part of the assets "of the club formed by such amalgamation. As a gensral rule, we consider that no licenses should bo issued to any racing club unprovided with a racecourse of about one .mile in circumference, fenced on the inside of tho racing-track with a fence of .an approved pattern, or to any trotting, clu.b unprovided with a trotting.track similarly fenced. Thero are certain cases, . as in the Westland district, .wher* courses free from the danger of sharp turns are not procurable, but wu v/ould desire to place oil record our con-, viction that no new license should he granted except upon the condition aforesaid. _ In every case in which tlie provision for tho fit carrying on of tho sport or for tho safety of riders or of the public is deficient, or in; which tho sanitary arrangements are unsatisfactory, w« have called attention to : the deficiencies, and .wo suggested that, if within one or two years, according to the magnitude of the. needed alterations, such deficiencies ate not '.completely .remedied, the license should be permanently withdrawn from tho negligent club. 'As a further record we have pdded schedules calling attention to the needs and imperfections which we consider hro capable of being supplied or amended before racing or trotting can bo satisfactorily conducted on the courscs therein named. Wo desire to point out that the peculiar concentration of trotting has been caused by the exceptional (growth of the sport in a few centre#, and this unequalled distribution cannot bo immediately' remedied. . In view of the lessened number of race meetings, we would suggest that increased p.ttention should be mi id by the Railway Department for supplying facilities to the public—especially within a'radius of, say. twenty milts—for attending 'races.-■■■■■■ At such centres as Du.nedin ami, Wellington the train journey of twelve and seventeen miles respectively to new courses-has not decreased attendance, nnd with fin attractive train service any lowl'hardship caus-' f*t by the suppression of meetings, would he partly rectified, while the-Department would benefit by the traffic'and tho public by the probably improvement in the sport. . Cleorge Clifford, chairman. • Robert H. Nolan. John M'Vay. .Tolin l!owe. Albert E. Cohen.. ilay 22, 1911. . . • SCHEDULES. Allocation of Permits. Following' is a. list of tho fotalisator licenses and days of racing approved for i

racing clubs, with days allotted to each license;— So o Ho B oi Club, o o « '5 'a k; H a

TROTTING CLUBS, The . totalisator licenses and days of trotting approved for trotting clubs, with days allotted to each license, are as follow:—

Total '. 20 21 *Eaeh.

THE ALTERATIONS EXPLAINED. The 'following table gives a comparison of the number of days racing allocated to clubs by the Commission with the

Reduction of 11 (lays. Explanatory Notes. Racing in the metropolitan area has neon curtailed by fourteen days. Auckland loses six days of its previous Iwentylive, viz., Auckland lI.C. two, Takapuna .T.C. three, and Avondale J.C. one.. Hawke's Bay loses two days of its previous fourteen, viz., Hawke's Bav J.C. one, Napier Park K.C. one. Wellington loscs_ one day of its previous ten, viz., Wellington K.C. one, Christchurch loses three (lays of its previous fourteeu, viz., Christchurch R.C. three. Dunediu loses two days of its previous . eleven, viz., Taieri Amateur Turf Club two. Christchurch loses three days' galloping and six-days' trotting, 'while' Auckland loses six days' galloping and two days' trotting. The Auckland B.C. and Canterbury J.C. will now each have eleven days' racing, and Wellington R.C. and Duncdin J.C. nine days each. Tt is assumed that tho Auckland R.C. will surrender Easter Saturday, thus coming into line with Canterbury J.C. in regard to the dates for the Autumn meetiii£, and that the Wellington R.C. will bo content with a two days' steeplechase fixture.

Auckland E.C 1 11 1 1 Auckland K.C 1 3 Auckland K.C ..... - 2* Avondale J.C 2.1 - 2'-' Bay of Plenty J.C 1111 Ohinemuri J.C. (Waihi J.C.) 12 12 Eotorua J.C 1111 South Auckland E.C 12 12 'l'e Aroha J.C 12 12 Takapuna J.C 2 1 2 2" To Ivuiti J.C 1111 Thames J.C 2 2 2 1* Whaagarei E.C 1 2 1 2 llannevirke E.C 2 3 12 Dannevirke K.C 1 1 Gisborne E.C 2 1 2 2" Hawke's Bay J.C 4 7 S -* Hawke's Bay J.C 11 Napier Park E.C 3 5 2 2* Napier Park E.C. 1 1 Porangahau E.C. 1111 Poverty Bay T.C 2 '1 2 2* Tologa Bay J.C 1111 Waipukurau J.C. (Waipawa County E.C.) 1111 Wairoa County E.C 1 1 12 Wooclville I).J.C. (Pahiatua E.C.) 2 '4 2 2 s Egmont E.C 2 12 2* Opunake E.C 1111 Stratford E.C 12 12 Taranaki J.C 2-12 2* Feilding J.C. 2 4 2 2* Fox ton E.C 12 12 Mnnaivatu E.C 2 5 1 3 j Manawatu E.C 1 2 Marton J.C. (Eangitikei E.C.) 2 4 2 2* Wanganui J.C 3 6 3 2* Wavflrley-AYaitotara E.C. (Patea E.C.) 1 1' 1 1 Jlasterton E.C 2 S ] 2 Masterton E.C 1 1 (Taratalii-Carterton E.C.) 1111 Otaki Maori' E.C. 2 4 2 2* Wairarapa E.C. (Lower Valley J.C.) 2 4 2 2* Wellington E.C 4 0 1 I! Wellington E.C . .-3 2* Akaroa County E.C. 1 1 11 Amberley Steeplechase C. ' (North Canterbury J.C., Ohoka and Eyreton J.C.) 11 11 Ashburton County E.C. ... 2 4 2 2* Canterbury J.C 4 11 1 4 Canterbury J.C 1 2 Canterbury J.C 2 2* Geraldine E.C 1 2 12 Hororata R. C 1.1 1 1 Marlborough E.C 2 4 2 2* South Canterbury J.C 2 4 2 2* Waimate K.C 1111 Kumara E.C ! 1111 Gieymbiith J.C 2.4 2 2* Nelson J.C 12 12 Kecfton J.C 2 3 1.2 Eecfton J.C. ; 1 1 Westland E.C 2 3 1 2 Westland E.C 1 1 (Ttiapeka County J.C.) Ill] (Beaumont J.C.) .1.1 1 .1 Cromwell J.C. "1 2 12 Duiiedin J.C. ' 4 0 13 Duncdin J.C 3 2* Gore K.C 2 4. 2 2 Knrovr J.C 1111 Lake County J.C. (Frankton Eacecourse) 1 2 12 North Otago J.C ' 2 4 2 2* Eiverton E.C 12 12 Southland E.C 2 4 2 2 J Tapanui E.C 12 1 2 Vincent .T.C 12 12 Waikouniti K.C. (Palmerston E.C.) '•' .1 1 1 i > Wairio J.C. . ......; 1- 1 1 .] Winl'on J.C 12 1 2 Wyndhani E.C 11 1 l Total 109 19!)

Auckland T.C 3 7 1 3 Auckland T.C 2 2* Otahuhu.T.C , 2 .,;<1 2 2* T.'C. ' 1 ' 2 1 2 Hutt Valley T.C. !. 1 l l i SoutluWairarapa T.C 1 1 1 1 Nfelson T.C; 1 1 1 l Wairau Valley T.C. 1111 Greymoui'li T.C ... 2 12 2* Inangahua, T.C 1 1 1 i Wostport T.C. ' 12 12 N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. ... 4 0-1 .1 N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. ... . ■ il 2* New 'Brighton T.C 2 1 2 2* Canterbury Park T.C 2 4 2 2° Ashburton T.C 2 2 2 1* Forbury Park T.C 3 fi 3 2* Gore T.C 1111 pamaru T.C 1 1 1 1 Oamarii T.C 1111

number held previously:— Days' Eac- ■ Hither- ing to. Now. Canterbury J.C 11 11 Auckland E.C 13 n Wellington E.C 10 9 JIanawatu E.C .- 5 5 I'cilding J.C 4 4 AVanganui J.C 6 (j Ashliurst-Pohangina E.C. 1 — Hawke's Bay J.C 8 7 Dunedin J.C 9 9 AVairarapa E.C 4 4 Takapuna J.C 7 4 Dannevirke E.C 4 3 Avondale J.C 5 4 Napier Park E.C B 5 AA'aiptikurau J.C 1 1 Eangitikei E.C 4 — North Otago J.C . 4 4 Pahiahia E.C 2 — AVoodvillc District J.C. 4. 4 • Foxtoii E.C. '2 •> Egmont E.C. ; 4 4 Taratahi-Carterton E.C 2 1 Otaki Maori E.C 4 4 South Canterbury J.C 4 j 'l'aranaki J.C. 4 4 Marton J.C!. (amalgamated with Kaugitikei) 2 4 Southland E.C 4 4 AA'averloy-Waitotora E.C 1 1 Masterton E.C. 4 3 Waiinato E.C ; 1 1 Eivcrton E.C 2 2 AVintou J.C 2 2 Gore E.C 4 4 Stratford E.C. 2 2 Patea E.C 1 — Poverty Bay Turf C 4 4 Christc'nurch E.C 3 — Marlborough E.C 4 4 HoTowhenua Hack E.C 2 Genome E.C 4 4 Jyiwer Valley J.C 2 — Ashburton E.C 4 4 Groymouth J.C. .. 4 4 Thames J.C 3 2 Taieri •Amateur Turf Club 2 — Waitara E C. .1 1 — AA'aipawa County E.C 1 — AVyndham E.C 1 1 Nelson J.C. 2 2 Opunake E.C i 1 1 Ohineijiuri J.C 2 5 Goraldine E.C 2 2 Akaroa County E.C 1 ] South Auckland E.C. ■ 2 2 Kurow J.C'. ; 1' , 1 AVatrio J.C. 1 1 llororata Il.C 1 1 Tologa Bay J.C. 2 1 AVestland R.C. 4 3 Eeefton. J.C. 4 , 3 Beaumont J.C: - 1 • 1 Ohoka-Eyreton J.C 1 — North,Canterbury J.C 1 — Waikonaiti-Palmerston Pv.C. ... 1 . - 1 KumaraE.C 2 1 Wairoa County .E.C 2 2 Cromwell J.C. 2 2 Vincent J.C ;... 2 2 Alexandra J.C 1 — Eorangahaii R.C. 1 1 Tapanui E.C. 2 2 AVhangarei E.C 2 2 Wes'tport J.C. 2 — Maniototo J.C 2 — Jjake County J.C 2 2 Amberley S.C 1 1 Wailii J.C ; 1 — Eotorua J.C. 2 1 Tc Aroha J.C 2 2 Tnapoka County J.C 2 1 Kailcoura E.C 1 - Tc Kuiti E.C — 1 Bay ot" Plenty E.C — 1 Totals 212 1SD Seduction of 43 daySi

Trotting. Hitherto. Xoiv. N.Z. Metropolitan (Clicli.) 11 fl Canterbury Park (C'lich.) (i \ 1'orbury l'avk (i li Ken- Brighton (G'hch.) li 1 Auckland S 7 Gore 1 1 Ashburton '. :i ■> Otahuhu , r i l Greyiuouth ri J IIu11 Valley (Wellington) - 1 South AVairarapa (Greytown) I 1 AVanganui ...! '1 Wcstport 'i 2 Nelson 1 1 Jiiangahua (Reefton) 1 Wairau (Blenheim) 1 l Oninarn — l Total ; 02 51