LEVIN'S COMPLAINT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1180, 15 July 1911, Page 13

LEVIN'S COMPLAINT.

RACING CLUB TO GO. DEPUTATION SEES THE MINISTER. Tho townspeople of Levin sent a deputation yesterday to tho Minister for Internal Affairs (Iho Hon. D. Utiddo) to represent the hardship they would suffer if tho totalisator permit of the Horowhonua Racing Club were cancelled, as recommended by tho Racing Commission. Tho deputation was a largo one, being representative of various public bodies in Levin, and included the Mayor of the borough.

Mr. \\. H. Field, M.P., who introduced tho deputation, tracul the history of tho club lor tho last 25 years. Even ten years prior to that, lie said, racing had been conducted under the auspices of the Natives. A good deal of money had been spent by tho club, and it had never been able, financially, to get its head above water; Mr. Field further pointed out that the course was also used for the Levin A. aud P. shows, and for alhletic purposes. The club was not a prohtmaking concern, but was purely an institution for the benefit of tho district. He said that tho iviml "consideration" in tho Act was really intended to mean "preference" for country clubs which had one meeting a yea I he, personally, felt vcr.v ilidign.m! what had taken place. It was ti'U' iple of Levin would bo able to .xton, Otakl, and surrounding mt *• '-Ms would apply mostly to tho those who had money ' ot to thoso townspeople day's racing for the lov the .£6OOO the club had . emeuts and buildings would tho A. and l'. Association an bodies would have to look hounds, sinco the property wouk. to be cut up and sold. There n <td a feeling abroad that tho club had been doomed from tho start. Ho would not liko to criticise tho appointments to tho commission, or its officers, but the course had only been honoured with a ten minutes' visit of inspection by three of tho members. Arrangements had been intiMe for their race meeting in September, and groat loss and inconvenience would result. Hc« suggested that in justico to tins :uid other country clubs, that tho operation of the Act lie suspended for twelve months. Mr. E. B. Gardiner, Mayor of Levin, said the deputation had arisen out of a largo public meeting at' Levin. He went on to trace t.li" increase ami piosporous growth of Levin, which was now the principal town between Wellington and Palmerston. The cancelling of the meeting would mean loss not only to tho club, but also to the town. They had made their course a beauty spot. He. compared tlio privileges allowed to Hastings—which ires so close to Napier—and "the isolation that would result to Levin. Tho suggestion ivas that other things had actuated the Commissioners than broad principle, lie indignantly pointed out the apparent preference that had been given to metropolitan clubs at tho expense of tho country ones. 110 also commented upon the' treut-m-'it meted out to them as compared with Otaki. The report was an insult to Levin. He would like the Minister to say what tho intention of Parliament would be in regard to the Commissioners' report.

Mr. D. Hannon protested in the strongest manner against tho treatment given to Levin. This hardship would reflect upon the Government, bccr.uso the public wero sure to resent such high-handed treatment.

Mr.- li. S. Lancaster said the Tcsult of the report .would he to wipe out their agricultural show, because there would bo no ground left to them. Mr. .lames M'Levvy (president of tho club) also spoke. , Mr. F. Iloe, secretary of tho Itacing Club, gave the financial position of tho club. lie recalled initiatory steps en the part of the Levin Club in I'M to have a conference at which tho disadvantageous position of country clubs in their dependonce oil metropolitan clubs should bu considered. Ho fully believed that their treatment had been partly tho result of this meeting. ' Other speakers emphasised tho above remarks.

The Minister paid he was not responsible nor wero tho Government for the 'report nf tho commission. The commission hail boon appointed from the best experts of racing. Unfortunately the Levin Club was fio placed that other hardships might follciv the wiping out of the club. As tho report was in accordanco with the law, it would havo to be given cll'cct to. He would placo the position which Mr. R. B. Gardiner had raised before the Government, but as far as the Act was concerned lie could only say that all requirements were complied with, Fffect must thus be given to tho law for twelve months, but as to subsequent Ministerial action, Hip club would be classed with others having financial obligations to fulfil. No objection had at any time been taken to tho personnel of tho commission.