RACING COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 3

RACING COMMISSION.

► ♦ ITS SECOND REPORT, REPLIES TO CRITICISM. The report of tho Commissioners reappointed for the purposo of considering llio hearing of tlio Gaming Amendment Bill, now beforo Parliament, and of the arguments adduced in its support upon tho reports of tho commission and the schedules thereto appended, was presented to Parliament yesterday. Its main features aro as follow:— The purport of the Bill is to reinstate certain racing clubs whoso days of racing were taken away by tho commission under a special direction of tho Legislalure ordering a reduction of the days of racing by 55. With certain exceptions we have no objection to offer to this proposal, as in our report wo staled that wo were unanimous in the opinion that "tic days of racing are not excessive, to supply the requirements of so scattered a population." Comments upon tho report, show tdiat it has been misunderstood in somo respects, and that somo of the commentators have, after glancing at the schedules, neglected to read the report upon which they were bawd. MISCONCEPTIONS. Beforo recording an opinion upon the matters of detail now submitted to us, it seems advisable to remove misconceptions likely to arise from inadvertent or intentional misstatements (1) It is stated (Hansard, p. 578) that purely country clubs were not represented on tho commission. This is directly contrary to fact, as tho metropolitan clubs were without any special representative—Messrs. M'Vay and Nolan were conspicuously representative of country clubs—Messrs. Cohen and liowo wero clearly outside any imagined jealousy of the kind implied, and tho chairman is not an official of any club, and as president of tho Hoeing Conference lias for many years been recognised as holding an impartial attitude towards all clubs. 12) It is staled (Hansard, p. 554) that 127 country clubs lost 43 days and 8 metropolitan clubs lost 4 days. This is a violent suppression of tho true and suggestion of the false. The I commission did not consider the metropolitan clubs as such, but merely in relation to the due supply of facilities for racing in certain areas and for certain populations. These clubs wore obviously the best appointed and best conducted in their own centres, and in curtailing tho days at theso centres they were therefore to some cxtout preferred. 'Iho fair comparison would bo between the number of days withdrawn from metropolitan areas 'and t'rom purely country districts. The effect of the report is to reduce the days of racing within _ 15 miles of these centres of population (called for this purpose metropolitan) by 28, leaving 20 days for tho rest of the Dominion. In any case tho figures quoted in Hansard aro incorrect. There were 15G totalizator meetings, of which G3 were within tho 15-milo radius of metropolitan centres. The G3 meetings within the 15mile radius of metropolitan centres lose 28 days, whilo the remaining 93 meetings beyond the 15-milo radius lose 2G days. The proportion is, therefore, 28 metropolitan days lost as against 2G by the country eluljs, instead of tho asserted i metropolitan to J.'i country losses. (3) It is stated (Hansard, p. OSS) that racing is arranged for tlio accumulation of money by wealthy owners. The statistics quoted show that even the six most fortunate owners referred to cannot have won, on tho averago, sufficient in stakes to pay their racing cxpsnsos, considering that tltoy must have each vcar considerably over 100 horses in training. In truth, racing claims the merit of being a sport provided for tlie rocrcation of the many at the cost of the few who can aft'ord to lose money in the' prccess of supplying it. .•/ (4) Objection is taken (Hansard, p. SSG) to enforcing the fencing of courses, as such improvements aro a modern innovation, and therefore unnceded. We would point out that fatal experience has shown the. danger of unfenced courses both to riders and spectators, and that the aim of racing authorities lias been to rectify the deficiencies of the. past. (5) Decadence both of horses and sport. The report gives samples from Hansard of what it terms "wild statements which every racing man knows to bo wholly devoid of foundation." (G) When tho Gaming Commission visited Wcstport "they went to the courso with their motor lamps lit, and I am told they took their lamps to look at the courso. They wero not expected till tho following day." (Hansard, p. 598.) This is tho purest of fiction. Tlio Westport Racccourso was visited in broad daylight, under the pilolago of t.lic secretary of the club, and every facility was given for a thorough inspection. The club had received advioa beforehand of the arrival of tho Commission. The. member for the district could, if ho chose, confirm this fact from his personal knowledge. All racing interest at this place appears to centre in trotting, the course and appointments for which aro excellent for their two days' 'meeting. (7) -It is stated that sonic club 9 which have lost their licenses have monetary obligations, and their guarantors are now left with tlio responsibility. In almost every case the assets of the clubs disfranchised are in exccss of their liabilities. (8) Consideration was not shown to clubs holding one single day's racing (Hansard, p. 582). Very careful consideration was given to all such clubs. There wero in all 2G so circumstanced. Of these 17 wero untouched, \5 were invited to coalesce with contiguous clubs, and 4 were retrenched. Reasons wero given in every case. . If the first draft of the report has been accepted, as we contend it should have been, the Minister would have had ample power to secure tho benefits from local cooperation. Even after tho compulsory alteration of "conditions" to "recommendations" wo cannot ascertain that any steps have been taken to carry out the recommendations as to tho union of contiguous clubs. RETRENCHED CLUBS. Alexandra appeared on tlio wholo to be most easily spared from a district which had to bear its share of a reduction "reluctantly" undertaken by tho Commission. Ashhurst-Pohanjtfna Racing Club being only nine miles from I'almerston North, eight miles from Woodvillc, and twelve rnile.3 from leildiug, its district is already well provided with thirteen days racing easily accessible. As to ICaikoura, jls courso was very badly reported upon to tho Commission, its license had not long beforo been suspended, and no less than four communications had clicited no reply. Nono of the.so letters and telegrams were returned as undelivered, and positive evidence of the-delivery of at least ouo of tlio telegrams has been received from tho postmaster at Kaikoura. No notice was taken of any of lliesc inquiries, and the natural inference was that the ejub was practically moribund, and certainly Ihe allegations ("Hansard," p. 497) a.ro as unfounded as tho statement that single-da); clubs did not receive every "consideration." Waitara Racing Club ' is only eight miles from New Plymouth and four miles from Waitara. II is very poorly appointed in sanitary and all other respects, and is well served by Now Plymouth. An enumeration of the foregoing assertions seems noedful for the removal of false impressions in order to clear tho way for a respouso to tho present reference. Tho Commissionere aro unanimously of opinion that their reports of May 22 and Juno 19 last should bo adhered to, and expressly s-tipulate that nothing in their reply to tho present referenco shall in any way affect or detract from the validity of such reports, or any legal rights which may liavo been acquired by nay institution or person. As it was expressly stipulated that their acccptanc.e of an ungracious task was upon condition that' their decisions should bo accepted as final, they most strongly protest against any alteration or deduction from the days of racing allotted by them to racing and trotting clubs. In regard, however, to tho provisions of tlio Gaming Amendment Bill, tho 'Commissionerl; do not consider them inconsistent with tho unanimous opinion expressed in their reports "that tho daws iof racing are not oxcossivo to supply tlio requirements of so 6oattored a population,- Ihfl .BilL, howoyer, interferes with

tlio scheme of distribution which UlO Commissioners dcsirod as far as practicable to carry out:— (1) By mincing tho dap allotted to contiguous clubs, where the loss would bo least harmful; and (2) By Inking days from clubs whoso appointments ami methods displayed, gross carelessness, or where the ownership was iu effect proprietary. In ca-so tho Gaming Amendment Bill should bo further proocodod with, tho Commissioners' desire to make certain, observations as lo some of tho clubs named > in tho schedulo (hereto.— 1. Alexandra (South) R.C.—Twcnty-throo inilos from Cromwell..T.C. and 23 miles from Vincent J.C. No buildings or proper appointments. 2. Ashliurst-Pohangina R.C.—Nino milea from Palm.er.slou North, 8 miles from Woodvilio, 12 miles from raiding. ■ District already well provided willi : thirteen days' raciiis. Easily accessible. 3. liorowtemia Hack R.C.—Twelvo milesfrom Fg.\(on, and 12 miles by rail from Otaki. Both easily aoccsaiblo by rail. Property owned by llorowhcnua ■ Park Company. Arrears amounting to .€1025 owing by this club to l'arki Company. I. Kaikoura Racing Club.—No interest' shown and no replies to repeated re-' quests for information, 110 less thani four communications had elicited noreply, and none, of tho letters and telegrams wcro returned r.s undelivered. Positive evideuco of tho delivery of at least one of the telegrams has been ro-' ! ceived from the Postmaster at Kai- j koura. The course was very badly; reported upon, to the Commission, audi its lieeuso had not low: beforo boon l suspended. 5. Lower Valley J.C.— I Twelve miles from Wairarapa R.C. Very poor appointments, and district well served by Wairarapa R.C. G. Maniototo J.C.—About 25 miles fromVincent J.C.—This conrsa in utter disrepair and for practical purposes; sufficiently served by Viucent. 7. North Canterbury J.C. and Ohoka and Eyreton J.C.—By rail 14 miles from l Ainberley, 20 miles from Christchurcli,. 11 miles from Ohoka. Ohoka and Eyroton J.C.—Twcntyfivo miles from Ainberley, .19 milea from Ghristchurch. , Thcso clubs, with Ainberley, should!' form ono strong North Canterbury. 1 Club. ' : 8. Pahiatua R.C.—Ten miles from Wood-] ville. Buildings poor and ill-keptil Easily accessible to Woodvilio. ) 9. Patea R.C.—Seven miles from Waver-1 ley course. Very ill-appointed in sani-1 tary and all other respecls. Pro-1 lierly leased for short term, without j right of renewal, making tho club practically proprietary. 10. Taieri Amateur Turf Club.—Ono and ■ a half miles from Wingatui. Leasehold tenure on very unsatisfactory terms. Landlord shares gato money in addition to ,£GO per day's racing, as rent for use of courso and stand* Practically proprietary. 11. Waitara R.C.—Eight miles from New,' Plymouth, and 1 miles from Waitara. j Very poorly appointed in sanitary! 1 and all other respects. Well 6ervcd by New Plymouth. ) ■ 12. Waipawa County R.C.—Pi™ milea. from Waipukurau. 111-appointed, and! should naturally coalesce with Wai- 1 pulcurau. | ■ 13. Waihi J.C.— I Thirteen, milea from 1 1 Pacroa by rail. Exceedingly ill-appoint-' i od, and should coalesoo with Ohino-' nrari. ■ H. Wcstport J.C.—Hopelessly ill-appoint-, 1 od, and obviously no interest shown. in the sport. Courso rented for raco] meeting for .£ls. No lease. Club oivmj ; 110 property at all. Buildings are owned' by Mr. Nahr. Tlio vicc-prcsident, Mr. Nahr, has taken tho property over for a debt of ,£SOO owed to him by tho! club. All racing interest at this! placo appears to centre in trottini:. ] : tho-course and appointments for which, are excellent for their two days' meet-' ! illg ' I • RANGITIKEI AND .MATTTON CLUBS.! With regard to Clause 3 of tiho GamineAmendment Bill, which deals with tha] ( Rangitikci ami i!arto& a tllub, we desirai ' to make special observations. Tho finding,' of the Commission in tho fu-st draft of.' the report, lo which tho Law Officers ; of the Crown took exception, was thus j worded] ;, Marlon J.C. and Rangitikci B.C.—Condi-,J s tional 011 amalgamation under the* e. name of Raugitikci-Marton Racing. Club, to race on Marton courso. Tim' amalgamated club can, liavo four} :1 days, but if no amalgamation is cf-j ii fectod then Marton is tdlotted two) C days only, and no day is allotted to Rangitikci. In arriving ,at this do-j cision wo are influenced largely by.i 3 (lie facilities for railway conimunica- ! tion. - - ' ' ' ■ G This "condition," subsequently watered] 3 down compulsorily to,'a "recommendation," does hot appear: to liavo.been at-I 5 tended to by either club 'or by any 1 thority. No step seems, to' have been 3 taken to amalgamate the clubs by comf bining their membership, their oomuiit- - tees, or tlicir finances. It will bo noted f that neither club was extinguished, but s it was tlio view of (ho Commission that, f tho district would be better served by. - ono strong club using the more suitable t course than by two comparatively weak • ones in clcse juxta position. 'Hie Com--1 missioners endeavoured to givo effect to • this improvement, by limiting the privileges of I.Kitli clubs unless they consented--1 to it. They still believe that a friendly ' arrangement should bo possible without • prejudice to the interests or historical, associations of cither club, but they ad-1 1 here to tlieir opinion that; it is not 111 tho3 • interest of sport that these two clubs] should co-exist in a district already «>j ) well provided. The distance from Bulls j ; to Marlon is seven miles, from Bulls to; Feilding twelvo miles, from Bulls to Pal-j 1 merston North eighteen miles, atod from' 5 Bulls to Foxton twenty-four miles. Tho choice of the Marten courso ,111)011 { 1 which to hold tho meetings of the amal-, . gamated club was Influenced by its great-| [ er accessibility, visiters being landed on' 1 the courso from the whole railway sys- ( 5 torn of the North Island, as it lies at tlm 1 : junction of the Wellington and New l'ly-i - mouth line, with the Auckland Main' - Trunk line, and is also convenient; for - the Napier and Wairarapa lines. On tlui 5 other hand the Rangitikci course, being - four and .1 half miles from tho railway - at Circalford, cannot be approached l).v ; the general public without tho assistance of expensive hired vehicles, causing waste of lime and fatigue, especially at tho' , close of tho day's racing. I There is also 110 comparison as to tho, convenience of the two courses for tho ! attendance of the large and increasing j population north of Marlon and east of, , tho Wangajnui River. ' It was also apparent lo the Commission- , i crs that Marton was developing into n. j I populous centre, whereas there was 110 ( 5 such prospect as to Bulls, while lo a;' moiety of the residents round Bulls ono' • coiirss is as easily readied as the other. The Railwav Department can also copo ! with the large passenger traffic which'- . will certainly be involved for these meet-' [ ings much more easily at. Marton than • 1 at Grcatford. f These alone are sufficient reasons for . our non-conem-rem-o with tho provisions . of Clause :l of the Gaming Amendment ' The report is signed "011 behalf of and with the full concurrence of all tho COlll- - missioners," by Sir George Clifford (chair, man). Tho discussion in tho House of Representatives 011 the report will be found in | another part of this issue.