LESS RACING

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 47, 24 August 1917, Page 7

LESS RACING

COUNTRY CLUBS' FINANCES ; ■ "' . '. f

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF

INTERNAL AFFAIRS.

A deputation representing the country racing ■ clubs waited upon the Minister for Internal Affairs yesterday afternoon with a view to having placed on a satisfactory footing the proposed financing of -those racing clubs which had been wiped out of existence by the refient curtailment of days. **•

It was set out that when 33 per cent, reduction was decided upon the laiger clubs unanimously resolved to protect the finances of those who were swept into oblivion. What the deputation sought was Government supervision of the amounts to be so contributed. One member of the deputation stated that his club had entered into serious liabilities, and he hoped that the Government's intentions regarding the financing of the smitten clubs would bo carried out. If no relief, were accorded them, many clubs would be ruined.

In the north, it was pointed out, all of the clubs had fallen in with the idea that those who had retained their days of racing should assist those who had been the victims of the altered conditions. All of the speakers applauded the suggestion that the Department of Internal Affairs should collect the moneys proposed to be allocated to the now defunct clubs. It was pointed out to the Ministerthat there was considerable dissatisfaction with the decision of the district committees, who made the recommendations for the curtailment'of days, and it was only on account of the war that the matter had not been brought up in Parliament. The deputation lequired protection for the country clubs from the Government. The idea was advanced generally that the reduction had fallen on the wrong shoulders. The Minister (Hon. G. W. Bussell} stated that the matter was one of the most intricate and difficult ones he had encountered since he had taken office. He had always been on the side of the small clubs, and, if he had now his way, the conditions, obtaining to-day, would have been different. Ho recognised that the objective of the curtailment was not to eliminate the. small clubs, but was aimed at the large clubs, which were putting huge sums through the totalisator. He had already suggested that the clubs remaining in should provide the stakes necessary for tlie restarting of the clubs which were now out of existence. He had written to the Racing Conference, and pointed out that the policy of the Government was curtailment and not the abolition of racing, and that the clubs suffering through the curtailment should be assisted ,by the other clubs. ■He had received a reply that the matter would have to be considered by the Conference. The Minister again wrote that he hoped the Conference would consider all the cases on their merits, and ho had received the reply,' that the Conference was in accord with the sentiments expressed, and that attention would be paid to those clubs suffering througli the curtailment.

Mr. Russell held the opinion that all of the profits made out of racing should have been pooled and handed tt>. thb Government to be utilised, in connection with the returned soldiers' benefit movements. However, the whole matter now remained with the Racing Conference, and the Department would have to look to it for the payment of any moneys proposed to. be paid to the expunged' clubs; also for the settlement of any grievances. Clubs now racing were obliged to pay the maintenance, overdraft, and interest of those who were less-fortunate.! Those clubs which had been wiped, out should be placed in just the same position, financially, as those remaining in. The Government could not interfere n»y further unless special legislation were introduced, and that was impossible. They Simply had to look to the" Racing Conference for anything required. He looked upon the Racing Conference as a body of honest men who would carry out in a generous manner the obligations with which they had been entrusted.

With the exception of the president of tho Country Clubs' Racing Association (Mr. Albert Bruce, of the Thames) the deputation was composed entirely of members of Parliament. t Mr. T. W. Rhodes introduced the deputation.