THE RACING REPORT

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 28, 2 August 1921, Page 8

THE RACING REPORT

MANY PROTESTS

Protests against the 3'epoTt of the Racing 'Commission continue to reach the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. Downie Stewart), and representatives of some clubs are also seeking personal interviews with the Minister.

Just at present the main cause of protest is the decision that permits shall not be issued to clubs whose applications have been rejected by the Commission. Presumably the proteste against the rejection will be reserved till the report comes before Parliament, which it will do eaxly in the session. It has been suggested that Parliament may, if it so desires, accept the report, with modifications and. alterations. There does not appear to be authority for this in the Act. The Act authorises the appointment of a Commission to determine the number of licenses to be issued, the olubs to which they shall ba issued, and the number of days on which they may be used. The Governor-General "may" by Order-in-Gouncal authorise the issue of a number of licenses not exceeding the number recommended by the Commission. It is this Order-in-Conn-oil, and not the report, which, is to be laid before Parliament within 30 days of its issue or the commencement of the session. Either House of Parliament may by resolution reject the Order-in-Coiinoil, which will then cease to have effect, and in that case the licenses shall not exceed those authorised by the principal Act. It does appear that the Governor-General (otherwise the Government) is not bound to fallow the report of the Commission except that the licenses slia-11 not exceed the number recommended by the Commission; but once the Order-in-Council is framed and issued Parliament has no choice but to accept it wholly or reject it absolutely. 'Of course, Parliament is master of its own business, and can, if it so chooses, pass legislation embodying ,ill or any or none of the recommendations of the Commission. Whether the Government, having obtained a. -report from experts after a thorough inquiry, will now. allow the House to reopen the whole matter in detail (which would be an almost interminabla business) is another matter.