A CURTAILMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1942, Page 6

A CURTAILMENT

EIGHTY DAYS LIKELY TO GO

An announcement that the Government is taking action, in conjunction with the Racing and Trot-, ting Conferences, to effect a considerable curtailment of the number of racing and trotting meetings for the current racing year, and probably for the duration of the war, was made today by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry). The Minister said that the cutting out of some 60 days', racing and 20 days' trotting would probably be the result of proposals under consideration.

The Minister said that his announcement should be considered as a later development to the confinement of racing after the Christmas period to Saturdays and holidays and to the customary recommendations of the. Racing and Trotting Conferences for totalisator permits for the remainder of the present racing year closing on July 31.

Mr. Parry said he had had several discussions with the two bodies since 1940. The last combined meeting with the two Conferences took place as late as January 23 last. Since that date , events in the war had quickened. The situation in the Pacific had caused , New Zealand, in line with the Com- ; monwealth of Australia, to spur itself ■ into speedy completion of its , war measures. The result was the people expected many of the amenities, which in peacetime went on uninterruptedly, to be sacrificed to the needs of the country. "Men, and women too, not on service with the Fighting Forces of the Dominion," Mr. Parry said, "are on service on the home front in work closely associated with the war. Most of the active followers of various forms of sport felt many months ago the pinch of attentuated ranks and finance, and very patriotically the clubs faced the position. Now we must consider preventing the growing drain which the peacetime calendar of racing would make on the community's time and war activities." NO DIFFICULT ANTICIPATED.

The Government, the Minister said, was not anticipating any difficulty arising with the racing and trotting authorities in carrying out a reduction of the number of racing and trotting days. The New Zealand Racing Conference had intimated to him that the Conference considered that 60 days for its branch of the sport would be abandoned over the whole of the current racing year. The New Zealand Trotting Conference had not yet given the Government a definite statement as to whi-i. its reduction was likely to be. It seemed probable that under the tentative proposals of the Trotting Conference not more than fifteen days' reduction over the whole season could be made. The Minister added that he would await a reply from both the Racing and the Trotting Conferences to the further communication he had sent them.

The Minister said a reduction of 60 days of racing in the season would mean, on the principle as laid down when he last met representatives of the two conferences, a corresponding reduction in trotting days by 20 over the whole season. In other words, it would be a reduction of one-quarter. It seemed to him, however, that there was still some conjecture, even so far as the Racing Conference was concerned, as to the actual meetings which would be affected by the reduction. Probably reliance was being placed on the possibility of hunt elbbs not racing at' the end of the season. It was a matter for consideration whether clubs with several days' racing should not stand a reduction, apart from days which might be lost through the midweek prohibition, to ensure a definite curtailment of 60 days. If any doubtful hunt club or trotting club meetings eventually fell in, then the curtailment would be increased. The same principle would apply to trotting meetings—an assured reduction of 20 days, with, the possibility of that number being increased, although in that branch of the sport that did not seem to be so likely.

Questions as to whether Easter Monday (April 6) and the King's Birthday (June 1) would be observed as holidays would affect the position. He had been in touch with the' Labour Department on those points, but the Department had no information whether the holidays would be observed.

"My meetings with the Racing- and •Trotting Conferences," said Mr. Parry, "have ahvays been notable for their cordiality. I have found the same feeling to exist in meeting representatives of other sports bodies of the Dominion. I have no doubt the Racing and ihe Trotting Conferences will act speedily and "with, wise judgment in making their recommendations for the reduced number of days thought to be necessary." POSITION REVIEWED. Giving a summary of the attitude adopted for the various forms of sport, including racing and trotting, since the outbreak of war, the bMinister said that on June 1, 1940, when replying to a sports deputation on the question of the advisability of continuing club games of various kinds during the war, he had expressed the opinion that the responsibility of a decision rested with the sports organisations themselves. He had expressed the view at that time that no good purpose would be served by the abandonment of recreative games. Reference at the time had been made by the deputation to the position of racing and trotting clubs, and he had said that those clubs were in a similar position. They had discretionary powers for their guidance ,as to the course thought best to pursue.

Addressing, in July, 1940, the New Zealand Racing Conference delegates, he had said he felt it would be inadvisable to cut off racing abruptly. In the event of conditions becoming such that the sport would interfere with the war effort, he felt certain the racing people would be only too ready to call a halt. He had also indicated that there might be certain restrictions later on that might affect racing and other activities, but that such restrictions would be dealt with as the necessity for them arose. At that time the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences submitted recommendations covering the usual number of days (240 racing and 80 trotting) for the 1940-41 season.

On January 17, 1941, he had met representatives of the two Conferences and had indicated that in his opinion they were not fulfilling their full obligations by giving consent to applications made by clubs for changes of venue for meetings and by placing the responsibility of approval or otherwise on the Minister. He had expressed the view that apart from clubs whose racecourses might be otherwise occupied or in cases where some major disaster rendered a course unfit fbr racing, there should be no transfer of permits to other districts, but that any permit which could not be used should be allowed to lapse, but held in trust for the particular club concerned when times permitted a resumption of racing. There had been a very full discussion

on matters connected with racing during the war and the representatives of both Conferences had agreed to take full responsibility in carrying out the policy laid down. After that interview suggestions had been made that the permits of some trotting clubs not being used should be transferred to other districts and the meetings held in aid of patriotic funds. Those proposals, however, were not agreed to. The Minister said that mainly through the policy of not allowing transfers of permits, except in the special circumstances discussed earlier with representatives of the two Conferences, eight days of racing and four of trotting had not been held during the 1940-41 season.

In December last the president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference had advised that his executive had been discussing the grave war situation and had indicated that, as the Minister would be probably considering the question of curtailment of racing, he could have the assurance that if Cabinet, in the public interest, should come to any decision, he could rely on the support *of the whole of the trotting fraternity, who would work with the Minister to minimise the public inconvenience and to strengthen the Dominion's war effort. Prior to the receipt of that assurance he (the Minister) had made a public statement that racing and trotting meetings would be confined to Saturdays and public holidays. The Christmas and New Year holiday; racing and trotting meetings would not be interfered with and, while it was not considered there was any need for a complete recreation black-out, the whole question would have to be considered early tn the New Year and those interested would have to be prepared for a drastic curtailment of sport. Midweek racing would not be permitted and as early as possible the question of the reallocation of dates for rncing and trotting would be carefully gone into. The New Zealand Racing, Con-; ference expressed agreement with that statement and confirmed the past policy as to changes of venue, etc. It '■■ stated that racing dates would bCj reviewed and clubs would be circular- ] ised. ' I THE LAST DISCUSSION. At the last meeting on January 23, 1942, between himself and representatives of the Racing and Trotting Con- i ferences, the whole question arising; out of Japan's entry into the war and the necessity for a further curtailment of racing was very fully discussed.

The Conferences were advised to confer together and to make concrete proposals regarding the actual number of days on which racing should be carried on. He had expressed the desirability of some scheme whereby the clubs, which were still to have their meetings, should afford assistance to those unable to carry on. Particular stress was laid on the fact that whatever reduction was decided upon, there would have to be a fair allocation of the days remaining as between racing and trotting. He had pointed out, that the Conferences had a responsibility and a duty and they must carry them out. . *