RACING PERMITS

Evening Star, Issue 17483, 14 October 1920, Page 8

RACING PERMITS

THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL. [From Oub Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 13. The compromise on Mr Geo. Hunter’s Gaming Amendment Bill suggested at the end of the long stonewall was submitted to the House to-night by the Prime Minister. When the Bill was considered in committeee, he said, he would substitute for its original clauses a clause which would provide for the setting up of a Commission to determine the racing clubs to which licenses were to be granted from August 1, 1921. The Governor-General in Council might appoint a Commission of four persons, who should recommend the granting of such licenses as they thought fit. On the receipt of the report by the Commission the GovernorGeneral might authorise a number of licenses, not exceeding in anv year the number recommended by the Commission. Additional licenses up to eight would be proposed for hunt clubs. He would not go on with the Bill immediately, but would give members a week to consider this clause. Mr Isitt considered that the minority who opposed the Bill had been justified by the fact that during the General Election there was _no suggestion that there ivas an immediate danger of increasing racing permits. Already there was on foot a movement to bring an influential deputation to see the Prime Minister on the subject.

Mr Massey 1 I hope not. Mr Isitt said the deputation were coming because it was 1 a matter of moment. There were men interested in racing who strongly opposed increases in permits. (Laughter, and a voice: “The birr ra cin<' clubs.”) 0 0

Mr Massey pointed out that the Commission could not possibly report before umistmas, if then. He -wanted the people or the country to know exactly what was proposed, and it would come'before Parliament within 50 days of the commencement of next session. If either House lapse *° a ® lGe le re P ol 't it vjijuld

Mr Lysnar pointed out that not many new permits could bo used before the House met. The Hon. G. J. Anderson, the Minister responsible for the issue of totalisator permits, said the House would be in session amonth before next racing season opened. The Prime Minister’s proposal was a splendid way out of the difficulty. Personally he voted against .Mr Hunter’s Bill because of serious anomalies in the present allocation of permits. Nobody could justify 19 days’ trotting in Christchurch and only one in Wellington. Rising districts wduch had -no permits ought to be considered. The Prime Minister moved to report progress, explaining that he would give a week’s interval for considering the newproposal.—This was agreed to. FATHER OP THE BILL THANKED. [Pbb United Pbjess Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, October 13. The New Zealand Trotting Association Board decided to-day that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr George Hunter, M.P., for his great effort to provide additional racing days, and the association trust that, with the assistance of the overwhelming majority of members of Parliament, as disclosed by the divisions, he will be successful in securing immediate justice for the sport of trotting, country racing, and hunt clubs.