RACING COMMISSION

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6142, 28 July 1921, Page 6

RACING COMMISSION

PROPOSED ABOLITION OF PARK RACECOURSE. POINTS FOiTtHE-PUBLIC. WHY RATEPAYERS SHOULD OBJECT.

A well known follower of tlie turf, spoken to yesterday on the matter of the Racing Commission’s recommendations, expressed his view in fio half-hearted manner. He said there would be such an outcry from the public, that he felt confident the recommendations would never be carried into effect. The public, lie said, must realise that if all the racing is transferred to Makaraka there would be no winter meetings. That was to his mind absolutely certain. The "■past two winters had been exceptionally mild. Pie had been in the district for nineteen years and in that time had never known such winters. With the ordinary winter the course would be sodden, and when a flood came it covered £he course altogether. In an ordinary winter it was not possible to work horses on the plough. The fatal objection to Makaraka was its low-lying situation, and that was why the PovertyBay Turf Club never held a meeting in the winter. After all, it appeared as if the Racing Commission had studied the matter of improvements on the ground. Bub" what did that matter? The Park course was universally conceded to be the best winter course in New Zealand. Any owner, trainer or jockey would bear out that statement.

Another way in which "to view the matter, he continued, is from the public standpoint At present the Park racecourse is largely used almost as a public reserve, and he knew of his own knowledge that sports, pocnics, etc. were allowed the full use of the ground without charge, while a very small fee was fixed for big athletic meetings. Some persons might say that the Borough Council should purchase it. But from a financial standpoint that view would not stand close examination. Why on earth should the borough purchase the ground, which was worth, roughly, £16,000, when it could get the use of it for almost nothing whenever it wished ? Surely that was a better investment from the borough point of view and from the ratepayers’ standpoint also. As a ratepayer himself, he would never favor the purchase of the park under tho present circumstances. Another aspect in winch to view the matter was in regard to the convenience of the public in connection _ with the accessibility. In his opinion, trams would have been running to the Park course now if the war had not occurred, and he anticipated that in three or four years the tram-lines would extend to the gate. That line, he was convinced, would he a very paying one. But he could not see the trams running to Makaraka for ten or fifteen years,.for the reason that they would not pay, as there was so little habitation between between the Park and Makaraka. Personally, he stated, he felt sure that as soon as the public realised the position, largely-signed petitions would be sent to Wellington protesting against the commission’s recommendations, find he knew personally, many ratepayers, some of whom did not attend races, who would sign. In his mind, he was confident the days of the Gisborne Racing Club were very far from being numbered, but the ratepayers, in their own interests, should not delay in their objection to the proposal to abolish the Park racecourse.

GISBORNE RACING CLUB.

WHY IT SHOULD BE RETAINED

MR LYSNAE’S REMARKS

Adverse comment on the suggestion of the Racing Conference, that the Gisborne Racing Club should amalgamate with the Poverty Ray Turf Club, was made by Mr' Fred. Lysnar, ex-chair-man of the former club, in the course of an interview with a Times' reporter on Tuesday. Mr Lysnar pointed out that the Gisborne Racing Club had been in existence for very many years and was a recognised institution of the district. The course, when acquired by the club, was in a very rough state, being covered with scrub. In the interim many thousands of pounds had been spent -on the ground until, at the present time, it was one of the finest tracks in the Dominion all the year round. Referring to the statement of the Commission that the buildings in the course were old, Mr Lysnar stated that while this fact could not be denied, he was emphatically of the opinion that they were in really good condition and entirely suitable for their requirements. Everything had been erected with first-class timber and nothing was done which would not. make for public convenience. Repairs and additions had been made as necessitated by the. increase of the popularity of the club, and he confidently claimed that, at the present time, the equipment generally would compare more than favourably with that of any other club of similar size in the Dominion. The convenience's on' the course could not be improved upon, and included fire appliances. electric light, sewerage and water. Speaking as a race-horse«owner, Mr Lysnar stated that he had never raced on any course where better facilities .wero provided for training, on the flat, over hurdles and steeples. This applied all the year round. and he would not except even the largest tracks in the Dominion. This opinion, lie said, would be borne out bv any trainer or owner who had used the course, and lie ventured to suggest that, if better railway or shipping facilities were provided,. Gisborne would be the leading training centre of the Dominion, as in addition to the exceptionally fine track, there was also the hard sandy beach which would lie much favoured. In fact, he said, in Gisborne we have everything required for training except access. It was only necessary to get into conversation with anyone actively connected with the sport to ascertain what a favourable opinion, everyone held of the Park course. The track, he said, was not a record-breaking one, but this was more of an advantage than otherwise, as a track which would be fast in summer would be boggy in winter. The G.R.C. course, on the other hand, owing to the nature of the soil and the careful way in which it had been laid down, was always in good order—always a spring in it in the summer, and never boggy in tlie winter. Owing to the nearness of course to the town and the handiness of both tram and train and the two roads from town—thus eliminating any danger to vehicles travelling to the course —the course, Mr Lysnar pointed out, was an asset to the town, and practically looked., upon as a public reserve. The ground was leased at a small annual rental to the Poverty Bay A. and P. Society for a long term, and was ideal for Show purposes. A lease was also held by the Poverty Bay Trotting Club, both these leases being with a right of renewal. 'ln addition,, the Park, was generally recognised as a picnic ground for Sunday schools. Friendly Societies, public schools, and, in fact, anybody who wanted it, and, furthermore, was invariablv let free of charge. Considering this matter from every aspect," Mr Lysnar concluded, "there is absolutely nothing to justify the Commission's recommendation regarding the Park racecourse. That this ground is an asset to the- district is irrefutable, and to suggest disposing of it is unthinkable when the. scarcity of recreation grounds near the town is

considered. From a racing point of view of the recommendation is unjust; from a public viewpoint its adoption would be a calamity. It is a matter which . affects every member of the community, and it is the duty of the public generally to take such united action and make so strong a protest that when the matter is considered by Parliament it will be realised that the Gisborne public are determined not to lose this valuable adjunct to the district. 'Tf, however, tho public fail to appreciate the need for united action they will find that the recommendation of the Commission is given effect to, and I would urge that every endeavour be made tc> make the voice of the people heard in this matter.”

RACING REPORT. | PROTESTS TO GOVERNMENT. PARLIAMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE SUGGESTIONS. i WELLINGTON, July 2G.

Many protests are reaching the. Minister for Internal Affairs from racing clubs that have been deprived of totalisator permits by the recommendation of the Racing Commission. One of the suggestions made on behalf of these clubs is that the old arrangements should stand until Parliament has had an opportunity to consider the report of the Commission. The Minister has stated already that, pending consideration by Parliament, he will refuse to issue permits to clubs that have been cut out by the Commission, and lie has assured some of the interested parties that his right to do this is perfectly clear. The position is governed by the Gaming Amendment Act of 1920, which provided for the appointment of the Commission “'for the purpose of determining the racing clubs to which licenses are to be granted in the racing year commencing on August Ist, 1921, and the number of days on which the use of the totalisator is to be authorised by each of those licenses. The Government has power to issue an Order-in-Council authorising the issue of tot-alisator licenses not exceeding the number recommended by the Commission and this order has to be laid before Parliament within 30 days of the opening of the session. It becomes void, and the old conditions are restored, if either House of Parliament declares, by resolution, that it does not assent to the order. It is clear, therefore, that if the Minister has issued permits now to clubs that have been cut out, he would have to withdraw them from clubs that have received favourable recommendations from the Commission, since the total number is fixed. He states definitely that, unless and until Parliament rules otherwise, he does not intend to issue any permits to clubs that are not recommended by the Commission.—Special.

OTAHUHU’S STRONG PROTEST.

AUCKLAND. July 27. Tlie recommendations of the Racing Commission regarding the withdrawal of tote permits to the Otahuhu Trotting Club were the subject of a protest at a meeting of the club committee, which adopted a report by the chairman recommending tho sending of a cable to Mr Massey. It was also resolved to deputationize tho Minister for Internal Affairs urging that the recommendations do not apply until tho 1922-23 season pending Parliament’s decision also to interview as many M.’sP. as possible and hold meetings in the district.—P.A.