RACING REPORT

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6154, 11 August 1921, Page 6

RACING REPORT

PROPOSED EXTINCTION OE G.R.C. MR W. D. LYSNAR CONDEMNS SUGGESTION. “COURSE A VERY VALUABLE ASSET.” Strong condemnation of the recommendation of the Racing Commission that the Gisborne Racing Club's “tote” permits should be cancelled was made by Mr W. D. Lysnar. H.P., in the course of an interview with a Times reporter last evening. Mr Lysnar stated that he had now had an opportunity of perusing the full report of the Commission, and. he very much regretted reading the recommendation so far as it affected the Gisborne Racing Club. To put the club out of existence would not be in the best interests of the district or the public, particularly when the progress in the future was. considered. While agreeing to the general principle of the clubs in the same town amalgamating, there were, ins this case, inpiiy factors which had to be taken into account, and, be thought that the interests of the town and district should be considered before the bald principle.

“I do not desire to express any opinion one way or the • other,” said Mr Lysnar, “oil the question of removing 'tote' licenses from existing clubs. My main objection is to the suggestion that the Park racecourse should be abolished, and it does uot seem to me, after carefully reading the report, that the Commission has studied or weighed the public convenience of the two courses in Gisborne properly/* Mr Lysnar referred to the following extract from the Commission’s report: “In Gisborne there is still another case of two racing clubs with courses in close proximity to each otiier, carrying on the same class of racing and serving the same racing public and of the duplicating of expenditure in the same unnecessary mamier. By far the better appointed course is that of the Poverty Bay Turf Club, and, as we can see no justification or excuse for permitting the Gisborne Racing Club to continue, we reject its claims. We urged upon these two clubs the obvious advantages of amalgamation, and are satisfied there is no difficulty in this be-

ing effected.”

lt was noticeable, said Mr Lysnar, that this serious recommendation was made on the bald fact of. the Makar aka course having better appointments. This, in his opinion, was of very small importance, because the appointments of any course could he improved and developed as required. On the other band, the situation and convenience of a course could not be altered. When if was considered that the Park was only half the distance of Makaraka from town, and that it was intended to givo the former tramway facilities at an oarly date, the advantage, from a public point of view, as regards convenience and accessibility, were, lie said, obvious. There could, in his (million, be no question as to which was the more suitable course, as conveyance to the Park by tram, would cost only a few pence, compared with some shillings by motor car to Makaraka. It bad also to be remembered that people coming from the country to' the races generally travelled right into Gisborne, especially if they came from any distance, and, consequently, a course close to town suited them better. Tho railway also conveyed passengers right, to the Park course, w her one, at Makaraka it was necessary to walk a considerable distance, which was another disadvantage. The Commission, said Mr Lysnar, seemed to him to be quite wrong ini their report, when they said that the two courses were carrying on the same class of racing and serving the same racing public, as the Park could he regarded more as a public domain for recreation purposes. Further, the Park was used by the Trotting Club aud had been used by the military aiitborities for camps as it was so well situated. The Agricultural Show was also held there, and it would he remembered that, on the occasion of the big Maori hui, when the Maorj contingent returned, several thousand Natives were camped on the Park. With a serious shortage of reserves in tho Borough, said Mr Lysnar, the Park course was a vast asset, and would be greatly used by big gatherings in the future, and if, as was 6ure to be the case, the centre was levelled off and made available, it could be used for large ‘ football or cricket matches, and generally, would be extremely useful as the district developed. “It will not only bo useful,” he added, "but it will be essential, and I should regard it as a calamity if either the Commission or Parliament deprives the public of Gisborne of the Park.” Mr Lysnar stated that he considered that the Commission stultified its recommendations in. regard to the Park course as thev said later in the report that no club was entitled to increased totalizator privileges u-nless its grounds were freehold or obtained under a substanial leasehold, or unless it was part of a public domain, or reserve for recreational purposes. The' Park course, lie said, was freehold and was regarded as a public reserve and would be even more so used in the future. Again, in its report the Commission recommended “that; outlying districts, and especially districts suffering under the disabilities of isolation, should receive special consideration.” Mr Lysnar said that lie did not desire to say at this juncture whether j it wag right or wrong to do away with' J the license of either of the local racing clubs, but be certainly thought that the Commission was wrong, from a public standpoint, in recommending that the Park course should be closed, for there was no doubt that if the recommendation was given effect to the property would be sold a?ul lost to the public. Mr Lysnar thought that the suggestion of the Minister of Internal Affairs that nothin" should he done as the result. of the*’'Commission’s report until it had been considered by Parliament was the right course to adopt, and that, in the meantime, all privileges and rights should continue as previously. This, he said, was what was understood by Parliament when tlie matter had been considered, and if Cabinet agreed to the Minister’s suggestion it would give time for the matter to be properly considered by Parliament. He hoped that no wrong would be done to any district, such as was recommended by the report in so far as Gisborne was concerned. It would be necessary, be said, for the people of Gisborne to evince an interest in the matter and see that their views were made known to Parliament.