Wellington Racing Club.

Hastings Standard, Volume V, Issue 1427, 18 January 1901, Page 3

Wellington Racing Club.

[BY IELEOBAPH.] Wellington, January 18. A deputation of stewards of the Wellington Racing Club waited on Mr Ward to-day in reference to their decision to abolish tbe telegraph office on the coarse. Mr McCarthy, President, pointed out that the wires were used considerably for illegal betting, and the Club asked the Minister to assist it in preventing it. He said thut last season the Club put through £BO,OOO, and was advised by the stewards that fully a similar amount was wired away. The Club was willing to allow Press and supervised messages to be sent, and thought if a Government officer were appointed for that purpose the trouble might be removed. Mr Ward, replying, said the President must be misinformed as to the amount wired off the course, and no regulation could be devised which jvould prevent persons sending money from the course. He had had, he said, a careful analysis made of telegrams from tbe Hutt at last meeting, and this showed clearly that more than two-thirds were outside of betting purposes. This proved that tbe telegraph on the course was of public utility, and if the stewards refused the Department the use of its office at the Hutt then, as Postmaster-General, he would see that an office would be established as close to the course as possible. The stewards are reconsidering their decision.