HOROWHENUA RACING PERMIT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 August 1921, Page 3

HOROWHENUA RACING PERMIT.

INDIGNATION MEETING. An. indignation meeting to protest : against the withdrawal of the HoroSvhenua Racing Club’s permit is being convened by the Racing Club and A. and P. Assocition, and will take place in the. People’s Theatre next Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock, "pie action of the Racing Commission, so far as the local permit is concerned, meets with condemnation by every section of the. public throughout this district, and there is a strong feeling that the proposed cancellation should be fought to the bitter end. If the Racing Club has to go out of existence, there is a possibility that the A. and p. Association will find the responsibility of completing the purchase of the grounds too heavy, thus endangering the future of the show. In such cases as the present, the voice of the people cannot altogether be disregarded, and if a monster meeting is held as the occasion demands, and a strong protest forwarded to Parliament, it should have some Weight in securing for the district a privilege to which it is justly entitled. RANGITIKEI’S PROTEST. (Per Press Association.) / Marton, August 5. The Rangitikei Club placed before Mr E. Newman, M.P., a strong pro test against the injustice of the Racing Commission proposing the Withdrawal of the club’s annual permit. The chairman stated that the club was- one of the oldest in the Dominion, having raced over 65 years. The course is one of the best on the coast, the meetings are well conducted, and are popular, as evidenced by the large attendance and excellent fields. The club does not intend to be sent under without a strong protest, and will place the matter before' Parliament. Mr Newman said, although strongly against an increase in racing permits, he recognesed the injustice that was being done to countiy clubs. He ’is strongly opposed to the Racing Coirimission’s recbmmendation respecting the Rangitikei Club being carried into effect. THE RACING COMMISSION. The recommendations arrived at by the Racing Commission after their lengthy tour of the Dominion have been published (says “Sentinel” in the Otago Witness), and will arouse not a little anger in some quarters, and ultimately cause verbal brickbats to fly when the matter is discussed in Parliament.- The Commission has recommended that the number of days on which racing is held should be increased from 289 to 316—an increase of 27, of which 19 go to trotting and 8 to racing. The figures clearly point to the fact that the Commission is more inclined to favour trotting than the racing which is the best method of maintaining a high standard of light horse. No'unbiassed person competent to express an opinion on the ( matter would claim that the pacer, which predominates in trotting sport, should be encouraged in preference to the thoroughbred supplying the flat racer, hurdle racer, steeplechaser, hunaer and the only back worth riding. Regarded from this point of view, the tour of the Racing Commission has been nothing more or less than a sinful waste’ of thousands of pounds. .. . The Commission displayed!a considerable amount of courage in wiping out the Avondale Jockey Club and Canterbury Park Trotting Club, and in requesting that a special departmental inquiry be held into the affairs of the Takapuna Jockey Club. No 'doubt good and sufficient reason was found for making such strong recommeridar tions, but it would be interesting to know what is to become of the vast amount of money spent in equipping the tracks which are to “lose the number of their mess.” Possibly the blow administered to some clubs has been softened by a strong hint or two In much the same manner as others were informed of their good luck. It was, in fact, rumoured weeks ago that Lumsden (which previously held a non-totalisator meeting) was sure of a permit, and results suggest that the rumour was based on solid foundation. That, however, by the way. It i goes without saying that the disenfranchised clubs will not take their medicine with the willingness and pleasure of a child receiving a chocolate; bufi on the other hand, will immediately get on the warpath in search of the political scalp of their parliamentary representatives if they do not remedy the grievance that the Racing Commission has thrust upon them.