RACING CRISIS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 August 1927, Page 5

RACING CRISIS.

CONFERENCE IN DEEP WATER. PARLIAMENT WILL NOT BE DEFIED. : An interesting position has arisen in connection with the conflict between the N.Z. Racing Conference, the body governing racing in the Dominion, and the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon; R. P. Bollard, who is responsible for the carrying out of the law regarding racing. Lkst year the Waikato Hunt Club raced on Labour Day, the Conference declining to transfer that day to the Waikato Racing Club. The Minister, feeling sure the same course would be followed this year, gave the Hunt Club •in .assurance that it would again get Labour Day. The Racing Conference, however, allotted the date to the Racing Club. The Minister then intervened and granted the permit to the Hunt Club for the coveto'd holiday. This was not the end of the matter, however, for the Auckland District Committee lefr.sod to aporovo the Hunt Club’s programme for Labour Day, blocking further progress.

QUESTION RAISED IN PARLIAMENT.

There was a distinct demonstration of approbation in the House of Representatives yesterday when the Minister of Internal Affairs, in reply to a questioner, intimated his intention of adhering to the decision he had come to regarding the issue of a totalisator permit for the Waikato Hunt to race as usual on Labour Day next. Loud cries (,f_“hear, hear” from all sides of the House greeted the announcement.

It is common talk in the lobbies that the New Zealand Racing Conference, by reason of its attitude over the Waikato Hunt permit has, as one member put it, “floundered in deep water.” Further resentment among members was aroused yesterday over the publication by the president of the conference (Sir George Clifford) of correspondence between the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. R. P. Bollard) and him- • elf.

MINISTER’S ATTITUDE FIRM

MAY WITHHOLD ALL AUCKLAND

PERMITS

W ELLING TON, This Lay

Asked about totalisator licenses for the Auckland meeting, the Hon. A. F. Bollard, Minister-iu-Charge, said he had nothing to say, and added. “I have given my decision in accordance with the Act, and my reasons for it, and that ends the matter as far as I am concerned. Parliament has given me certain responsibilities, and I must respect them.”

It is reported that the Minister will probably inform the District Committee that no racing permits will be issued for Auckland district until the controversy over the Labour Day permit terminates.