TOTALISATOR PERMITS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 23 October 1914, Page 4

TOTALISATOR PERMITS

ALLOCATION. OP-NEW. LICENSES,

DEPUTATION. TO THE. MINISTER

BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. 7 WELLINGTON, Oct.; 22..

A deputation representing the.Coun-: try Racing -.Clubs Association waited upon the Hon.JH. D. Bell,,Minister:for. Internal Affair s ? . with .references to > the. alloQation of additional totalisator. permits available; under - the Gaming Amendment Act, "1914. Those .present were Hon. Giithrier:M.P. y rair >E.;W^Alison; and Mr Brucs, president of tlie association.

■ Mr Bruce that:; if the permits- available were restored'.to the clubs which .previously had permits, /an ac£ oi justice; would be done, whiclf- no one could findfau.lt with. '

Mr' Allison said np\v that fifteen- permits were available, it was felt'by the Association that, subject to the- clubs which had'previously held permits being still in existence, and tor the ;^hole surrounding- circumstances justifying such, a step; the . permits generally should' be- restored* to .them-. .They asked' that the Association should have a voice in the allocation of; the fifteen new .licenses. ~ ...

' The Hon. H. D. Bell, in reply-stated that1- tlie- position iinder~ the- Bill w^as that1 every- applicant must Ve-.consider^ ed: Applications would be received "from club's-desirous of applying. He agreed generally with the points raised by tli'e: Association and was grateful for their offer of assistance. What the Government had arranged was this .- No permits would be granted until after the ; general election.. He could not have it imputed to the Government that grants were"jobbed" in any way> and an advertisement would! appear in the Gazette and Refereev Applications would be invited from- any club'that desired to advance -its 'claims up to December 10, after which no application would be receivedI.* He had aske'd a member from each side of the.House, Messrs"Hunter and'Davey (who'also represented the tw Islands) to. go round <and see the courses: and to give him general advice. He would also ask the Racing Conference for advice, and, would similarly, consult the Trotting Conference. Hunts he w,<suld haye to, deal with himself. He would ' Etfc; tention to what their association recommended, but ,the .ultimate decision must be with the Minister'. He had taken the course which; seemed best to -get rid pf political bias, and in the' multitude of counsellors he hoped to arrive at a fair solution. He could riot give the absolute right of guidancei to the association, any more than to the Trotting Conference, but he would na- | turally be guided by people of experience. *.. :