RACING COMMISSION

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 9 May 1921, Page 4

RACING COMMISSION

L'INAL SITTING.!

(JJV X.KLKOHAV»rr PRT3BS ASSOCIATION.^ WELLINGTON, May 7. The Ilacuig Commission is sitting today ;to take tuial evidence, prior to arawing |up a report. TJie liev. Dv Pinfold, giving evidence on beliuli <,f the Methodist Synod publiqr moraifi and temperance committee, the Methodist Conference and the Young. Methodist conference and the young people's Society of Christian Endeavour,'. first read a series of resolutions protest■ng , fSam-si any proposal to intensity gambling by increasing racing permits especially at a time when the'country was passing through a period of financial stringency, and when the public - leaders were urging thrift and economy Me contended an increase in the numbero± permits will intensify the evil, and he claimed there was no general desire -. tor an increase j this came from an i,nterested section of the racing fraternity. Ur Pinfold, said an increase m the l/uraber ol meetings meant an increase in drunkenness. In answer to the chairman ,as to» whether Lo had ever attended a race* meeting, witness said he had not exactly been at a mooting, but he had been round to Set-; what was going on. Hehad seen a number of drunken peoplereturmiig hum racecourses. The chairman: If you ever attended a, meeting u fc Wlerslie you would know tnat was not correct. 4-v, M£. sl. iaH craS5 > general secretary oi1' the Dominion^Snorts Protection league representing all branches of t£he lWtimate, sport and recreation of the maW; *tT e > has been instructed to say ihat it, as a restilt of its inquiries' thecommission considered an 'increase of permits necessary they should not hesitatemv recommendation accordingly. Mr Shallcrass gave many 'reasons in* favour or an increase, such as inVhf f d Population in many districts, the need of clubs with only one day's' lacing to meet increased requirements: of trotting, and the fact that the Government received £441,449 from racing. , As to the moral aspect there wouJd al- ' ways be a difference of opinion, but his. league contended that aspect of the + i,M™ Lau?hton^ a^ndance officer of the Education Board, said his experience showed an increase in the number or race meetings had a detrimental eftect on the rising <xeneration. Mr Louis Cohen, representing the trotting conference, maintained that/ racing as conducted in the Dominion, maue for good crtiaenship. In no otherpart ot the world was trotting betterconducted than m New Zealand. He denied Dr Pinfold's statements in regard to drunkenness. ■ / Mr T H. Davy, st'pendiarv stewards' !? i j trottm S conference, contended" that drunkenness at race meetings wasinfinitesimal. Trotting now was an ab-^ solntely .c can sport;, and had been brought about by, an improvement in breeding by keeping good stallions. Ihe chairmari announced that thecommission had concluded. In drawinsr a D t *T lr ■.reP°rt they wwald prive care^" nil attention to the represenatkms made-' by all parties. ~ ..