EXTRA RACING PERMITS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 1210, 7 January 1925, Page 3

EXTRA RACING PERMITS.

MANY APPLICATIONS. MINISTER'S DIFFICULT TASK. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 6. Under the Gaming Act Amendment passed by Parliament last session a very large number of applications from racing and trotting clubs for permits has been received. ■ For the 12 racing permits available 46 applications, itpresenting 55 days' racing, have been recorded, and for the 19 trotting permits 29 applications, representing 38 days' trotting. In the course of an interview to-day, the Hon. It. T. Bollard said he hoped to submit his recommendation to Cabinet for its consideration towards the end of the present month. "1 have received requests," said the Minister, "to visit some of the racecourses in Canterbury district and on the West Coast, and these; requests I am complying with. I leave for the south tonight and will visit the Oamaru and Timaru courses on Wednesday and meet deputations from different clubs. I hope to meet the Geraldine, Ashburton, Methven, Leeston and Ellesmere clubs on Thursday; on Friday to visit Rangiora to meet clubs in that district, and on Saturday. I will proceed to tho W T est Coast." Mr Bollard added that he did not anticipate any difficulty in making the allocations. "I have been in conference with the New Zealand racing and trotting authorities and with many of the clubs concerned," he remarked, "and we are practically in agreement with about 75 per cent, of the applications. It is in deciding the other 25 per cent, of tho claims made that very careful consideration is needed. There will, of course, be disappointed clubs when tho allocation is made, but there is one tiling on which I can give assurance, and that is that the applications made by all clubs will receive the very closest review before a decision is come to."-