RACING PERMITS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1661, 14 October 1920, Page 5

RACING PERMITS.

THE Ob^ >£!kIISSION pROPOSAIj -

,„ _ , h—"Times" Special.) (By Telegraj>. T r . ... «n- T UK* ""-TON, Last night. WELLING on Mr Hunter's The compromise Bill> suggested Gaming Amendment » tonewall, was at the end of a lams' s>* to-night by submitted to the House ». was conMr Massey, when the Bill - a j(j he sidered in committee. He ». ~inal would substitute for the on*. " = cn clause of the Bill a clause wli* *

would provide for the setting up ©». a commission to determine the raciisg clubs to which licenses Were to be granted from August Ist, 1921, The Governor-General in Council might appoint a commission of persons who should recommend the granting of such licenses as they thought fit. On receipt of a report by the commission, the Governor-General might authorise a number of licenses, not exceeding in any year the number recommended by the commission, additional licenses up to eight to be proposed for hunt clubs. He would not go on with the Bill immediately, but would give members a week to consider this clause. Mr Isitt considered 1 that the minority which had opposed the Bill had been justified by the fact that during the general election there was no suggestion that there was an immediate intention of increasing racing permits. Already there was on foot a movement to bring an influential deputation to see the Premier on the subject.—Mr Massey: "I hope no t!" —Mr Isitt said the deputation was coming because it was a matter of moment. There were men interested in racing who strongly opposed increases in permits. (Laughter, and a voice. "The big racing clubs!") Mr Massey pointed out that the commission could not possibly report before Christmas, if then. He wanted the people of the country to know exactly what was proposed, and it would come before Parliament within 30 days of the commencement of the session. If either House failed to agree, it would lapse.—Mr Lysnar pointed out that not many new permits could be used before the House met. —Mr Anderson, the Minister responsible for the issue of totalisator permits, said the House would be in session a month before the next racing season opened. The Premier's proposal was a splendid way out of the difficulty. Personally, he had voted against Mr Hunter's Bill, because of the serious anomalies in the present allocation of permits. Nobody could justify 19 days' trotting in Christchurch, and only one in Wellington. Rising districts which had no permits ought to be considered. —The Premier moved to report progress, explaining that he would give a week's interval for considering the new proposals. This was agreed to.