TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17846, 29 July 1921, Page 4

TOTALISATOR PERMITS.

—, ■♦ , • CHORUS OF PROTESTS. ATTITUDE OF PARLIAMENT. [BY XEXECJBAPH.—OWN COBKESFONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. Most of the racing clubs and trotting clubs threatened'with, extinction by the recommendations of the Racing Commission are raising protests, and it w .abundantly evident that there will be keen debate when the report of the commission ranches Parliament. In the meantime, some of the clubs are 'anxious to address the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. Dowme Stewart, on the subject at once 1 and the representatives of the Otahuhu Trotting Club have arranged to interview him at the end of .next week. '.I?he fate of the commission's report when it is'presented to Parliament is doabtfuL The debates in the House of Representatives last year showed that a strong body of opinion among members was opposed to any increase in the number of totalisator permits. It was the strength of this opposition that caused the Pnme Minister to promise that the recommendations of the commission would be subject to review by Parliament. This promise was supported by a clause providing that in the event of either House disagreeing with the report the new allocation of totalisator permits should become void and th» old order of things shduld be restored. The position now, therefore, is that clubs that have been cut off by the commission may use their influence against the adoption of the report? There may be a (Ambulation of dissatisfied racing members and anti-gambling memlsers against the report. Ministers intend that the matter shall come before the House at an eairly stage of the session, but it cannot reach the stage of decision before October.