RACING IN AUSTRALIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20391, 21 October 1929, Page 8

RACING IN AUSTRALIA

MOVE FOR REDUCTIONS

BTATEJS TAKING ACTION

LEGIStATiON IN VICTORIA^' [from ciub own correspondent.] SYDNEY. Oct. 3. There are some people in Australia who wilj go so far as to say that thq country's - present disturbed economia position may be traced to the amount' spent by those who maintain racing stables, and to the millions that are wasted by the patrons of tho turf, and by those who wager. Others, of course,, reply that this is an exaggeration, cofu tending that, although horse racing is 4 tremendous drain on the public purse, ft is by no means responsible for all illg + All the same," even the most ardent rac« ing enthusiast, the greatest admirer 08 tho thoroughbreds, are willing to adniifi that racing in Australia is over-done, and the moves by tho various States to re* duce its proportions find almost general support. , /.

In three States—New South Wales* 1 Queensland and Victoria—thero i« tos yftiuch racing, especially on week days, and Victoria has set an example' by in* troducing a bill which will abolish fieri eral courses. It has always been on« of the outstanding mysteries'in Sydney) and Melbourne how so many men ard able to attend race meetings that ari held on week days. The pony meetings at either city Ata exceedingly well patron* ised, and they ato mainly mid-week fix* tures.

Jn Melbourne it became the practice to hold a race meeting every Monday well. This was too much for tho.Vio, torian Government and the bill, whicl< is making good progress in the Legisla* tive Assembly, despite serious opposi* tion, proposes to abolish all -Monday, fix* tures, except that at which the' Wik liamstown Cup is decided. Further than that if. will confine mid-week raring ttf one All the others will b» closed. Altogether 38 days' racing wil| go in Victoria, and prominent racing men say they believe it will be a good thing for the sport as well as for thf, public. '

"There is in my opinion too much rao» ing in New South Wales," baid the Chief Secretary, Mr. Caffey, the other day,! That statement may be taken to reflect the opinions of other members of the? New South Wales Cabinet. It is felt thall a cut is bound to come in New Sooty Wales sooner or later, especially as faifl as the unregistered clubs are concerned* Last week'there were five days' racing in tho metropolitan area, and at onaj meeting held by a pony .club there wer«l 15 events on the afternoon's programme* However, the Cabinet has been too busy with various other problems of greate? importance to give time to racing. Once these matters are out of the way it "is expected that racing will receive attem tion.

In Queensland a Royal Commission has just been appointed, and with a Supreme Court Judge as chairman, to inquire into the control and management of racing. A 1 nujhber of racing scandals; was responsible for this step, for it has been felt for some time that alj is not well with the racing game in the northern State* The commission has been given the widest possible scope, and much good is expected to come out of its investiga* tions.