UNDESIRABLE MEETINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 24

UNDESIRABLE MEETINGS.

It is now very apparent that the Act passed by Parliament some time ago relative to the curtailment of totalisator licenses, with the object of restricting the number of race meetings held in the colony, has not had the desired effect. It is true that after the passing of the measure into law, and the re-arrangement of the racing districts by the metropolitan clubs, a number of clubs were knocked out. And not only the non-sporting portion of the public, but those who control the destinies of the turf, seemed glad of it. The affected districts bowed to the inevitable, but lately it is very obvious that they have broken out in a fresh place. This is more particularly so in the North, where unregistered gatherings are being held quite regularly—without the use of the machine, of course. Up the coast these little gate money fixtures are just now making themselves very apparent, and it is also observed that the Auckland Racing Club is sanctioning fixtures which are really not wanted, and do not conduce to the interests of sport in any shape or form. What induces the A.R.C. to grant racing permits to tin-pot gatherings of this character it is hard to say, but, at any rate, their action in so doing is not looked upon with approval by those

who have the well-being of horse racing at heart. The unregistered clubs in the Taranaki and other districts appeared quite unobtrusively, and would likely not have drawn upon themselves any particular public attention were it not for the fact that there has been a considerable amount of inconsistent running, and other suspicious practices noted at various of the gatherings. It was only after a whole field had been disqualified at Kaponga the other day the the Kaponga Club stewards saw that there was ample room for reform in connection with the management of unregistered meetings in that district. They consequently determined upon securing, if possible, a Central Racing Management Committee, to consist of two delegates from each unregistered club in the province. These delegates are to meet to draw up rules for the benefit of their clubs, and endeavour to promote honest racing in every way possible. This is a step in the right direction, and it is to be hoped that the proposal will meet with acceptance and be carried into effect. If unregistered meetings are to exist they should be properly conducted, but a multiplicity of such gatherings is not in any way desirable. Parliament intended a while back that racing should be restricted, there having been many mournful wails about too much racing, the poor suffering tradesmen, and all the rest of it. It was thought that a limitation of machine permits would cure the evil, but such has not proved to be the case: we have more racing than ever. That is quite apparent to anyone who devotes attention to the matter. A lot of petty, gambling, wayside horse fixtures are not wanted; they injure the higher and more ideal sport, and prejudice the public mind against the pastime.