HOROWHENUA RACING CLUB

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 17

HOROWHENUA RACING CLUB

Burgesses assembled in largo numbers at the Century Hall, Levin, on Thursday night, when a public meeting was held to consider what steps should bo taken in connection with tho Racing Commissioners' report in regard to the Levin racecourse. The matter is of more than ordinary importance inasmuch as the abolition of the racecourse carries with it the extinction of the Horowhcnua A. and F. Association and the Horowhenua Amateur Athletic Club. Tho Mayor,- Mr B. sR. Gardener, who presided, described the action of tho Commissioners as an insult not only to the town but to tho district. Levin at the very least contained one-fourth of the whole of the electors in tho district within three miles of the Post Office, and vot they were sacrificed for reasons best known to the Commissioners, who bad sacrificed tho country clubs for the metropolitan ones. _ Ho quoted a paragraph from the ‘Now Zealand Times" summarising what the Commissioners had dono, and said tho timo had gone by for sitting on tho fence, because something would have to be done in regard to Parliament's interference with the liberty of the subject. Admittedly there were people who objected to racing, but he looked at this from a town's pdint of view, because it meant not only extinguishing racing but tho exjunction of tho A. and P Show and the local sports club. Mr J. McLeavey (president of the Racing Club) moved that a deputation wait on the Minister. This was seconded by Mr G. J. Hankins and carried. A resolution was also passed to the effect that tho meeting expresses the strong desire that the country members of Parliament unite in the common interests of country racing clubs to oppose tho unfair allocation of permits mado by the Commission.

The following telegram was received from Mr W. H. Field, M.P.•"Deevlv sympathise with the-object of to-night's mooting. Parliament deputed the Commission to reduce race meetings, but gave special consideration to ono-meeting clubs. They have grossly and wantonly violated the spirit, if not tho letter of the law, by killing Horowhenua Club, with probably tho Agriculture Show and sports. Widespread discontent prevails over this sacrifice of country clubs in order to maintain metropolitan meetings, and I purpose asldng other members interested to demand amendment of the law at tho beginning of tho session." s