"A HORNET’S NEST.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8181, 24 July 1912, Page 1

"A HORNET’S NEST.”

RACING PERMITS

BAD TIME' AHEAD FOR MASSEY MINISTRY.

PROTEST FROM CANTERBURY

SPECIAL TO THE "TITIES." CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. In to-day’s “Referee’' the well-known sporting writer “Rotrnncl” is very outspoken in his comments on the iotalisator permit question. Ho says: “Whether Rangitikei should or should not have had any days returned docs not matter now ; tho real point is whether Mr Bell was wise in dealing with a dilliciilt question in such an off-hand manner. If tho Massey Ministry had determined to give Rangitikei back two days, why should ono of these days be at the expense of anv other club but tho Marton Racing 6’lub, which got two extra days when Rangitikei was disfranchised f “It seems to me that the Canterbury Jockey Club has suffered a distinct Injustice, one that a little knowledge nnd some consideration would have obviated. When it was first decided by the Ward Ministry that a racing commission should cut down tho days of racing and trotting to the maximum of 250 the ‘Releree’ suggested that the Racing Conference and Trotting Conference should be consulted in the appointing of the commission, and the other day I suggested in these columns that, before any changes were decided upon as regards returning any lost permits or days of racing, the Racing Conference should be consulted and if necessary asked to appoint a committee to do the work. All through the Racing Conference has been ignored, and it seems to mo that the Massey Ministry is raising a hornet’s nest about its ears, by its promises • to various' deputations and by its peremptory dealing with a subject on which it appears that Mr Berries, the ono Minister who knows the subject, has not been-consulted. • “Tho Racing Commission, when it took the days from the Rangitikei’ Club, recommended that Rangitikei and Marton should amalgamate and* form one strong club. Parliament adopted this recommendation, together with all the others embodied in tho commission’s report; hut so far as I am aware neither Mr Buddo, Mr Russell, nor Mr Bell has asked a single question as to whether any recommendation _ of -the commission has been complied with.. / . “I am of the opinion that it was the plain duty of any or all of these Ministers to ask why there was no amalgamation before there was_ any thought of reinstating Rangitikei. Therein was the first grave mistake of Mr Massey and Mr Bell. Tho second has been in promising all and sundry *tv square deal* and the ‘right thing.*’ Every disgruntled club will now get at its members on their hind 1 logs and go and - depntate in_ Wellington, and then the Rev. J. North and his friends on tho other hand will have their say. and we shall have the same old trouble all over ogam. “Verily, the Massey Ministry is storing up trouble for itself full early In its career.”