RACING PERMITS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 58

RACING PERMITS.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM. WELLINGTON. April 3. The Hon, Mr Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs), in an interview on the subject of the intentions of the Government in respect to the coming years racing, said the matter was at the present moment receiving his earnest consideration It would be remembered, he remarked that in the racing legislation of 1910, while the Minister of Internal Affairs had to accept the report of the commission and grant the licenses for 1911 in accordance with such report, provision was made for the Minister to grant licenses in any subsequent year. It would also be recollected that when the report of the commission was presented to Parliament very strong exception was taken hy a number of members to the finding in respect to the cutting out of certain country clubs, and while the Government had no option but to accept the decision of the commission and grant the licenses in accordance therewith, the Minister has power to consider and deal with all applications for the 1912 racing Tear. The racing year ends on the 31st July, and from the Ist August the responsibility is laid on the Minister of Internal Affairs of dealing with this somewhat difficult matter. Already applications are being received from a number of country clubs which were unable to obtain permits under the Racing Commission's report, and a-s the whole question of granting permits for 1912 will receive early attention, it behoves those country clubs who may not have sent their applications in to do so without delay, so that they may have their claims fully dealt with when the allocation takes place. It is also desirable for all clubs in receipt of more than one permit per year not to make any contracts beyond July 31 without making certain that they* will receive the necessary permits to use the totarisator. —At a meeting of stewards held immediately after the concluding event of the Southland autumn meeting R. Logan and J. Looney were each fined £2 for alleged breaches of the rules governing the club. The Masterton Racing Club made a profit of about £SOO on last week's meeting-