EDUCATION AND RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 72

EDUCATION AND RACING.

AN AMUSING DISCUSSION. WELLINGTON, August 4. When a remit urging delegates to pro. test against the statement that funds were not available for an extension of technical education in view of the fact that £31,174. was refunded to the racing clubs out of the totalisator duty came before the Tech, meal Education Association’s conference to-day, strong exception was taken to the latter portion of the remit. “We all know,” said Mr W. F. Dur. ward, “that honse-racing is the greatest industry in New Zealand.—(Laughter.) I don’t seo why the Government should re. fund such a large sum of money and starve us at the same time.” Mr W. M. Luxford (Wanganui) said hq would support the remit if the portion referring to racing clubs was deleted. Mr L. R. Partridge (Wellington): This conference is representative of all shades of opinion, and I think it would be most unwise to single out the racing clubs. Mr Durward: All we ask for is fair treatment. Mr Partridge: Well. I am afraid I can. not support the resolution in its present form. _ Mr W. M'Conchie (Nelson) said that while holding no brief for the racing clubs ho thought the conference would be well advised to confine itself to board principles. The Chairman (Mr H. S. W. King) • Who made the statement that the money had been refunded? Mr Durward: It is taken from the Minister of Finance’s statement. The Chairman: “Well, we will put that in the remit.”—(Laughter.) Mr J. R. Kirk (Gisborne) said that the Government had only done the right thing by the racing clubs, and he thought surprise would be expressed that the refund was not greater. “I object very strongly,” he added, “to speakers associating the racing clubs with criminals.” Voices: “No one did.” Mr Partridge: “I made the statement that they were not classified as criminals.”— (Laughter.) Mr Kirk: “I have never taken any money off the racecourse.” A Voice: “Has anyone taken any of yours?”—(Laughter.) Mr Kirk: “No, but I think we nro doing a wrong thing in attacking the racing clubs. Racing has been described as the sport of kings.”

A Voice: “I don’t believe it.”—(Laughter. ) “What about football?” asked another delegate amid renewed laughter. “Racing, at any rate,” added Mr Kirk, “provides sport for a great number of very fine and worthy citizens, and it ill becomes us as a body of men interested in technical education to criticise the racing clubs. You will agree with me that the Government did the right thing in making a refund. I hope it will do the right thing by technical education. That is only a reasonable attitude to take up.” Mr Durward said he had not made an attack on the racing clubs. He had simply said that he thought horse-racing was the most important industry in New Zealand, and that technical education came next. — (Laughter-) € An amendment in favour of deleting rhe latter part of the remit was carried. On the motion of Mr W. H. Bennett, the remit was withdrawn, and the conference proceeded with the next business.