CONTROVERSY ABOUT RACES.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15307, 21 February 1920, Page 5

CONTROVERSY ABOUT RACES.

[Per United Press Association.]

Christchurch, Feb. 20. The Mayor of Christclrareh (Dr. Thacker) telegraphed to Sir Francis Bell, Minister for Internal Affairs, as follows:—"It has been announced here that two galloping permits have been granted, but no trotting permits. This surely cannot be correct. Kindly advise urgent." Sir Francis Bell replied as follows to-day: ".Replying to your telegram, special licenses have been offered to the Racing Club at Auckland for one day, and another to Ohristchuren Jockey Club for one day, in order that one special race meeting may be held in each island during the Prince's visit. If trotting licenses were also granted, then two afternoons of the Prince's visit to Christchurch would ■> be occupied by race meetingSj which' I personally think would be unfortunate! The question as ti> whether a special license should be

granted to the Metropolitan Trotting Club at Christehurch, has not been finally decided, and I think there are reasons for, a§ well as against, the granting of such special license. One point must be taken as already decided without further question; that is, that a trotting meeting will not be substituted for a race meeting at Christchurch." Dr. Thacker contends that a better plan would have been to grant a galloping permit to Auckland and a trotting permit to Christchurch, for Christchurch could give the best trotting display.