RACING COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14475, 23 June 1911, Page 4

RACING COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Though the long-awaited report ot Die J{;u in<*- Commission has at length jj published, ilie clubs ill e lid I yet »;-i any .satisfactory reason as to why it .should have been kejil hack so long by the Government. The Commissioners state tluit delay was caused because they had to readjust the schedules to woe! objections of the Crown Law Officers, the validity of which they do not admit. To avoid the inconvenience of further delay I hey liave altered the "conditions" imposed upon some clubs to simple ''recommendations,''' but as these proposals aim generally at securing greater safety tor the public or riders, and '' llie observance of the decencies of life " in connection with the sport, the recommendations of the Commission's report cannot lie ignored by the clubs concerned or by the (invenmient. The task which the Commission hud before tliem, under the Gaming Act of last session, was to allocate among 'lie racing and trotting clubs of the Dominion the number of days in the year on which the lotalisalor may be used, to suit the reduction made by statute i:i ihe aggregate number of such days, to not more, than 250 in each year. It was an ungrateful task, as the Commission state in their report tluit ihev were unanimous that some measure of redistribution would have been preferable, and that with the exceptions which could have been met by redistribution, and considering the diminution of racing clubs which must; result from the restrictions imposed bv the Gaming Act, the days of racing are not excessive to supply the requirements of New Zealand's population. The Commission, however, performed their work with great thoroughness, visiting every racecourse in the Dominion before they framed their report, and in determining the reductions that are advised, tliey seem to have proceeded upon excellent principles. I t is recog- • nised that the cities. with th eir

superior resounds, must l>r ;i Llowed to eati-v tor out si>lo cxftnsioni.sts as well ;s* im- their own population, and that loss accessible communities are entitled to special consideration wherever they have shown any active desire for racing by the provision of needful equipments. Proposals are wisely made to piovent the possible evils of proprietary courses, and the accrual of por--60:—.l profits from llif conduct of racing and trottinir. In every case where a reduction of racing days has been advised, the best interests of the sport and of the lUiblic have been carefully considered. Amalgamation or absorption has been steadily kept in viet? in making the reductions) and it is pointed out that if stewards of certain clnbs that will cease to exist follow the Commission's suggestion and join forces •with, the surviving club or clubs, the result will be the formation bf a really strong district club fend an impr6vement of tlie facilities and advantages afforded to the public. It is pleasing to gather from the report, as the president, Dr Thomas, points out to-day, that the -Commission -we re Svell satisfied with the conditions tinder which racing is conducted by the South Canterbury Jockey Club, and that no recommendations -were thought necessary in <regard to it, though improvements haye been considered necessary in the case of the majority of other country clubs. The rejjort of the Commission -will give the Auckland Racing Cbib and Canterbury Jockey Club eleven days racing each, and the "Wellington Eacing Club and Dunedin Jockey Club nine days each. This distribution is considered far more equitable than that hitherto in force—namely, thirteen days at Ellerslie, ten at •Jliccarton, ten at Trentham, and nine at Wingatui. The only new trotting application granted is to the Oamaxu Trotting Club, which has gone to considerable expense in providing a track and suitable buildings, and it is given at the expense of Ashburton. Tie Ashburton Club will still have two days for trotting, and the one day given to Oamaru will improve tha_ present distribution, under wMoli there is" no totalisator trotting meeting between Ashburton ana Forbury Park.