RACING COMMISSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16494, 3 August 1921, Page 4

RACING COMMISSION.

P-BOTEST© AGAINST REPORT PARLIAMENT'S POWERS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 2. 1 Protest's against the report of tho l Racing Commission continue to reach > the Minister of Internal Affairs, tho * Hon TV. Downie Stewart. liepresenta- [ tives of some clubs are seeking perP sonal interviews with the Minister. Just at present the *niain cause of protest is the decision that permits shall not be issued to clubs whose applicaL tions haye been, rejected bv the Com- , mission. Presumably, protests against T rejection will be reserved till the matter comes before Parliament, j It has been stated that Parliament may accept the report with modificat tions and alterations. There does not t appear to be authority for this in the Act. The Act authorises the appointa ment of a commission to determine the 3 number of licenses to be issued, the clubs to which they shall be issued and 3 tbe number of days on which thev may be used. The Governor-General \ the issue of a number of licenses not exceeding the number recommended by the Commission. It is this Order-in-Council and not the report which is j to be laid before Parliament within i thirty days of its issue .or the commencement of tho session. Either . House of Parliament m«v "by k resolu- * tion reject the Order-in-Council. which will then cease to have effect. In that 7 case the licenses shall not exceed those ’ authorised bv tbe principal Act. It does appear that the Governor-General ’ 1 (otherwise the Government) is not hound to follow the report of tho Com--1 mission, except that the licenses should T i not exceed tho number recommended - by the Commission, but once the Or- * der-in-Council is framed and issued Parliament has no choice but to accept it whollv or reject it absolutely. Of course. Parliament is master of its ! own business and can. if it chooses. [ pass legislation embodying nil. any, or ! none of the recommendations of the i i Commission. Whether the Government having obtained a report from experts, after ft thorough inquiry, will allow the House to reopen the whole matter * in detail is another matter.