TELEGRAM BEARS MINISTER’S NAME

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18063, 25 January 1927, Page 5

TELEGRAM BEARS MINISTER’S NAME

SURPRISE CAUSED BY REPUDIATION. Considerable surprise has been expressed in the city concerning the statement by Mr George Gould, president of the Canterbury Jockey Club, to the effect that the Hon R. F. Bollard, Minister of Internal Affairs, had declared to him that he did not know anything about a telegram which was sent to the Christchurch Royal Reception Committee recently stating that the Minister proposed to agree to the New Brighton Trotting Club racing at Addington on March 12 and 15. Showing the telegram to a “ Star ’’ reporter to-day, Mr W. E. Headley, secretary of the Royal Visit Reception Committee, said that it was extraordinary if the Minister, as stated, had repudiated the telegram, which bore his name, and gave no suggestion of having been sent by someone else acting on his behalf. Quite Incorrect. (Special to the ‘Star.”) WELLINGTON, 25. Certain of the remarks made by Mr George Gould, president of the Canterbury Jockey Club, in an interview yesterday over the controversy concerning the holding of a meeting by the club on March 15, during the visit of the Duke, and Duchess of York, were repudiated to-day by the Hon R. F. Bollard. Minister of Internal Affairs, when shown the report of the interview. Mr Bollard sai dthe statement credited to him that he had informed Mr Gould in Wellington that the Minister did not know anything about the telegram sent to the Royal Reception Committee on January 13 regarding the Canterbury Jockey Club holding their meeting on March 15 was quite incorrect. The Minister out that in his conversation with Mr Gould he ma demo reference to the telegram. "I notice,” said Mr Bollard, "that I ara further credited in the report with having said to Mr Gould that I was not likely to intervene by refusing to gYaijt a totalisator license to the club for the date, mentioned. I informed Mr Gould, and I think that gentleman will admit this, that the question of changing the dates to enable the C.J.C. to hold their meeting on March 15 was entirely one for the Dates Com- J rnittce of the New Zealand Racing Conference to decide, and that if the

latter approved of the suggested change, then the question became one for me to consider whether the totalisator license should be granted to the club. I think Mr Gould will agree with me when I say that since I have been Minister of Internal Affairs I have never attempted in any way whatever to interfere with the allocation of dates or the internal workings of a racing or trotting club. These matters and the question of dates for the holding of meetings, are solely functions of the two conferences and not mine.”