RACING PERMITS.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 11 August 1921, Page 7

RACING PERMITS.

MINISTER’S ALTERED PLANS. STRONG PRESSURE FROM MEMBERS. [To the Advertiser-By arrangement] WELLINGTON, August 5. A change of plans was announced in, connection with the Racing Commission’s recommendations to-day by the Hon. W. D. Stewart, Minister of Internal Affairs, as a consequence, ho explained, of the strong representations by members of Parliament of all shades of political opinion. Tile Minister had been interviewed by officers of the Otahuhu Trotting Club, whoso existence is threatened by the Commission’s report. The deputation having heard the Minister’s explanation of his changed plans, expressed satisfaction, and its confidence in getting a square deal from Parliament, which is now to have an unfettered opportunity of dealing with permits, as no action will be taken until the report is considered by both Houses. The Minister, in replying to the representations, suggested that the! deputation would readily realise that it was not in his power to review the Commission’s report, for it was prepared for Parliament. His only desire was to bring the report before Parliament in such a way that it would get fair and proper consideration, and that he would do nothing in the meantime which would prejudice that possibility. The Act provided that on receipt of the report Go-vernment-in-Oouncil may, by Order-in-Council, authorise a number of days for racing not in excess of that recommended by the Commission, and on that authority he could issue permits until Parliament met. Within thirty days of Parliament meeting he must table the Commission’s report, “and then,” continued the Minister, “there is a peculiar provision inserted in the Act which states that if either House by resolution disallows the report-, then it is cancelled and all permits authorised by it in excess of those previously existing must be disallowed. The peculiar part of it is that it throws the onus on Parliament of rejecting the report, whereas, as you may know, the usual procedure in connection with Royal Commission reports is that they have to be adopted by Parliament before they become effective. As I read the law, unless Parliament disallows it, it operates and becomes law.

THE PROMISE TO PARLIAMENT. “Combined with that,” continued the Hon. Mr Stewart, ‘‘l had to keep in mind the fact that a promise was made to Parliament that no extra permits would be issued without Parliament first having an opportunity of considering the position. That would have been simple enough had Parliament been in session when tne report came to hand, but Parliament does not meet until next month, and it seems to me that the only feasible way is to give effect both to tho law and the promise made by the Prime Minister, that I should suspend any permits recommended to be cut-out by the Commission which would, in the ordinary course of events, operate before Parliament could deal with it, and that if Parliament adopted the report, or did not disallow it, I would then have kept within the terms of the Commission for the year’s racing, and if, on tho other hand, Parliament rejected the report it would be feasible to allocate dates for those clubs temporarily cut out later in the year. On the other hand, if I did not cut out clubs which were recommended to be cut out, and Par liament confirmed the report I might go short of dates for several clubs authorised by the Commission later on in the year. I did not feel it safe to gamble on the prospect of some of the other clubs not being able to comply with the terms of the Commission’s report. However improbable it might appear to you or to other racing experts, that was the position as it appealed to me when the report was issued.” A NEW FACTOR. The Minister continued; “I did net get the Government to issue the Order in-Council, but that is a small matter of form. There is authority sufficient fjr the present state of affairs in the existing legislation. A new factor lias arisen which, I frankly admit, has taken me somewhat by surprise, and that is that quite recently a considerable number of members of Parliament have informed me, both personally and by letters or telegrams that in their opinion the promise made to Parliament was that nothing should be done with the Commission’s report until Parliament dealt with it, and that it was not merely a promise that no extra permits would be issued. As you know, I have had a request from iiio whole of tho members for Auck-

land, asking that nothing be done until Parliament meets, and as members of all shades of opinion and all parties in the House, from the Speaker downwards, have made, representations on these lines, asking that the report be held down until Parliament meets, or even going further than that by stating that in their opinion it will be a breach of faith if I allow the report to operate before Parliament deals with it, I have had to consider these representations ver,- seriously, because I am accountable to members of Parliament. It is not so long since that I was a private member myself, and I am jealous of tho rights of private members. It appeared to me also that if they were, correct in their contention and I were to act, in contravention of their strong representations and wishes, I might defeat the very object I had in view, which was to secure for the report a fair and impartial hearing from. Parliament, because I. might succeed in antagonising members against the report and prejudicing fair consideration of it, which is the last thing I want to do. My only object is to see that members deal with the report without regard to any external consideration of how they have been treated by tho Minister in charge.

RECONSKDERATION BY CABINET. “I have, therefore, promised, these members,” continued Mr Stewart, “that I would resubmit the matter to the Cabinet. When I arrived' at my original determination the Cabinet concurred in the view I took of the position and in the action I proposed. But I have promised these members to re-sub-mit the matter to the Cabinet in view of the strong representations made bymembers, for the purpose of ascertaining whether matters should be allowed to take their usual course until Parliament meetb and deals with the report one way or the other. That is the waymatters stand at present, and I do not think I can carry it further in the meantime. If the matter is reconsidered on the lines I Tia.ve indicated it may lead to permits being allowed to be issued' for the earlier part of the season until Parliament can deal with it.”

Mr Mackenzie, Chairman of the Otahuhu Club, thanked the Minister for his reply. “We are perfectly satisfied with your remarks,” he said, “and we have every confidence in leaving our case in your hands and the hands of of Parliament.”

The Minister: “You quite understand that reconsideration is given to the matter purely in consequence of these strong representations from different members of Parliament, and that this is the only reason I cannot allow any representations that racing clubs maymake to influence my attitude towards the report. The report is a Parliament's report and is for Parliament.”