H.—22

4

BEPOKT. To His Excellency the Right Honourable Arthur William de Brito Savile, Earl of Liverpool, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your Excellency,— We, the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency's Letters Patent of the 23rd December, 1914, which Letters Patent were extended on the 13th February, 1915, and still further extended on the 25th March, 1915, and by which we were directed to inquire into the following matters and things, that is to say, — (1.) To consider the several applications so received as aforesaid for the several classes of totalizator licenses : (2.) To report which fifteen racing clubs of those racing clubs which have so applied as aforesaid are best entitled to grants of totalizator licenses, and which eight trotting clubs of those trotting clubs which have so applied as aioresaid are best entitled to grants of totalizator licenses, and which eight hunt clubs which have so applied as aforesaid are best entitled to grants of totalizator licenses, and in the case of each class to report the reasons for your preference and selection : (3.) To inquire, in such manner as you shall see fit, and, where conveniently possible, by a personal inspection, into the suitability and convenience for racing meetings of the racecourses and buildings proposed to be used by each of the several classes of clubs so applying for licenses, and to report thereon : have to report as follows : — In accordance with the directions set out in the order of reference, we desire to state that we have visited and thoroughly inspected seventy-six racecourses, the number of applications in connection with the several branches of sport working out at follows :— Flat-racing Hunt Trotting (Jiubs. (.Hubs. Olubs. North Island .. . . . . 21 12 6 South Island .. .. .. 25 0 6 46 18 12 In addition to the above, an application was received for a. flat-racing license from the Chatham. Islands Jockey Club, but unfortunately we, were unable to pay a visit to the islands. Eleven applications were also received from existing totalizator clubs for an extension of their one-day annual fixtures, but as these requests were outside our order of reference the several applicants were informed that they could not be considered. Unquestionably the successful government of racing mainly depends upon the personnel of those who propose to control the sport, and we desire to state that during the course of our exhaustive investigations we were particularly pleased to find that, generally speaking, the character and sportsmanlike knowledge possessed by those who waited upon us were all that could be desired. By referring to the minutes of proceedings and evidence forwarded herewith it will be seen that ample opportunities were given to those who waited upon us to