H.—2B

6

others have a rule that the question is to be decided by a meeting of members ; others have boldly provided that the funds shall be divided among the members for the time being; others, again, have specified some worthy object to be benefited. Where a club has a small membership and large assets, and no rule— or an unsatisfactory rule —on the subject mentioned, it is not difficult to imagine what, in certain circumstances, may be brought about. B. In all cases where this Commission has indicated requirements with reference to any club enjoying totalizator privileges it should be made one of the duties of the officer of the Internal Affairs Department who has functions to perform in connection with the totalizator to urge the carrying-out of such requirements, and in the case and during the continuance of any wilful and inexcusable default the privileges of the offending club should be withheld. The same officer should be required to inquire as to the provision for surgical attendance and ambulance accommodation, and also as to the sanitary accommodation provided for the publie and other persons attending the race meetings he visits in the course of his official duties, and to report to the Minister thereon, with like consequences to any club found, and continuing after notice, to be in wilful default. In the case of several country racecourses visited by us we found an astonishing disregard of ordinary decency in the sanitary accommodation provided. C. In quite a number of clubs we found a practice of selling only £l totalizator tickets. Upon inquiring the reason we were informed it was thought that administration expenses would be higher if 10s. tickets were also sold. We are strongly of opinion that all clubs should be compelled, as a condition of their totalizator licenses, to sell 10s. tickets in the outside enclosure. We consider it desirable that 10s. tickets should be sold in the inside as well as the outside enclosure. D. All clubs, but especially those enjoying totalizator privileges for one day in the year, should be compelled to provide reasonable comfort, in the matter of accommodation, for the public of the outside enclosure. In some of the country racecourses we observed, with regret, a marked neglect of the outside public. E. Where a totalizator license is authorized, by the finding of this Commission or otherwise, covering a stated number of days —whether one or more —it should be permitted the club to which the same has been allotted, upon good grounds shown, to exchange the same for other licenses, but always so that the aggregate number of days allotted to such club for the year be not exceeded. F. No license should be granted to any club which fails to provide and maintain properly constructed training-tracks suitable to, and adequate for, the requirements of the district it serves. G. It is most desirable in every case, where to do so is reasonably possible, that the club should itself, undertake the working of the totalizator. The practice, which at present largely prevails, of contracting with the machine-proprietors on a percentage of turnover basis is to our mind often wasteful, and objectionable in many ways. H. Only in exceptional circumstances should a club be allowed to race on any course other than its own, and in no circumstances should a license granted to a country club be permitted to be exercised on a city or suburban racecourse. I. Visiting, as we did, every part of the Dominion where racing was part of the recreation of the people, it was not surprising that a considerable diversity in the conditions subsisting should be met with. Whereas in three of the large centres we were powerfully exhorted —in some cases with much exaggeration, and in at least one other by reasoned argument and with impressive moderation —not to increase racing facilities lest the workers be unduly distracted and industries prejudiced, in that part of Westland wherein sawmilling and coal-mining are the staple industries there was a consensus of opinion among employers of labour that a sufficiency of racing was of the utmost importance to the well-being of the business of the district, and we were besought, with convincing sincerity, to do nothing whereby the opportunities for its enjoyment might be diminished. J. We were gratified to find that racing affairs throughout the Dominion are, with few exceptions, controlled by men of high standing and repute, and according to the best traditions of the sport. Particularly were we impressed by the intensity of the interest shown in the clubs of country districts, where practically