AN UNBENDING ATTITUDE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 988, 11 February 1909, Page 22

AN UNBENDING ATTITUDE.

The Auckland “ Star” says that the decision of the electors at the last licensing poll that reduction should be carried in Parnell has brought about a peculiar position, in which it is reported that the No-license party has adopted an attitude of unbending determination, irrespective of the probable cost to the local bodies. Seeing that no more and no less than two licenses can be done away with in Parnell, an attempt has been made to bring about a compromise in respect to the conditional licenses issued to the racing clubs for their meetings, in the hope of saving the local bodies the expense of an election for a licensing committee. Hearing that something was afoot in this direction, a “Star” reporter the other day called upon a member of the trade, and was informed that an endeavour had been made, which, it was still hoped, would prove successful, to bring about a satisfactory solution of the difficulty. The deadlock has arisen over the question of conditional licenses to the Auckland and Otahuhu Trotting Clubs. The trade is firm in its resolve not to desert the trotting clubs in their appeal for recognition in the matter, while the No-license party declare that they will not be agreeable to the issue of any conditional licenses to the trotting clubs whatever. And unless, therefore, the compromise which is being attempted is brought about, the cost of an election for the Parnell Licensing Committee will be necessitated, in which the issues will be practically confined to the granting or otherwise of conditoinal licenses to the less influential racing bodies.