TROTTING DATES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 124, 28 May 1942, Page 3

TROTTING DATES

WAIKATO AMALGAMATION Amalgamation of trotting dates in the South Auckland district during the war was advocated by a deputation representative of the Waikato Trotting Club to .Mr. I'arry, .Minister of Internal Allah's, at Mam i I ton vest erday. It was pointed out !>v .Air. P. CI. Tlarkness. vice-president of the club, that the cut in dates imposed by the Government was not objected to. but it was felt that in some respects the Auckland Province was penalised more than others. If tlie three clubs in South Auckland, comprising Hamilton (three flays). Thames (two days) and Cambridge (two days) could arrange amalgamation for the period of the war. with centralisation of racing, and all profits to go to the war effort, there would be inducement to carry on. The Minister said he was keenly appreciative of the position as outlined and would look into the matter of amalgamation. The other matters referred to would be placed before the War Cabinet as the appropriate body for decision. Objections From Waikato Answering a question by the Minister. Mr. Harkness stated that last season the Waikato Club, with three days' trotting, gave £4430 in stakes and handled £7.">.fM5 on the totalisator. an average of 12.".000 a dav. Cambridge Club, in two days, gave £2260 in stakes and handled t'.'in,77i!. tlie average being about £20,000. Thames Club's two days had £2270 as stakes and the totalisator handled about £17.000 a dav. Mr. Parry reminded the deputation that there had been stronglv-voiecd objection, from the Waikato itself, to continuation of several popular forms of sport and recreation, with the claims that every effort should be concentrated on winning the war; in effect, it had been asserted that owners of horses should turn them into the paddock and racing and trotting should be stopped altogether. Personally he was not in favour of such a drastic step. As Minister of Internal Affairs he wanted to provide reasonable recreation for the people without infringing on the effort, to win the war. Tt was, authori' ie -• agreed, not wise to Keep an army or a population geared up to n high pitch continuously. There must be breaks for recreation. There was also a duty to those serving overseas to keep recreation facilities functioning at least with some prospect of restoration to normal after the war.