More Direction To Centralise Urged

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 6

More Direction To Centralise Urged

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

The Racing Conference was urged yesterday to stop procrastinating and firmly direct centralisation of racing in New Zealand, eliminating some minor racecourses. The Egmont Racing Club made the recommendation to the Racing Conference committee of inquiry.

For the club, Mr D. B. Wilson said it was essential to the continuation of racing in Taranaki that some form of centralisation was undertaken there. In Taranaki there were at present three racecourses, at New Plymouth. Stratford and Hawera. He said the Egmont Racing Club, which had its course at Hawera, was now negotiating with the Opunake Racing Cluib and the Hawera Trotting Club for a system of joint-ownership of the Hawera course.

There was also the Stratford Racing Club, Stratford Trotting Club, Taranaki jockey Club, Taranaki Trotting Club, and Taranaki Hunt Club in the same area. He said the time was ripe for the Racing Conference to accept some responsibility and give “firm direction” to centralisation in Taranaki and elsewhere. It was not sufficient for the national body of

racing to adopt the attitude that the clubs must decide for themselves. Mr Wilson said there appeared to be general agreement among racing clubs that there should be re-organisa-tion of the Racing Conference. The present basis of representation was so loaded in favour of the greater metropolitan clubs that a continuation of the system must spell the doom of racing in provincial districts. NORTH CANTERBURY RACING CLUB, INC. NOMINATIONS NOMINATIONS for the above Club’s meeting at Rangiora on Friday, April 1, 1966. close at 4 p.rh. on Thursday, March 17, 1966, at the Club’s office: BYRNE and CO., 661 Colombo street, CHRISTCHURCH. Telephone 65-029. Christchurch. Telegrams ‘tBYROC,** Christchurch, —Advt.