CALENDAR TOO CONGESTED

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1946, Page 6

CALENDAR TOO CONGESTED

-Press Association

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, April 1. The question of mid-week racing is a lively topic in-turf circles at present. As a war measure, racing was confined to Saturdays and public holidays. There has been a keen agitation .since the ending of the war to have the mid-week days restored, • mainly because the calendar has become too congested with the prewar list of fixtures crowded into one day's racing each week and also because of the greatly -increased overhead. cost to. owners. $ . There has been a strong feeling among the maj or clubs that' some. •basing of the restrictions wouid be justifl'ed during the winter months, and it is understood that represent^tions along thes'e lines have been made by, the racing authorities to the Government. •' It is well. known that the main objection to the restoration of 'week-day racing is the fear of the' Government that absenteeism in industry will increase and thus hinder the drive for greater production, particularly ih those seasonal occupations whicli are vitally concerned in the production of food. It was expected that the Wellington Racing Club would release the programme for its three-day July meeting to-day, but it was announced tbat consideration of the programme by the stewards had been deferred pending an ahnouncement by the Government on the question of mid-week racing. This may mean that the Wellington Racfng Club does not propose to use its third day in July if it is still necessary to extend the meeting over three Saturdays. There is a strong feeling among. the major clubs that, at least .for the winter months, meetings should not- .be extended in this fashion. It is common knowledge in racing circles that some of them will decline to use all the .permits availahle imless the ov.er-all duration of the' meetings can be shortened by the use of a week-day date. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Pafry), whose depaftment handles the issue of permits, is at present in tbe Soutli Island, and no ofiicial statement on the position is available, but it is understood that there is little likelihood of any relief being granted for the time being, because of the fear of further absenteeism in industry.