GAMING COMMISSION HEARS RACING CLUBS

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1947, Page 6

GAMING COMMISSION HEARS RACING CLUBS

-Preas Association

NO NEED FOR CHANGE IN CONTROL

By Telegrapti-

WELLINGTON, Mar. 4. The Royal Commission on Gaming resumed its' sittings today when Mr. A. T. Donnelly, leading counsel for the N.Z. Raeing Conference, read to the Coinmissioii a statement on behalf of the conference. Mr. Donnelly explained that "the statement should be regarded as an opening address, and also, substantially, as evidence of the lirst witness to be called by the conference — the president, Mr. H. R. Ohalmers, who would give evidence later in amplification of some of the matters in the statement. An encyclopaedic treatise on raeing, filling 66 pages and comprising 20,000 words, ivas submitted by the New Zealand Raeing Conference, "acting for, and with the authority of, all the raeing clubs in the Dominion. " The following is a summary of specific subniissions: — 1. The present system of government and control of raeing in New Zealand has been developed by the efforts of iudividual men working in an honorary capacity for the love of the sport. It has proved satisfactory and there is no need for the State or any orgagisation different fro.m those constituted under the Rules of Raeing to assume control of raeing in New Zealand in part or in whole. 2. That the Minister of Internal Affairs be authorised by statute to issue at his diseretion and on the recommendation of the conference up to a maximum of 20 additional one-day totalisator licenccs for Raeing Clubs. 3. That an extension of mid-weelt raeing be authorised. 4. That no restriction be placed upon the exis'ting law granting raeing clubs the right to prohibit undesirables froni attending race meetings. 5. That raeing clubs be granted exemption from income and national and social seeurity tax other than in respect of income from investments and farming operations and that the rebate on totalisator tax be increased to 5 pcr cent. of the lirst £20,000 of totalisator investments. 6. That the business of bookinaking on or oll the course continue to be illegal. 7. That the principle of legalised off the course betting other than through bookmakers be asserted with a recommendation that a trihunal be set up to consider the appropriate system of putting this into elfect. 8. That raeing clubs be perinitted to operate a double totalisator for a niaxiiiiuin of twice in any raeing day. 9. That the telegraphing of money order bets to the totalisator be permitted. 10. That the publication of dividends.be authorised. 11. That knowledge must be established by t'lie prosecution in any eharge for sale of a ticket from the totalisator to a person under the age of 21. Many Witnesses Amoug the witnesses to be called by the Raeing Conference to give evidence will be the leading New Zealand jockey, W. J. Broughton, who is president of the New Zealand Joekeys' As-' sociation, said Mr. A. T. Donnelly during his subinission this morning. Otliers, in addition to the president of the conference, Mr. H. R. Chalmers. will be Mr. W. A. Irons, a steward of the Wellington Raeing Club, Mr. S. J. Uudsell, president of the New Zealand Raeing Ownors', Trainers' and Breed ers' Association, two well-known trainers, Messrs. G. W. New (Awapuni) and T. R. Ueorge. Mr. S. V. McEwen, a raeing journalist will also be called and' will give evidence fegarding South Atistraliau betting sliops, and others to be called include Mr. A. S. Ward (chief racecourse inspector for the conference), Mr. N. B. Sandilands (a stipendiary steward of the Raeing Conference), Mr. C. E. Robertson (chief cxecutive of the blood-stock departmeut of Wright, Stephenson, Ltd.), aud Mr. II. G. Warburtou (a raeing journalist) who, said counsel, had considerable experience in New Zealand and Australia. He would not be able to attend until March 12.