RACING PERMITS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 13

RACING PERMITS.

A DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

AN ASHURST OEPUTATION,

POSITION OP GOVERNMENT DEFINED.

The vexed question of the allocation of totalisator permits was reopened yesterdny, whon a deputation-from tho Ashhurst Racing Club waited upon tho Hon. H. D. Bell (Minister for Internal Affairs). The Hon. W. IV Massey- (Prinio Minister) was present, and had something to say ,<ra the subjeot of tho distribution of Permits. Incidentally Mr. Massey indicated that a private Bill designed to rectify the grievances of country clubs, provided always that it did not overstep the hounds of reason, would not be opposed by tho Gove™lr. D. H. Guthrie,. member for Oroua. in introducing Hie deputation, stated that the Ashhurst Club was one of those wiped out es a result of the Racing Commission's report. The club claimed that it had been dealt with very unfairly. It had been in existence for twenty-ono years, and gavo moro money in stakes than any other club in Now Zealand ot its size. It had endeavoured to encourage the host 'dess of racing and never gave a stake under 100 sovs., and had one race worth £SW. The club had established a classic race for hooks* and received nominations from all parts of New Zealand. From every point of view- tlie olub never anticipated that it would "have been .one of those which would have been wiped out. Although the Government had,announced that the determination arrived at was final so far , os this racing 'year was concerned, tho Ashhurst Club had determined to lay its views before the Government.

- A Statistical Survey. Mr A. W. Trass, secretary, of the olub, submitted a statement showing tho position of tho club. It was mentioned, anloii" otlier things, that tie club was established twenty-one years ago to proVide residents of tho Ashburst-Pohanguia. district with one day's racing annually. Residents ' were convinced that it was never intended that such a club should bo abolished. The Ashhursfc Club had been the premier one-day olub of the Dominion, and had distributed an average of Xl27fi per day in stakes for tho last five years. On tnreo occasions a iCoOO handicap; ivaS placed pa the programme. The totalisator turnover averaged .£IO,BOO per day over the 'same period. The club had expended some JEIOOO in l purchasing a freehold course and ' building appointments, which compared very favourably with those of a number of clubs holding two and'three-days' racing a year.. The club's liabilities were MW. Notwithstanding that the Racing Commission was apparently satisfied with; the course, and appototments, the district .was deprived of its oao pet lamb, while other country localities were allowed to retain four days a yean "Taking into consideration tho high position held by the club in thojacini arena," concluded the statement, the lengthy- period of its existence, the very largo area of back cotontryin ftp Pohangina County it catered for, the time and money' expended in acquiring a freehold and up-to-date racecourse, tho club. s stron" flnonoial position, and tho ultimate hardship the community will suffer in the loss of the grounds if the permit is not restored, we claim that tho club is justly entitled to reinstatement.

Preference or Consideration. Mr. D. C. M'Cartky, president of the club, pointed out that the House of Repreventatives, by 30 votes' to 35, had carried a clause in the Gaming Bill giving preference to country clubs. Mr. Bell: Not "preference —considera\u. M'Carthy. I beg your poidpn: the word "consideration" was.substituted for. "preference" in the Legislative Council. What did the Commission do? It took four days from metropolitan clubs and fourteen one-day clubs- in the country were wiped out.. , The ikidinjjs of that Commission were 'absolutely biased findingSi The British public liked racing, and they did "not like to seo anything by which individual Tacin? would suffer.. "We hope that your administration will bo characterised by the wisdom of statesmanship rather, than by the mere expediency of ft politician." , Mr. Cr. W. R. EvanS quoted <ho finding of the , Raciti? Commission on the Ashhnrst Club: "Unnecessaryj midway between Woodvillc and Palmci'ston." How, lie asked, could tho club be looked upon as unnecessary when it had forty miles of back country?. There wore other clubs with three, fonr, and five days' racing round it. Here was a club with a beautiful course and up-to-date appointments, , and yet it could not get one day.

"ROUGH JUSTICE." MINISTER EXPLAINS THE POSITION, The Minister for. Internal Affairs, in reply, said that he'was'quite aware that the case- of the Ashhiirst Club was a hard one, but tho Legislature had deoided to limit the days of racing to 250. Tho Racing. Commission, ho had no doubt, had tried'to do rough justice, but he was not responsible for that, and the result necessarily was that some clubs had 6ufferaL H« had come into office only ten days ago, and.was suddenly faced with the position that before tho various organisations controlling racing and trotting had met ,he hud to come to a , decision on the question, which, his predecessors liad been struggling with. "I did my best," he continued, "to ascertain whether there was room and time for reconsideration. You must remember this: that there are not only plaintiffs like yourselves who have to bo considered—there are the defendants. I havo power to grant licenses to you, but that involves tho duty of taking them flway from someone else. Which club, then, had the strongest case? It was quite impossible for anyone to do what was nsked in , tho time. If it was merely a question of granting a license for Ashlnirst, that would havo been a simple matter, but whore tho licenso was to como from would have been a very different matter. There was a very easy course open to me. That was to say: 1 will do nothing: I will abide by the report of the Rjtcing Commission.' If I had followed the easy course, that was the line I would havo taken. ' I found tho country clubs last year had introduced a Bill in Parliament and singled out under a separate and distinct, clause, the Rangitikei and Marton Clubs for special treatment. Rightly or wrongly, I did what was suggested in that clause., The position was unique, because the license had been taken away from one club and given to another. Rangitikei had four days and Marton two. As a result- Of the Commission's finding Mairton was given four days and Raiigitikei none. I thought it was right to deal with tho ease of R&ngitikei on the lines of the Bill, and my colleagues thought,eo too; Mr. Massey: And both clubs were satisfied.

An Impossible Task, Mr. Bell endorsed this statement, and said that Ashhurst Club might sav, "If you dealt with Eangitikei you should also have dealt with out case." That course wos impossible.. No one man or a dozen me.n could have done it. He was very sorry, but ho need hardly. say that the whole matter would have to bo dealt with next year. For. tht> convenience of everyone concerned ■ With racing, tho matter should bo dealt with immediately, but he had done his best. It waa impossible to attempt to do justice all round. Hβ had simply dealt with the matter on tho lines of the country clubs' suggestions, and ho hoped the deputation would not imagine that Ashhurst had been, treated differently from Efl.ngitikoi, except on tho invitation of the country r.lnb?. ITo was boun<l .to adhere to his depision. and he trusted the deputation would agree with it. Mr* M'Carthy: You have power to tnko eway a permit from a club which has a surplus. The Premier: Oan you suggest one? Mr. M'Carthy: I would not like to do 'Hint.. Tho Premier: That is our difficulty. Mr. Guthrie: I presume that your doc Won is definite? Tho Hon. Mr. Bell: Yes, I have intimated so. Statement by Mr. Massey. The Prime Minister said ho wanted to remind the deputation of tho ciuiso of all this. What had led up to tho trouble was tho licensing of bookmakers luider tho amomdinenb to the Gaming Act of

1907. Parliament agreed to tbe proposal very unwisely, and the direct result was an increaso in racing and a very great increase in gambling. The attention of the publio was directed to what was going on and Parliament, very properly, was called upon to Uke action. A Racing Commission was set up and given a great deal of power and authority. Tho findings of tho Commission wiped out certain country clubs nnd these clubs felt that they had a grievance. So foT as ho was concerned and so far as the other members of tho Government were concorned, he could say that they had a verj r great deal of feeling for thoso clubs, which were really pionio racing clubs. Mr. Bell, however, had pointed out tho difficulties of the position. "I am given, to understand," ho continued, "that an opportunity will bo taken, of testing tho opinion of Parliament on the point. I would like to say that, whilo we have no intention of encouraging gambling, you mil find that no difficulty will be placed in the way of genuine sport."

Prospects of Private Bill. Mr. Guthrie said tho deputation book the reply as final, but tho longer tho country clubs remained out of actual existence the more_ difficult -would it bo for them to got their permits back. Supposing the country clubs, through a private member, introduced a Bill dealing with the matter, would the Government put it through? Air. Ball: I, would like to see the Bill before 6aying I would support it. Mr. Massey said that a private members' day was provided for, and a private member could do anything he liked. Mr. Guthrie said that a private Bill had been introduced in last Parliament, there -was a majority in the • House in favour, of it, and yet it was not passed. He did not wish to go into the reasons why the Bill was baulked, but if there had been an open mind on the part of the Government that Bill would heive been on tho Statute Book to-day. "Will we got a fair run for the Bill?" ho asked. The Prime Minister: So far as the Government is concerned, /you will get a fair run. Of course, tho forms of the House often stand in tho way of a private Bill. . Mr.-Bell: You know that on licensing questions Governments are divided and parties aro divided. Mr. Massey: Until we see the Bill we cannot promise to support it. Mr. Guthrie: "We will give you an assurance that the Bill will contain nothing unfair. All we wish to do is this: that the.forms of the House will not he used against n=, and that tho metteT will ba approached as a non-party question. ...Mr. M'Carthy: All we ask for is bare justice. This democratic country is becoming very active. I think the new Government is out to start its career witn democratic fairness i nnd instinot. Mr. Masiey: Hear, hear.