RACING PERMITS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1499, 23 July 1912, Page 6

RACING PERMITS.

HUNT AND TROTTING CLUBB. A PALMERSTON NORTH DEPUTATION. (By Telegraph—Own IlcpoTter.) Woodville, July 22. An increase iu the number of totalisatof permits for the special benefit of hunt and trotting clubs was asked for by a deputation which, interviewed tho Prime iJ.niis.ter (the lion. \V. I'. Massey) at l'uimeraton North to-day. -Mr. D. Duick (member for Palnicrston. North) introduced tho deputation, and staled that it represented tno l'alm&r.stoii North Trotting Club and the Manawatu Hunt. These bodies considered that hunting and trotting were most useful institutions, . which encouraged tho breeding of horses of a good type. The principal request of tho deputation was that a few additional permits should be issued for hunting and trotting meetings, Sir. F. Nathan, (president of the. Palmerstou North Trotting Club) said that his club wished to obtain a permit for a one-day trotting meeting, so that tho sport might b» more advantageously carried on in tho district Tho financial members of tho dub ' numbered one. hundred and seventy. Although they had not been able to obtain a totallisator permit for their next meeting, donations, mostly from farmers, had enabled them to run it very successfully. It would lw hopeless, however, to attempt to continue running successful meetings if they had to vely mi donations alone. The "object of the club was to encourage the breeding of a good class of house. Farmers were moro interested in trotting than townspeople, because they recognised that tho sport enabled them to carry on more advantageously their business as farmers and horse-breeders. Tho North Island, Mr. Nathan remarked, was much worseoff than tho South Island in tho matter of trotting permits. In the South Island tlioM were twelve clubs, thirty-one permits, and thirty-six racing days. In tho North Island there were only five clubs, eight permits, and fifteen racing days. It scorned to them that there was a disproportionate allotment, of tota.lisa.tor permits between the two islands. Mr. Nathan contended that the consideration recently extended to the Rangitikei Racing Club entitled the Palmerston Trottinf! Club to aiiniln.r consideration. Rangitikei was situated in the midst of a, large racing district, where there wero no other trotting clubs. Since it had l>cen possible to take permits from other racing clubs and irivo them to Rangitikei, it should be possible to take some permits from the trotling clubs that now held them, particularly those of the South Island, and giv« ono permit to Palmerston. At present no other trotting meeting was held within thirty miles of Palmerston. At Greytowir and Lower Hull there were annual day meetings, and tho Wangauni Trotting Club had a two-day permit. Tho Palmerston Trotting Club served a much larger district than the Rangitikoi Racing Club. It was almost impossible-to run a (rotting club successfully and provide tho stakes necessary to encourage breeders to raisehorses for trotting unless some means were provided of gathering in funds. The only means nvailablo at present seemed to be. tho totalise tor. Mr. Nathan emphasised the point that the deputation was representative of the.farmers anil country people of the district. They asked to 1)3 treated in the sanio manner as Rangitikei had been treated. The deputation had been hurriedly arranged, but people had come from twenly-'fivo miles away to attend.

Mr. S. D. Hunt said that trotting encouraged the breeding of a claw of horses u'reatly needed throughout New Zealand. Trotters could be used in traps,-in agricultural- work, or for remounts if nocessorv. i Mr. Rankin declared that at present tho horses to bo seen in (he South Island were markedly superior to those of tho North Island. A trotting meeting in IVI- - would induco an improvement in the- horses before mnny years had passed. Mr. W. M'lConzie, representing tho Mantiwatu Hunt, supported what th» trotting representatives had said. Their aim ns,' lie remarked, to encourage the bidding of horses capable of carrying a. man. The JTunt hnd about three • hundred members. There was any amount of room in the district for two picks, and if they. got. such aid aa a totalizator permit for a one-day steeplechase meeting would give, they would run two packs. At present they lwl to rely solely on donations, ami it was unfair to expect that the meeting should continue under the circumstances.

Mr. Buick claimed that both clubs had made out o. good case and expressed tho opinion (hat m\ extension of racing days for the benefit of hunt and trotting clubs would be popular. Tho Prime Minister foid that this was not the first deputation he had received in connection with racing matters. He need repeat nothing he had previously said except that the number of racing days had been limited to two hundred and fifty, and that number could not be added to without legislation. He could speak as representing Mr, Bell (Minister for Internal Affairs) and his other colleagues of tho Government. The Kalieitikei club had been referred to. There was no doubt (hat a certain amount of hardship had resulted from tho wort of the Racing Commission, and that tho worst case of hardship was that of Eftngitikei. This had been admitted in Parliament. A private Bill, introduced on behalf of the country clnbs, durin? tho long session of 1911 had contained a snscial clause designed to put the Eangi-. tikoi Club 'right It was impossible to meet other difficulties in tho same way. There were not many clubs willing to give up one dav as Morton had dtm? for the benefit of Eaixritikoi. A deputation from tho Country Clubs' Conference had informed him that it was intended to introduce into Parliament very early in the present session a private Bill to increase tho number of racing days. On behalf of tho Government ho had promised what it, seemed hardly necessary to sav that tho Bill should have affair run. Whatever happens (o it (ho Bill would , bo useful in that it would give members an opportunity of expressing their opinions on tho subject of Taring permits. What tho fato of the Bill would bo he could not say. Speaking as a fanner and horsobrecdrr) however, his sympathies wore with (rotting and hunt; clubs. Whatever difference of opinion there might bo ill regard to the influence of racing crenerallv upon (ho class of horses raised there could be no doubt that the influence of trotting was beneficial. He would lay their representations before his colleagues and hoped that (hey would bo able to arrive at a solution of (ho difficulty which would be satisfactory to all . concerned. Mr. Buick asked the Prime Ministet whether he thought there was any eha.net - of getting through a special Bill dealing with hunt and trotting clubs only. Mr. Mflisey: A special clause miebt be embodied in tho proposed private Bill, t; or you might bring in a separate Bill. Sir. Nathan said that the deputation .was pleased to hear that the attitude of tho Government in refcrenco to tho duestions raised would be n; non-party ono, and that members would bo left to express their opinions individually.

rAniATUA RACING CLUB. Wo°dville, Julv 22. Tho Prime Minister received a deputation this evening from tho P-ahictuo. TC-aoiug Club. Tt was introduced by Mr. J. H. Eseott, M.P. Mr. Prceds (president of the club) said that tho details ■of its claims had boon fully stated. It hnd been in existence for twenty years when tho Racing Commission" wiped it out. The club considered that it. lwd a very great grievance-. Ho hoped Hint when Hie claims of Pahiatua coma before tho House tho Prime Minister would recognise tho justice, of its claim. If tho club went permanently out of existence the 'Woodlands Hunt which was dependent upon it, would have to so too. . The- stewards and members of the duo supported and Amplified what their president had said. Mr. M-ass-ev made much tho same reply as ho has made to other raciug dopnl.Ttions recently. Ho informed the dountation that tho Government would not introduce raring Issrislatinu tliis session, but tlwt a. private Bill was to be promoted on behalf of country clubs. He was hopeful that some folnviou would bo arrived at that would bo satisfactory to th« country clubs which considered that (hey had grievances.