TOTALISATOR PERMITS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2194, 6 July 1914, Page 6

TOTALISATOR PERMITS

POSSIBILITY OF INCREASING

THEM PAHIATUA CLUB'S CASE . The grievances of certain ronntrv racing clubs in regard to tlu> distribution o! totalizator permits were again brought before the Government on Saturday morning, when a deputation from the l'uhiatua Kacing Club waited on tho Prime Minister and tho Minister of Internal Affairs (tho Hon. 11. D. Bell) in regard to tho loss of its two days' permit, as tho result of tlie decision of the Commission which sat in 1911. Tho deputation, which was introduced by Mr. J. 11. Escott, M.l\, consisted of Messrs. J. Broods, president of tho Pahiatua Racing Club, Mr. J. Jl'Cnrdlo and Dnrley.

Tho deputation asked that tho Government should givo everv facility to tho passing of Mr. Hunter's Bill, which provides for thirty additional permits, and also that tho claims of the Pahiatua Club should be kept in mind. It was considered that of tho clubs which had been deprived of their licenses tho Pahiatua Club, which' had lost botli its days, should receive first consideration. It was also asked whether the distribution of the existing permits could not bo reviewed.

Tho Hon. air. Bell said that if tho number of permits was increased ho was nuito suro' that Mr. Escott would see, that tho claims of the Pahiatua Club wcro duly considered. This club had a very good claim, but in suggesting a review of tho existing licenses tho present holders to a large extent were in a position similar to that of liotclkeepcrs. Clubs expended money on courses and improvements, nnd entered into engagements in regard to stakes, as a result of holding licei:t>cs, and if thoy wero deprived of their permits it would probably mean an injustice. In endeavouring to bo fair to tho clubs whose licenses had been taken away, they slionld also be fair to the present holders of licenses. Pahiatua had a very good case, but there wcro other clubs which also had very strong cases. If a permit was taken away horn any club and given to any one of tho clubs now without permits, thoro would he an enormous difficulty in dealing with other vlubs, which had equally strong, if not even stronger, claims. ' Licenses must not bo taken av.ay from existing holders without a very good cause, as what was done, in one case would also have to bo done in a number of other cases. Tho number cf metropolitan licenses that might bo fairly diverted to country clubs was ridiculously small in comparison with tlio number of claims, Tho question was too dillicult for the Government to undertake. In tho public interest ho hoped that Mr. Hunter's Bill would pass, and if it did become law lie would seo that tho claims of Pahiatua would be fairly considered.

The Prime Minister explained tho position in regard to private members' Bills, and saiu that this was a matter with which tho Government had nothing to do, but ho had no doubt that Mr. Hunter would seo that his Dill got a good placo on the Order Paper, 110 did not think that tho legislation passed three years ago had had the intended effect. Parliament was mistaken in agreeing to the previous legislation rcjiuiring clubs to license bookmakers. That was one of the silliest things over done by Parliament. (Hoar, hear.) Tho result was a public scandal, and the law had to bo repealed. But Parliament then went in an opposito direction by shutting down such clubs as the Pahiatua Club, and cone.titrating racing in the metropolitan centres. The result had been an increase instead of a dccroaso of gambling, and an enormous increase in the totalisator receipts. This was a pood thin;; for the clubs, but a bad thing for tho morals of tho community. He thought that a mistake had been made, and in respect to Pahiatua ho considered that a serious * injustice had been done. However, thoy must wait tho fate of Mr. Hunter's Bill. No moro could be dono at present.