RACING PERMITS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2466, 20 May 1915, Page 6

RACING PERMITS

CASE OF TWO HUNT CLUBS.

Arrangements pertaining to the allocation of racing permits under the Act of last year were discussed with the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. H. D. Bell) yesterday by representatives of the Woodlands (Pahiatua) Hunt Club and the Manawatu Hunt Club. , The Commission's report was based on the assumption that thg racing year ended on July 31, and that any licenses given to hunt clubs would bo granted during tho racing year, and, further, that hunt clubs ill adjacent districts should bo granted' a license in alternate years. In the case of the Manawatu Club it was pointed out that the Rangitikei Club did not propose to hold a meeting until September, and that the Manawatu Club was nuito prepared to hold a meeting before July 31, and thus save a year. Tho same position obtained as between the Woodlands and Daimevirko Clubs. Woodlands is prepared to 'hold a meeting before July 31 and Damievirke has no objection. The Minister, in replying, said the Commission found that as a rule hunt clubs held their meetings at the end of the hunting season, which usually terminated on July 31. For that reason it was provisionally, not finally, decided that the first year of the new arrangement should commence on August 1. so that all the clubs would start fairly. If, however, as the deputation pointed out, there were clubs that were prepared to hold a- meeting before July 31 he was quite willing to make an exception. But he would not force the- club which had the first year's permit to'race before July 31, but if the club which had the first year choso to agree with the club which had the second year that it should hold a meeting before July 31 he had riot the slightest objection to granting a lioense. This arrangement would only be carried out in cases in which the two clubs agreed to it. Even so, he made it perfectly clear that he would not grant a license to any club t'hat : was not properly equipped and that had not made necessary provision to carry out the requirements of the Act in' regard to the prohibition of bookmakers and so on.