TOO MANY RACING DAYS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3083, 14 May 1917, Page 4

TOO MANY RACING DAYS

SUBSTANTIAL OUT TO BE MADE.

'Asked in Christcburch whether anything was being done with regard W tho abolition or curtailment of racing in New Zealand, tho Hon. G. W- Russell, Minister of Internal Affairs, said that it was not practicable to tmnK ot abolishing racing while the war was on but no doubt there would be a substantial curtailment of racing perDuring the.year which tended on July 31, 1916, continued Mr. Russell. 169 racing permits were given, and racin* took place on 366 days, adding together all the separate days for which permits were given, although, of course, on many days racing tooK place in different parts of the country. Such a condition whilo the war was on was not only incongruous but intolerable, and Cabinet was united in the determination that there .must be a substantial cut in the number of racing days during the year beginning on August 1,-1917. Tho matter was now. being carefully considered by the Government, ' and it was probable that an effort would ho made to come to an early settlement as to'the amount ot reduction which should be made. After this had been arranged it was probable that the advice of the Racing Conference and -Che Trotting Conference would be asked as to how the allotment of the permits available could most judiciously be made,_ in order to provide a modicum of racing throughout the entire country.