RACING REDUCTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 8

RACING REDUCTION

ARRANGEMENTS MADE

ONE-THIRD CURTAILMENT

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER

A joint meeting of the Racing Conference and Die 'l rotting Conference has l.een sitting in Wellington during tho past day or two considering the proposal of the Government that tue uumber of racing days should be reduced during the war period. An arrangement has been concluded by which tho number of days shall bo reduced by one-third. The Government, in its communication to tho racing control bodies, asked for alternative suggestions for curtailment by onethird and by one-half, but it is now announced lliat the smaller reduction has been agreed to by the Cabinet. The members of the joint conference had an interview with the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) yesterday, at which the whole business was fully discussed.

A statement as to the result of this interview was made to a Dominion reporter by Mr. Russell yesterday. "I am glad," said Mr. Russell, "that both conferences have accepted the proposed curtailment in a true patriotic spirit. While they have questioned the necessity for the intended reduction, they have come into line with a good grace.

"The conference strongly dissented from the proposal that alternative schemes should bo submitted for reduction by a third and a half, on the ground that this would give rise to unnecessary conflict, and involve both conferences and the Government in needless discussion with tho clubs. They therefore suggested that the curtailment should be in the lower ratio, and to this Cabinet has agreed. "Under the scheme which Has been adopted, it is agreed that tho reduction for tho whole Dominion shall be applied in the same ratio for each of the racing districts severallv. The district committees are to decide which days of racing arc to be discontinued within their own areas. These district committees are special committees set up for this purpose. Each committee will consist of the district delegates to the conference, and tivo members of the Metropolitan Committee.

"I have felt throughout that it was most desirablo that tho clubs themselves should in the first place be given an opportunity of either stopping or curtailing their own operations during the war. I believe it will be better in every enso that curtailment should tako place by voluntary action or agreement rather than by compulsion. The conference was entirely in agreementjwith this idea, and circulars are being sent out at once by Sir George Clifford, as president of the combiued conference representing tho s]>orts of racing and trotting, to every club in the Dominion, asking the club to decide for itself how far it is prepared to go in the direction desired by tho Government.

"The following Taring clubs have advised me that they do not intend to carry on racing until after the war:— Lake County Jockey Club, holding a twodav license,' and the Cheviot and ICuraniea Clubs, each holding a one-day license. In addition to these, the Waimate and Christ'church Hunt Clubs, which each have a one-day license in alternate years, have also declared their intention to hold no more meetings while the war lasts. Some clubs also have curtailed their racing during the present year. The Marlborough Racing Club abandoned its May meeting of two days owing to the coal strike and the reduction ol the train services, the Ashbnrton County Eacing Club did not hold its May meeting of two days, and the North Otago Jockey Club confined its May meeting to one dav instead of two. It will thus be seen that a substantial beginning has already been made in the direction of curtailment.

"One important question arising out of the reduction in the number of racing days is the maintenance of racecourses which will bo closed down, and the payment of interest on mortgages and bank overdrafts by clnbs which have lost their licenses temporarily. It must be evident that the scheme must include a financial arrangement providing for the assistance of those clubs which either voluntarily or by compulsion have ceased racing. I am glad to know that tho 'conference has included this as part of ttio scheme of curtailment, the intention being to provide a sufficient sum out of the profits made at meetings held to provide for the liabilities of the clubs which have lost their income by losing their meetings. "A further suggestion which I ventured to make to the conference was favourably received. I suggested that in order to provide for the re-establishment of racing on a sound basis after tho war, the stakes of those clubs which lose their licenses should be guaranteed by the associated clubs for the first year when they begin to operate again, on the understanding that any money paid out under such a guarantee shall be repaid as soort as tho club is' in a position to do so. "Tho: conferences will take action at once to prepare the proposed schedule of permits for the coming racing season, and this schedule will be submitted to the Government for final approval. 'As the new racing year begins on August 1, it is necessary that whatever action is to bo taken shall bo taken at once, in order that the clubs may know their position in time to prepare their programmes in advance for the information of horse-owners and others interested in the sport."