WAR AND RACING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3981, 14 July 1915, Page 4

WAR AND RACING.

QUESTION OF REDUCTION

B v Telegraph —Special Correspondent ° WELLINGTON. -July 13. A question in regard to the suggested reduction in the number of racing davs* in a wear in New Zealand was asked of the Prime .Minister in the House to-day by Mr L. M. Isiti {Oh ristch u rcli). . Mr Isitt stated that a Pacing Conference was to he held in the city that night, and asked the Prime Minister if he did not think it desirable that the- numbers of racing and trotting meetings should be reduced during the war. During 1914 the public invested £4,185.094 in the totalisator. despite the distress entailed by the war drain, which threatened to be greater than ever. He knew racing men who were desirous of such a restriction, and lie thought that an appeal by tne Prime Minister to the patriotism ol racing men would carry weight. Mr Massey : Do you desire the Gorernment to introduce legislation? Mr Isitt: I want an expression o> opinion from vou. Mr Massey: I was-not aware daa. conference was being held to-day. The lion, gentleman knows more about it than I do. (Laughter.) An Hon. Member: He is a racing man. (Laughter.) _ _ Mr Massey said that lie was iniormed on inquiry, that a Racing Conference was not being held that cay. A Member: A Trotting Conference is being held to-day. Mr Massey said the Government had not lost sight of the matter. H had been under consideration for some time, but, up to the present, legislation had not been introduced nor permits withheld. It might be necessary to do so later, but it had not been thought desirable up to the present.