TOTE PERMITS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 November 1924, Page 5

TOTE PERMITS

EXTRA ALLOCATIONS

HOW WILL HAWERA FARE? DELUGE OF APPLICATIONS. (By Telegraph.— Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON. Nov. 13. Daily deputations and a heavy mail are features of the wo t rk of the Hon. Bollard (Minister of Internal Affairs) since Parliament authorised 31 extratotabsator permits. The rush is not confined to country clubs, which have been racing without the tote. Some city c*J übs are asking ror an extra, dav but it is in the highest degree unlikely that they will be obliged. The total number of applications is said to be more- than for thrice the number of peimits available. The allocation is at the complete discretion of the Munster of Internal Affairs, who will, however, consult the Racing Conference and the Trotting Conference, who are meeting here this week. Advice will be received from these bodies, and the Minister has his independent experts at liis disposal. No club is likely to obtain ia permit unless racing can be properly and safely conducted on the course, and first- consideration will undoubtedly he given to dubs in the" country-where, there is a lair population which can be given a day’s racing within easy reach of home, so that little travelling time be needed to attend a meeting. A certain city area is desirous of obtaining another permit owing to tlie fact that its present racing days are badly grouped, leaving: a gap in the callendar which, according to these clubs, could be. best filled, by an additional tote day. They are likely to be met with a suggestion to rearrange their year’s programme; Mr. Bollard has a difficult task to adjust the conflicting claim, and he is not- expected to complete it until the middle of December. THE GAMING INQUIRY. The Government has promised to set up a committee of members of Parliament to inquire into the whole question of racing in the Dominion. This committee will not be asked to report on permits, and the matter will be settled before they commence sitting in the New Year. Otherwise the order of reference will be as wide as possible in view of charges, of a somewhat vague nature, which have been levelled at those responsible for the control of racing. It will be competent for the members of Parliament who will comprise the committee to consider the moral and economic aspects of the matter; aDo the desirability or otherwise of licensing bookmakers. All evidence will have to be tendered in Wellington, as the committee will not travel.