The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1911 UNJUST COMMISSIONERS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1911, Page 2

The Chronicle. PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 1911 UNJUST COMMISSIONERS.

Levin sportsmen are determined to be "up and! doin<*" for the saving of their annual race meeting. Apparently, there "does" remain a dhance for saving the meeting. We ourselves think there is one, and we say so advisedly, having regard of the fact that the 'Racing Commissioners clearly were guilty of a dereliction their statutory instructions when they cut out Levin's once a year meeting while leaving Otaki's four days' racing untouched. By section 6 subsection 2 of the Gaming Amendment Act it is provided tliat "In determining the clubs to which licenses shall be granted consideration sihall he given to the claims of those clubs which use the totalisator at one meeting only in any one year." Can it be even tentatively contendied that the Racing Commissioners have fulfilled this requirement when they retain four days' racing for the less populated centre of Otaki, and cut out Levin's two days' meeting altogether; and this in face of the fact that Levin's racecourse probably is the best-laid-out country racee.oiu'e in New Zealand? Within the last six months, we understand!, negotiations have been oomgleted for acquiring a public right to the Levin racecourse, by exchanging for it an unutilised public reserve which lies by Horowhenua Lake; so the Commissioner's stock exotjee of a future risk of proprietary tenures being a bar to clubs' continuance dr.es not hold in Levin's case. There are many other substantial reasons for retaining Horowhenua Racing Club on the active list; these we \vave no doubt, the elu'b's stewards vil-1 formulate and promulgate at an early date. For the present we let the matter go with the two main arguments for retention which are indicated above. Witth. Otaki Club we have no quarrel; but we do say that if the Government allows the scandalous proposals of the Racing Commissioners to become law (and we do use the word "scandalous" advisedly),- then the Government must take its share of the odium attaching to an unjust act. There is ample room allowed them, by statute, for remedying the wrong wshidh the Commissioners' perversity — to use no stronger word—has sought to put upon this community. The new Act stipulates that "all licenses granted by the Minister of Internal Affairs in the year commencing on the first day of August, 1911, sihall bo granted by him in accordance with, the report of the said Corner on," but it ends with a very important proviso, which adds "so far a.; that repoTt is in accordance with the provisions of this Act." Having regard to the wording of section fi subsection, 2, quoted earlier in thus article, we say the Minister, did he not upset the Commissioners' recommendation in regard to Levin, would be found failing in, ih'is bounden dutv.