RACING PERMITS

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1920, Page 2

RACING PERMITS

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, October 1

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. Anderson) had something to say about racing permits, in reply to a deputation to-day. The deputation had asked that a- second permit should be given to Pahiatua Club which considered it was badly treated in comparison with other districts.

The Minister stated that he had received between forty and fifty applications for additional permits. Mr Hunters’ Bill proposed to issue thirtyeight, and if this Bill was passed, there would still bo some applications to l>e refused. He recognised that the present allocation of permits was not fair. He had made it clear to l>oth conferences before the end of the racing year, that he thought they' ought to redistribute the permits and if they had done that, the move would have been in the interests of racing, but nothing had been done, and now Mr Hunter had brought down his bill. Mr Anderson added that he had in mind the app liniment of a Commission during the recess, if Mr Hunter’s Bill did not pass. The distribution of permits throughout New Zealand was so unfair that something would have to be done to restify it, but there could be no interference with the arrangements during the present racing season. (He thought that prob ably a Commission would be required to allot the extra permits, if the bill was passed since he did no feel qualified to undertake the work.