RACING COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1921, Page 1

RACING COMMISSION

COMMENTS ON THE REPORT.

ATJCKLAND QUINTONS

AUCKLAND, July 25

Some idea as to the attitude of the Otnhuhu Trotting Club, which has been deprived of its four days’ permits, is given in a statement by Mr H. R. Mackenzie (chairman). Ho said: “I am very much surprised all the report, as we pride ourselves that no club in New Zealand has conducted its meetings or business in a cleaner manner than this club. We have been holding meetings for over 30 years, and to-day are practically the third biggest club holding trotting permits in New Zealand. The commissioners, in their report, state that they do not want to see huge sums of money spent by both trotting clubs in Auckland for one purpose. Anyone observant at the last Christmas meeting of t-ho Auckland Baring Club at Ellcrslie, could see that their neeommoadtion was taxed to the utmost. People can well realise what will happen to Auckland’s increasing population in ton years T will predict that in ten years’ time the grounds of the Auckland Trotting Club will he too small and the present grounds of th© Otnhuh Trotting Club at Mangere will lie the venue of hig trotting meetings. T am calling a meeting of th© committee for Wednesday, to consider the matter, and then a meeting of mem!>ers of the club, when olir utmost endeavours will be used to protect our interests.”

The officials of the Avondale Jockey Club had a conference this morning to discuss tlie position, and a meeting of the club will be held lator to decide what action will he taken. Meantime the secretary preferred not to discuss th© matter.

The secretary of the Takapuna Jockey (Jnh remarked so far as his club was concerned in the matter of an enquiry, they were faced with tile position that their president and most responsible officer, the Hon E. AV. Alison, M.L.C., was at present in England, and his presence would ho necessary for any enquiry of the kind suggested. Both Auckland papers comment editorially o.n the Commission’s report. The “Herald” says:-“The Commis. sion appears to have done its work with complete impartiality, and wholly in the interests of clean sport. There will, no doubt, he criticism of the proposed increase in permits, but the report shows a material reduction in Buburban meetings, with increases practically confined to country districts, where attractions are fewer and where the demand for racing facilities is insistent. A feature of the report is the emphasis it lays on the elimination of the proprietary element ■»in racing and 1 rotting clubs. Those clubs exist in New Zealand, on the ground that they meet the public desire. If the business i dement were permitted to enter largely into them, it is practically certain Mi at the public taste would soon become difficult, and ultimately impossible. This is frankly recognised throughout the report. But the commissioners are somewhat weak in their criticism of the practice of farming out the totalisator, which "to he consistent with other recommendations, should have been the subject of stronger and more emphatic condemnation. The local suburban clubs have suffered considerably from the pruning knife, hut even racing enthusiasts will admit that if Parliament accepts the report, ns it is likely to. the racing facilities remaining in Auckland will he abundant” The “Star” says: “The Commission after expressing the sound opinion at the outset that ‘Tt is highly undesirable. either by redistribution of licenses hifortn granted, or by the issue of additional licenses or otherwise, to materially increase the volume of totalisa_ tor betting. ’ actually recommends that 27 more days lw given to racing than there are at present. The Commission defends this apparent inconsistency on the ground that the redistribution of permits among eo in try clubs, which is proposed, will prevent the turnover increasing proport iopfitely. Tt bases this opinion on estimates made by a ‘competent authority ’ This authority is not likely to satisfy most of those who think that there are already quite enough facilities for racing and gamb-

ling. TTie redistribution recommendations of the Commission, including the aholilion,.of certain (Tubs, will naturally he received with mixed feelings. Wo said, in our comments last year, that the public wilts not getting an adequate return for the money it spent on racing. and that the improvement most needed was concentruion of effort in districts, so a.s to get a smaller number of courses, but to have them better (quipped, which would entail the abolition iff ((Mile a number of the poorer class of establishments. The Commission realises 111© force of this, for it has recommended in several cases that where there are two courses serving the same public, one he done away with, and tbo clubs amalgamated. In some eases .however, the courses marked down are sjtlmrhan, and well equipped. Generally speaking, these recommendations appear to lie sound. Should Iho Government choose not to treat the Bill embodying the recommendations as o party measure, wo may see a long and confused fight. Experience shows that in respect to the Commission’s report there is many a slip between cup and. lip.”

AVEI d. 1N G TO N YIEWS. WELLINGTON, July 25. So far as can be judged from casual comments, the public here regard the report of the Racing Commission as a very good one, though it is expected that it will lead to a "lengthy discussion and a good deal of adverse criti-

cism in Parliament. One old Parliamentary hand told m© to-day that he did not think Parliament would agree to th© extra day’s racing recommended by the Commission.

The “Dominion” in an editorial note says:—“Glancing through the report of the Racing Commission, one gathers the impression that the commissioners have carried out a difficult task with impartiality and common sense. There will, of course, he an outcry from some of tin* disappointed clubs. Unless the Commission had recommended the increase of totalisator permits on a wholesad© scale, some were hound to go short of their desires. As it- is the suggested increase is a moderate one. and the new permits have been well distributed. Tlie position relating to the Avondale (Tub is distinctly unsatisfactory, and it is rather surprising, in view of the general policy, that the racing authorities have not of their own volition taken action to nine© the club on a more satisfactory footing. If we understand the position correctly, no Chilian now restrict its membership, acquire property out of the profit it makes from the public at its race meetings. and. if the members so determine stop racing altogether and dispose of the property amongst themselves. The Avondale Club, of course, has not done this, but apparently it and other clubs are in a position to do so if they desire. The Racing Commisson very properly stigmatises it as entirely objectionable that- any proprietary element should exist in racing clubs or the courses controlled by them, and says this sort of thing should he rigorously eliminated. The general impression of the public, whose patronage provides the chief source of revenue of the racing clubs, lias been that the proprietary element had already been eliminated. If such is not th© case, then the sooner the matter is put right the better it will be for the sport of horse-racing.”