WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1921, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE R ACING CONFERENCE

FERVID PROTESTS. (Our Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Aug. 3 J If the Government by appointing the , Racing Commission hoped to shift on to other shoulders than its own the responsibility of determining the number. of totalisator licenses and the manner of their distribution it is doomed to sad j disappointment. It has obtained front j the Commission a very admirable ie- ( portend a series of recommendations j which a majority of the people knowing ! most about the various problems in r volved approve. But the proposal to withhold licenses from several longestablished racing clubs, for reasons which seem to the commissioners good ; and sufficient, has raised a storm of protest which forebodes badly for the report when it is submitted to Parliament. The loudest outcry comes from interested people who are anxious to j save this or that club from extinction, but behind these noisy dissentients are those who object to any increase in the number of licenses, those who disapprove of the concession to trotting chibs and those who are anxious to embarrass the Government and the racing authorities at any price. Between them they constitute a vel '.v l ()1 ’* mi,fable army and one likely to exercise considerable influence upon the elected branch of the legislature. THE CASE FOR THE OPPOSITION. With almost hysterical fervour the

-Now Zealand Times” lias taken up the cudgels on behalf of the opposition to the Commission’s proposals, "llieie is so much that is objectionable in the findings of the Commission and so little that is calculated to command public appioval.” it says, "that it is amazing to find that the Government is prepared to give even temporary effect to the recommendations without condescending ; i wait for the opinion and voice of Parliament.” The protesting journal is particularly umcctned for the "admirably managed” Napier Park Club ami the "popular” Avondale Club, which threatened with "suppression” but between its spasms of indignation it reiterates in varying form its assertion tbni tlif* Government is flouting Parliament and violating the fundamental principles of representative Government. Its opinion of the members ol the Commission is that they arc ‘a coterie o| obscure individals of whom probably not one would be able to secure election to Parliament on the popular vote." finally Ods ciitic warns the .Minister ol Internal Adairs that it he attempts to carry out the recommendations of the Commission he will find liimsell in serin"? conflict with public opinion. A PHILOSOPHIC .MINISTER.

Mi Dow me Stewart refuses to be perturbed by the c\ il things that are predded I'm him. lie is not conscious of having Honied Parliament or of having violated the fundamental principles of representative government. lie' has

been flattering himself, indeed, that his office lav in upholding the right ol Parliament to pronounce judgment upon li e re (iiiiinciitlations ol the Commission before tliev are put into operation. He a- jealously preset ved lor the representatives of the people the prerogative ol -a;, ing whether there shall be tome lilt:* Ij-a tor licenses or not. The worst that should be said “f him, lie thinks, is (bat lie Inis withheld the licenses of the

Napier Park Club, the Avondale (luh

and of several other dubs pending the decision of the House and the Council in regard to the Commission’s report. This he has done in deference to a promise made when the Gaming Amendment Act was passed and when a. later

meeting of Parliament this year was unforeseen. The Minister toe:- that he is discharging his duly to the country and thill nothing else matters greatly. THE POSITION.

As a matter of fact the Minister’s attitude in this respect is entirely in keeping the spirit of the law and with his own promise. The law provides tor the appointment of the Commission, the scope of its inquiry and the presentation of its report. The Minister’s promise, following upon Mr .Massey’s declnration to tlu* snnif* ffleet, commits the Government to submitting the {'emmission’s report to both Houses of I’arliamenl. If either House rejects the recommendations ol the Commission. or the (irder-in-(’oiineil in which they are embodied, the Government will have either to abandon all idea of reform for the present or proceed by way of legislation. Meanwhile the Minister will issue licenses neither to the Clubs that have been named by the Commission for extinction nor to the clubs that have been recommended for new or additional licenses. This, ol course, is necessary first of till in discharge of the Minister’s promise and then in ordet that Parliament nitty he tree to give immediate effect to its decision. The Government never has displayed a great deal of backbone over this totalisator business, hut its fault has lain rather iu evading responsibility than in arrogaiing to itself the functions of the people’s representatives.