GAMING COMMISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1921, Page 3

GAMING COMMISSION

1!EPOllT SI" I’l’Gl’TEl). WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. ( omnieiiting on the Gaming Commission’s report Mr llaicourl, president of the Wellington Racing Club, in a speech ni the annual meeting of the elub, said:—"l make these remarks with some diffidence as the Commissioners have seen fit to recommend this club one more day's racing, thus bringing it into line with the CanteiInirv Jockey Club. Your stewards have viewed with some concern the reception in certain places that has been accorded this report and they hope that bv the time it comes up for consideration by Parliament the natural disappointment felt by those dubs recoiiimcmled for elimination or curtailment will have been dissipated by the realisation that file adoption of the report is immeasurably in Ike true interests of the sport, a fuel which is realised by <)(> per cent «f the racing people of the Dominion. Speaking for the executive of this club 1 cannot be too emphatic ill slating that they arc strongly in favour of ils adoption as it stands, believing as they do that it is as near perfection as possible. With others we regret that it lias been found necessarv for the general welfare to abolish certain clubs, many of them old established but this result was inevitable and it ought to be accepted in the true sjxirting spirit and all local interests submerged in the interests ol general welfare. Regardless of all that has been said to the contrary it must l,e recognised as an economic absurdity that more than one racecourse and one trotting track should be maintained in anv one centre. Our opponents in Parliament are bound to make this an occasion for a frontal attack on racing in general and big clubs in particular, tlu/~laUer probably, on account ol their l,ig totalisator turnover. The large attendance. which is, of course responsible for this turnover, appears to be overlooked. The big clubs are tt - foundation stone upon winch the whole structure is raised, the rmh classic races provided by them making it possible for breeders to import high-class sires."