The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19th, 1925 RACING PERMITS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19th, 1925 RACING PERMITS.

The Minister took a long time to review the applications for racing and trotting permits. This was due no doubt to the sustained advocacy from all parts of New Zealand pressing claims for consideration. The Minister, too, was not disposed to accept the dictum of the various commissions which had hitherto, at the request of the Government, thrashed out the matter. The result has been protracted delay, due in a measure, it would appear, to the fact that the Government representative could not or did not agree with the recommendations of the racing and trotting authorities. According to all accounts the trotting permits were more amicably arranged, hut in regard to the racing, there is

said to have been a distinct difference between the Minister and the Racing Conference. The point on which the difference turned was whether established olio day clubs should be supported in preference to the creation of new clubs for one day only. It is a costly matter of course to form and equip a new racecourse with all the modern requirements of to-day. Many cluh.s have done this more or less adequately, but they arc finding it a diflieulty to carry on financially. The Having Conference felt it would lie preferable to assist such clubs with an*extra day rather than establish other clubs in a difficult position. There is a good deal to lie said for such a polity. On the other hand out-of-the-way places had to he considered. Hut such places must needs not he too remote or there will lie financial difficulites more than ever accentuated. At the same time the new clubs should not he too near to established clubs, for the financial stringency would he the same where a large outlay had to be faced to establish an approved racecourse it ml appointments. The Minister bad bis difficulties and on the whole he would have been best advised to have left the distribution of the extra permits to the authorities in control of racing and trotting. Those'bodies have a standard of requirements safeguarding all interests and represent a body of independent sportsmen free* from bias or political influence. Whether the la Her affected the Minister it is not for us to say without actual knowledge of the fact, but we can believe it would be attempted. The Minister has taken up a position in the matter superior oven to the power of veto which he possesses naturally over the controlling bodies of the sport, and in that attitude he has given up the appearance of the independence he would be able to exercise under his authority of veto. He has filled a dual position, and has been adviser and advised, rather than leaning in the first instance on the authorities charged with the fair control of lacing matters. We do not know that the position into which matters have developed is good for the sport ns a whole. Its independence of government outside of Government control is to us of paramount importance. Sportsmen will resent the political influence creeping into the matter, and it is hoped so baneful an influence will not developc unduly.. The Minister "ill he wiser already on the ethics of the position, and that increased knowledge may he of service to himself and the sport in the future. The wisdom of the choice made by the Minister has still to justify itself and that is for time to tell.