TOTALISATOR PERMITS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1925, Page 4

TOTALISATOR PERMITS

MINISTER. REPLIES TO

CRITICISM.

WELLINGTON, Feb. 20,

“Generally speaking,” remarked the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, this evening, “the Government’s allocation of the new totalisator permits, which Parliament provided in the Gaining Amendment Act of last session, has Been very favourably commented upon. “I have received very many telegraphic messages, many fijjin clubs that I am sorry to say did not share in the allocation, stating that, though disappointed, they appreciated the almost insurmountable difficulties of the task that lay before Cabinet—a task it undoubtedly was—in deciding which of the clubs, there being such a large number applying should get the permits. What made the problem greater was that the clubs deserving of consideration were so numerous—and having met them and seen their equipment and inquired into their general management and coduct. L can give personal testimony that it was hard to differentiate between them. Some, however, had to he out of the allocation but the claims of all received the fullest consideration.” .Mr Bollard’s attention was drawn t 11 Press Association message from Christchurch alleging that the New ' Zealand Racing Conference disagrees on innnv points with Cabinet’s allocation of the permits, nnd declines any, share of the responsibility whatever. Press message, and immediately tele--1 graphed to the president of the conference about it,” commented Mr Bollard. “In the typrewritten recommendations submitted by the New Z.ea- ' land Racing Conference there were really only four of tlfe clubs in the list ‘ whose claims for preferment representa- : tives of the Racing Conference and my- * self preferred to disagree on. One of : those clubs was a metropolitan club, ' and as the new permits were agreed to 1 by Parliament on the condition that • they be allotted to country clubs, that

particular club could not be considered. All the other recommendations of the

conference in the list, submitted were agreed to. Only one racing club in the South Island was recommended by

the Rating Conference for a permit, and I very much regretted that it was not possible to include that club in the allocation of permits, on account of the number of racing meetings already held in that particului district, and the fact that it had received 1111 additional |eiiiiit for trotting, which sport had gained so much favour with the people lucre. “Of the clubs that took a place in

the allocation of permits, they are all backblock* clubs, and it is the Jieople for whom they eater that needed as-

sistant e by reason of their great isolation. The main objection the conic

once representatives voiced to the l.ist11101.tinned clnlis receiving permits was that they were a one-day meeting clubs,

and that there wore too many of such clubs in New Zealand.

“In regard to the New Zealand Trotting Conference,” remarked Mr Bollard, “we were unanimously in agreement as to the allocation made. [ do not disguise the I act that every assistance possible was given to me by both Conferences in framing my recommendation to Cabinet. “In view of tnc fact that so many

oT the Racing Conferente.’s recommendations were agreed to, 1 find it difficult to understand the message which the president of the conference ("ho signal ihe recommendations I have referred to) has now handed to the Press declining any share ol responsibility whatever, s