A TOTALISATOR PERMIT

Hokitika Guardian, 2 August 1927, Page 3

A TOTALISATOR PERMIT

A REPLY TO MR BOLLARD. HAMILTON, July 30. Air G. YV. Yercoe, president of the Waikato Racing Club, stated that lie had read the Hon. Mr Bollard’s do cision in regard to the totalisatnr permit tor the Waikato Hunt, and lie could only express astonishment at this action. He felt sure that all true sportsmen would deprecate political influence being brought to hear on the control of racing, which control in his opinion, and he felt sure in the opinion of all other sportsmen, could and should only bo exercised by the governing body of racing, namely, the New Zealand Racing Conference, which body was a representative one from the whole of the racing clubs of the Dominion. 3’he conference at the last meeting, by a majority of thirty to eight, decided that the Waikato Racing Club was entitled to race on Labour Day, and in this connexion he pointed out that, whereas the Minister for Internal Affairs controlled the tntalisator permits, the Minister had no control in the government of the sport, and it was competent for the Racing Conference to refuse any club the right to race. Without ths sanction, and the approval of the governing body of racing, no club could function. Reversely, without the totalisator permit the Waikato Racing Club could not hold a meeting.

Mr Yercoe said that personally, he was content to leave the matter in the hands of the conference, a body which lie was thankful to say in all its decisions had solely the interests of racing tit heart, and was free ot political influence.

AVith regard to Air Bollard’s statement that he was honouring an undertaking given by him to the Waikato Hunt, Afr A'ercoe said that if such undertakings were given all clubs the powers of the conference would he stultified. Air Bollard bad given an assurance to the secretary of the AVaikato Racing Club that he would in no way interfere with the decision of the Racing Conference were that body to grant Labour Day to the Waikato Racing Club. Air A'ercoe said that he preferred to make no further comment at this juncture, other than say that he failed to reconcile these two nucleitakings j"by the jN^inistei.