THE RACING RUCTION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1927, Page 4

THE RACING RUCTION

THE WAIKATO I’KRAIIT. AUCKLAND, Aug. 9. The position regarding the Labour Day permit for the Waikato Hunt Cluli was mentioned at the annual meeting of tlie Auckland Racing Club yesterday. Air C- E. .Major said that an impasse had been reached by the action ol tin Hon. R. F. Bollard, who had exceeded ids powers. He seemed to have made mi electioneering promise, and having made it was doing wlmt was just, right and honourable in honouring a pledge. They knew lie was .Minister in charge of permits, hut what had that to <lo with the allocation of racing dates? By a slow process the Conference ban laisrd the sport from what it used to be, namely, rall'erty rules, and placed t on the highest pinnacle. Hence it would be Hie saddest of sad days when the Alinister in charge of permits was allowed to allocate race days.

After a point of order had been unsuccessfully raised by Mr H. R. Al’Kenzie, that tbe matter should not be further discussed during the currency of the dispute over the Waikato permit, Afr Major concluded that an expression of opinion from the people interested in racing would strengthen the hands of the Conference, and he said that a most emphatic protest should bo entered against the .Minister's action in interfering with functions which rightly belonged to the Racing Conference.

OPINIONS ON WAIKATO TROUBLE The conflict between tile Racing Conference and the Minister for Internal Affairs over the Minister's action in allotting a permit to the Waikato Hunt Club for a date which the Conference allotted to the Waikato Racing Club, has been much discussed by visiting sportsmen. .Most of them, while warmly supporting the Conference, prefer to say nothing publicly while there is any possibility of an amicable settlement. One authority, however, who lias come in contact with a number of visiting racing men, and who had discussed the matter with them, told a representative of the “ Press ” that the majority of owners in both Islands held the opinion that if politics is to be brought into racing, then it might as well lie brought into sport of all descriptions. “ And wlmt sort: of position would arise,” he added. “ if the politicians allotted dates and permits for all sports across the floor of the House? A ridiculous position ! ”

The report crediting: the Minister with the intention of retaliating hy refusing to grant any licenses to the Auckland district, unless the Auckland District Committee approves the Hunt Club’s Meeting on Labour Day, was mentioned by one racing man, who indicated that this was a game at which two could play. Assuming that the threat were put into effect, he said that it might he answered by the Macing Conference suspending all racing in the Dominion for a period ot six months. | He thought that there was little likelihood of owners raising any objection to such a course: they were not making such a good thing out of racing. The Government, which wotii'd lose considerable revenue, and the hoys who would be thrown out of work would he the greater sufferers. “Not only has Mr Bollard no right to interefere in the matter of dates, but he has promised verbally, and we have it from him in writing, that he will not attempt to do so.” said a member of the Dates and Licensing Committees of the Racing Conference, whose views were sought last evening by a reporter. “ The Conference will not pass the programme for the Waikato Hunt Club and the Minister can do nothing.” The threat that no permits would he issued for clubs in the Auckland district was characterised as ridiculous. The Government, it was hpld. would not face the i'oss of so