RACING COMMISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2229, 20 January 1921, Page 2

RACING COMMISSION.

VISIT TO - FOXTON; The, Racing; Commission, which is touring the North Island for the purpose of recommending the allocation of the extra totalisator permits sanctioned by Parliament last session, visited Poston on Tuesday afternoon. The Commission consists of Messrs F. Earle, K.C. (Auckland), -J. H. Williams (Christchurch), Major S. Rice (Wynd--Imm), W. H. S. Moorhouse (Wellington), and tV. E. Bidwell (Wairarapa). Accompanying the Commissi?)!) are Messrs P. J. Kelleher, of the Department of Internal Affairs, as secretary, and D, 11. Cameron, of the Otago Daily Times and Hansard staffs, as reporter. The Commissioners were met by Messrs Francis Robinson and John Kebbeli on behalf of the Racecourse Trustees, anil Messrs W. E. Barber, W. Jewell, G. C. Coley (representing the Foxton Racing Club), and Mr L. Freeman, Club secretary. A visit of inspection was made to the racecourse, and the Clubs st.ililcs.i Tlie inspection lasted about two hours, after which the party proceeded to Levin. - From inquiries made, we learn that the Commissioners were, particularly impressed with the splendid provision made for outside patrons tit the course, the rising ground forming a natural grandstand, whereon the public get it splendid view of the races, from start to finish.

The proceedings were not open to tire press. What the Commission hits to decide is; Were the racing clubs sufficiently well served with the existing permits or not, and were the clubs now holding permits maintaining their courses in a sufficiently reasonable degree to satisfy the racing authorities? There was another question to determine, and that -was if any particular district lut’d an excessive number of racecourses, and whether the racing, public would nut be belter served by something like, eonceiilralion, and if not, what furl her permits should be granted for extra fixtures, and on what days. It may possibly be found that some of tlie smaller clubs overlap to such an extent that a number of them may have their totalisator permits cancelled. ■» As to the propriety of issuing additional permits, evidence would be taken in the four chief centres at tlie conclusion of the tour, and argument allowed by delegates of the racing bodies, and lltcsc would be open In tlie press. 'flic Commission completed their inspection at Levin and Otaki yesterday, and left for Wellington in the evening.