The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1920. RACING PERMITS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 572, 5 October 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1920. RACING PERMITS.

The Minister of Internal Affairs realises that the.distribution of racing permits as at present existing is grossly unfair, and he is favourably disposed towards a more equitable allotment. If Mr. Hunter's Bill is passed there will be an additional chirty-eight permits, for which there are already forty or fifty applicants. ■While we do not deny to any club the right to battle for whatever concessions are to be obtained, we submit that every case should be tried strictly on its merits, and in that event the Franklin Racing Club should have no difficulty in securing the coveted authority. Here we have a self-eentred district second to none in New Zealand for the fertility of its soil, geniality of climate, wealth and number of population to the square mile. It is true that nearly every town in New Zealand is making progress, but jf figures indexing this advancement were Compiled we would expect to see Franklin well up near the top of the list. In Pukekohe, for example, which is the central and leading town, and the only borough in the electorate, there are in course of construction or awaiting timber supplies some eightyfive houses, besides fine new brick shops recently built and others under way. Progress is proportionately apparent in Wuiuku, Tuakau and other centres in Franklin; that Pukekohe is destined to become a second Hamilton is no idle boast; the material for such optimism is to be seen on every hand. No fair minded tribunal could come to any other conclusion than that in the centre of Franklin, where a splendid property has been secured for a racecourse, situated at Pukekohe, the largest town between Auckland and Hamilton, a totalisator permit should in all equity exist. In many*clirections signs are appearing which denote the meaningful truth that country people arc no longer disposed to tolerate favouritism by our Legislatures towards cities to the detriment of country districts. The decision to form a farmers' political party, while being, in our opinion, a most impolitic move, is nevertheless an expression of the discontent we refer to. It is so in regard to many matters of importance, and not the least of the causes for dissatisfaction in country districts is that while metropolitan clubs get things all their own way, even to the provision of race trains at a time when thousands <>f industrious housewives cannot get sufficient coal for household, use, there is seemingly endless discussion, j deputationising and press propaganda | necessary to obtain a hearing even rV country clubs. Franklin has legitimate and weighty claims for the consideration of the Racing Conference and the Minister of Internal Affairs, and should not hesitate to push these claims to the uttermost, refusing to take No for a final answer. The cream of the country districts —both literally and figuratively—has for long enough gone to fatten pampered cities, but British justice, like all things else worth having, must be wrought and fought for; in the present instance it is the Franklin Racing Club, backed by its numerous members and the whole of the racing fraternity and lovers of civic equality that must continue to step out as the vanguard.