HOROWHENUA RACING CLUB PERMIT.

Shannon News, 2 August 1921, Page 4

HOROWHENUA RACING CLUB PERMIT.

STRONG PROTEST AGAINST WITHDRAWAL. “WILFUL MURDER,” SAYS THE PRESIDENT. There was a lull meeting of the Stewards of the Horowhehua Racing Club at Mr Williams’ rooms, last night to consider the decree of the, Racing Commission Vthat the club’s permit should be withdrawn. The president, Mr Jas. McLeavey, occupied the chair, and there was also present Mr W. H. Field, M.P., and Mr T .Dwan, of Wellington. “You have all heard the news,” said the president in opening the meeting, “and we are here to hold the inquest on bur poor departed permit. I am quite sure the verdict will be ‘wilful murder.’ ” (Laughter.) Immediately he got word of the Commission’s proposal he communicated with Mr Field, who telegraphed his indignation and opinion that the Commission’s action was monstrous. He expressed his willingness to do everything possible to combat the withdrawal of the club’s permit. Mr Ben Ling, president of the Otaki Club, had telegraphed: “Stewards and self very sorry to hear your terrible treatment by Commission.” They would see, therefore that the club was not alone in its opinion. Many people who never went to races had come to him and said how unjustly the club had been treated. He called on Mr Field to address the meeting., Mr Field said his telegram indicated his feelings. Although he do-- - whether the club would get its extra day, he had never dreamed it would be assassinated by the Commission. The news came as a shock to him. The injustice of the thing was beyond doubt. The Commission was set up in all earnestness by Parliament to improve racing in the Dominion, and he. had consulted the club before he voted for it, which he was now sorry for, He had already had some correspondence with other members who were aggrieved by the recommendations, and throughout the country there was "a strong feeling that the thing should be fought to the bitter end. Twenty-one clubs had lost their licenses, and he thought they - could put up a very good fight. Two Ministers were, affected, and probably others. He knew'The Hon. Mr Guthrie was- prepared to assist, as a club in his district was affected. The Hon. Mr Pomare, as representing the Maori population round Levin, would also have an interest in the matter. Sir George Hunter had lost two clubs, and was very indignant over the position. Mr Field enumerated the other clubs affected and said it would be seen they were not entirely friendless. If they got the support of these members they would have a very fair fighting phalanx. Coming to the reasons advocated for the withdrawal of the local .permit, Mr Field said they were not sufficient.

Mr T. Bevan: Every little hitch that comes along we are cut out. We had to stand down because of the war, and for other reasons. Mr Field said a lull statement of the club’s case and position should be prepared, showing the vicissitudes it had survived’, how. it had been made to suffer right along,-and how, in spite of all these difficulties it had become strongly .established. They knew beyond the possibility of doubt that, if the Racing Club was killed* the Show would go too. Mr Field said it was not the case that this district was served by neighbouring clubs. He was afraid the Minister was justified in his attitude. At the time the Act' was passed, it was supposed Parliament would meet at the end of June, and that would have given time to consider the report before the racing season began. Now Parliament would not meet until the end of September, and it would he October before they got going properly. He recommended holding a public meeting and passing a strong motion of protest. He was assured that all classes of the community felt the injustice as much as the Racing Club. He wouldo his part in communicating wit! other members situated as he was. and in the meantime they must show the Government the strong feeling that existed and call out for ordinary justice. The Commission was set up to settle the condition of racing in the Dominion for a long time to come, ancl no doubt many members won l be favourable to its report, but members as a whole had a, strong sense of fairness and justice, and when they saw the feeling against this report they would, he believed, prefer leaving things as they were. Mr Field said he felt very deeply that a body of men should go through the country and deliberately kill a club that had passed through such strenuous times as the Horowhenua Racing Club. (Applause.) . 1 „Mr T. Dwan said he had been pleasv?d to accept an invitation to attend

flie meeting. The first thing to be done was to start the public moving. They should set'up a small workable committee with a wideawake secretary to organise the protest. Some clubs apparently wanted to concentrate racing in the big centres and that should be fought. He recommended the Club to issue its programme at once and make it a good one, say a mile-and-a quarter £IOOO Cup and a £SOO Flying. He thought they could easily, get a guarantee against loss and he would be willing to guarantee up to £IOO (Applause) .Mr Dwan said the Levin course was the best in the district and could he made one of the finest in New Zealand; It was easily accessible by rail and should become a good training centre. Influenced by reports of the progress of the Club they had shifted their stable here from Palmerston North and had intended going in for training and breeding in a big way. They would probably have had 20 horses in work in a year or two. Now they were faced with the prospect of the Club being killed. Anything he could do to assist Mr Field and the Club he would be willing to do. His advice was a small organising committee to work with the Show people, a public indignation meeting and a big petitionrThey should fight to retain their permit and also go for a second day as well, which they deserved.

Mr G. Tully said the speakers had hit the right nail on the head and the sooner they got to work the better. He moved that the following constitute: a committee to meet the A. and P. Association: The President, Messrs Blenkhorn, Procter, J. Ryder, T. Bevan and Dr Gow.

Mr G. Watson favoured calling the public meeting immediately. They would not. get a hall big enough in Levin to hold the people.. The motion was carried.

Mr C. Y. Day suggested getting in touch with the other clubs that had lost their privileges. . Mr Field strongly supported this and concerted action.

Dr Gow moved that a, return be prepared showing the population within a six-mile radius of Levin. He pointed out that there was no direct means of communication with Foxton, so that it could not be said that Club catered for Levin. The motion was carried.

The Chairman moved a very hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Field and Dwan and this was carried by acclamation.

Mr Field, in said he was by no means pessimistic about the outcome of theii* efforts.