HOROWHENUA’S LOST PERMIT.

Shannon News, 16 August 1921, Page 4

HOROWHENUA’S LOST PERMIT.

COUNTY COUNCIL ENTERS PROTEST

At the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council to-day, Cr. J. R. Whytd moved: “That this Council protest against the unjust action of the Racing Commission in recommending the Government to cancel the .Horowhenua Racing Club’s existing permit, and, further this Council extends its sympathy to the club concerned, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Internal Affairs, and the member for the district.” In speaking to the motion, Cr. Whyle said lie considered it was unjust that_ the club’s permit was taken away. If it was a matter of retrenchment, he would take a different view, but some of the clubs which had lost their permits had spent thousands of pounds on their properties and they had had to suffer in favour of clubs just starting. A club he' was connected with had been treated in the same way. 'lt had to keep up expensive appointments, but had now gone out. Cr. Harkness seconded, and said he felt the same way as Cr. Whyte. All they were asking for in the country was British fair play, which they were not getting. The result of the Commission’s work was not to keep down gambling but to increase it, as some 27 new permits had been granted. The , Commission had not adhered to the population basis to grant the permits, with the result that racing was becoming centralised. Another point was that racing stock was bred in the county, and should be tried out in the county. The same thing applied to the district shows.

*• Cr. Ryder supported the previous speakers, and pointed out that in nearly everything it was becoming a question pf town versus country, and if things went on he did not know what the country would come to. The Chairman (Cr. Monk) said, in fairness *to the Racing Commission, they had viewed the matter from a national and not a local viewpoint. The Commission had done their best, and had given a lot of time and thought to the matter. He’ was hot supporting the, commission’s report nor was he a gracing man, but he did think the point he had mentioned should not be altogether overlooked when criticising the' Commission. . The! motion was carried unanimously. Cr. McLeavey, as president -of the Horowhenua Racing ( Club, returned thanks to the Council for passing the resolution, as he considered that the club had suffered a great hardship in losing its permit.